IreAnne Chambers's Blog
April 30, 2019
When Exactly is the Regency Era?
The official definition, historically and politically, is from 1811 to 1820 when George, Prince of Wales, also known as ‘Prinny’ governed the country as Regent during the mental illness of his father, George III.
It was through an act of parliament that allowed this to happen on February 5, 1811. The Prince was sworn in as Regent at Carlton House on February 6th. He ruled as Regent until 1820. When his father George III died, Prinny assumed the title of George IV. He reigned until his own death in 1830.
The First Gentleman of Europe
The Regency Era is also associated with social and cultural development. The Prince Regent was known as the ‘First Gentleman of Europe’ and became patron for many of the arts including music, painting, sculpture, literature, decor, as well as, technology and science.
This period of sophistication is known as the Regency Style. This Style encompassed more than just the years 1811 to 1820 and it’s this Style that leads to the broader definition of the Regency period. It encompasses a strong influence beginning from the early 1780’s and ending in the late 1840’s. Brighton is an excellent example of the broad regency period when the Prince of Wales first visited in 1783 and construction on The Royal Pavilion began not long after in 1787.
The Royal Pavilion
A newly opened railway to London in 1841 increased visitor traffic and allowed for an expanding social scene further helping to define the broader era. The architectural features of a regency town house also reflect this Style revealing the wealth and sophistication of the broader regency era.
As an author of Fun, Cozy, Historicals, And Then Some… I’m excited about the stories I may be able to create spanning the broad period of The Regency beginning in the 1780’s. I hope you will join me on these adventures. The first book in my Majestic Estates Series is Storm Chasers of Wentworth Hall set in 1798 where Prinny himself makes a cameo appearance and his interest in technology and science are highlighted.
Storm Chasers - Amazon
Resources:
https://brightonmuseums.org.uk/royalpavilion/history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Pavilion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_and_Brighton_Railway
March 4, 2018
What’s in a Name?
There are many fun things about writing historicals. Searching out bits of interesting facts in history to weave into stories, notorious people, and name choice are a few. Patricia Veryan, Jane Austen, and Georgette Heyer were exceptional with using pivotal points in history in a fun, exciting way. I often wonder what their process was for choosing their character names.
One of the “must have’s” with my own writing is finding the perfect name to accurately represent my characters, settings, objects, and, yes…horses. I’m in a constant search to find the perfect name to match each horse in my books. Matching a name to their personality or role in my stories is almost as important to me as my main characters. I want them to be unique and match the period in history I’m writing. In my book, FOLLY AT SAUSMAREZ MANOR, I needed to find the name of my hero’s horse. I did what many authors do. Googled it. I found many popular names for horses during the regency period, but I was in search of that one name that spoke to me. Aladdin. I liked it. Next, I googled “Aladdin” to see what pops. The result? That moment that excites me each time it happens. A perfect match.
KABOOM!
Like most, I’m familiar with the story of Aladdin from the popular Disney productions and children’s books. What I didn’t know, it turns out Aladdin was a story included in Antoine Galland’s One Thousand and One Nights which he called Les Mille et une Nuits. More exciting for my historical brain is that this version of the tales was written between 1704 and 1717. An exact fit for the time-period my story is set which is 1801.
It gets better. Antoine Galland was a French Orientalist and Archaeologist. Perfect! Another reason why my Marquess of Daventry, Marshall Compton, Archaeologist Extraordinaire, would know Monsieur Galland’s works and find the name Aladdin a perfect choice for his Arabian stallion. And this Arabian stallion will play the role of Aladdin’s magic carpet flying them away.
If you haven’t already figured it out, I love to pepper historical truths into my fiction. I believe it’s a great way to make learning about history fun and enjoyable. How about you? What do you enjoy about history?
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References:
Featured Image Credit: WV Horse Council, Arabian horse, www.wvhorsecouncil.org/2016/02/arabia...
“Surprising Facts About Aladdin and The Arabian Night.” 30 Jan. 2013. interestingliterature.com/2013/01/30/...
Wikipedia. “Translation of One Thousand and One Nights.” 1 Dec 2017. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Translations_of...
Wikipedia. “Antoine Galland.” 19 Oct 2017. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Galland
Chambers, IreAnne. Folly at Sausmarez Manor. United States: Purple Storm Publishing, 2018
February 24, 2018
Knitting Customs
It’s the fall of 1801 on the Island of Guernsey and LADY CORDELIA “DELIA” RUTLEDGE is in trouble. In more ways than one. MARSHALL COMPTON, the Marquess of Daventry, aims to help. In more ways than one.
This local pub full of Guernsey men aren’t drinking ale and getting loud. Well, they are drinking ale. And maybe being a little loud. But, what’s common here, and different elsewhere, is the clickety, click, click of knitting needles weaving lengths of woolen fabric. Quite the practice I’m told. It’s a good thing, too, because the people on the island have pockets to let. Fishing doesn’t bring in what it used to. Guernsey jackets and Jerseys are sought out throughout England and France.
What do our fine fishermen set out to do? They set their lines, anchor their boats, and wait for the tide to turn then it’s clickety, click, click while they wait. Another tight-fitting frock worn by the sailors comes back with the haul. And before you ask, no. The sailors aren’t wearing dresses. More like a loose outer garment worn by peasants (according to dictionary.com).
Possibly this?
Or maybe this?
Men and women of all ages on the island knit. It’s not uncommon to see women knitting while riding in the cart beside their husbands on their way to market. Families gather together with friends and neighbors to sing songs and tell stories. And, of course, knit.
Knitting: Supply and Demand
The demand is so high for the Guernsey woolen wear, island wool can’t keep up. Inferior breeds of sheep providing course wool and said to have four or more horns doesn’t help. Four or more horns? I’m trying to picture what that might look like.
Yeah, it’s a goat…but you get the idea
Something must be done, so Parliament helps by enacting provisions setting a strict limit on how much wool is permitted to leave the kingdom. After all, the island is famous for the woolen gems. In case you haven’t heard, Mary, Queen of Scots, received four waistcoats, four pair of sleeves, and four pair of hose. All gifted to her from Sir Leonard Chamberlain. I’m told she wore a white pair of Guernsey hose at her execution. I’m not sure if that last piece of information is boast worthy or not. I’ll let you decide.
Too Much Drink?
In FOLLY AT SAUSMAREZ MANOR, not everyone can privateer, and not everyone can capture a treasure ship. Emile and Jacques are no exception. They meet MARSHALL COMPTON, the Marquess of Daventry, and do they have a story to tell. Something about Guernsey men, short in stature, claiming fairy blood the culprit. Complete nonsense. Too much drink does that to a man. It can’t be from the knitting. Best leave these two to focus on their craft. But, what happens when complete nonsense morphs closer to the truth? You can find out in FOLLY AT SAUSMAREZ MANOR.
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References:
MacCulloch, Edgar, Sir. Guernsey Folk Lore: a Collection of Popular Superstitions, Legendary Tales, Peculiar Costumes, Proverbs, Weather Savings, Etc., of the People of that Island. London: Stock, 1903.
Featured Image Credit: Rutt, R. 1987, A History of Hand Knitting, B. Batsford Ltd., London
Chambers, IreAnne. Folly at Sausmarez Manor. United States: Purple Storm Publishing, 2018
February 17, 2018
Folly at Sausmarez Manor
The folly begins when LADY CORDELIA “DELIA” RUTLEDGE and her family visit Sausmarez Manor on Guernsey Island in the fall of 1801. And why not? It’s the perfect stopover on their way to the continent for reasons that can only be discussed in confidence, but don’t worry. Secrets are safe inside FOLLY AT SAUSMAREZ MANOR.
LORD MARSHALL COMPTON, Marquess of Daventry, and archeologist extraordinaire certainly isn’t aware of their visit until he offers to escort Delia to see prehistoric ruins on the island. Big mistake. This piece of chivalry lands him a fiancée he’s not sure he wants, in-laws he knows he can do without, and run-ins with the Russians. Or are they pirates? Another question only to be revealed in strictest confidence. One thing is sure. Marshall’s plans for an Indian expedition are definitely lost. Maybe.
SAUSMAREZ MANOR is home to Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez. It’s a little-known secret that Delia’s father, the Earl of Deloraine, was put in charge of Nelson’s Band of Brothers. Oops. Maybe that tiny on dit should be kept quiet. We certainly can’t have Little Boney getting wind of it.
“Little Boney” a.k.a Napoleon Bonaparte
Admiral Saumarez, Captain of the HMS Orion, has plenty of responsibilities with the naval activities and privateering going on in the region. One more thing is sure. He’ll protect his home at any cost and Deloraine knows it. Saumarez’s Scandinavian ancestors have lived there since the 12th Century. In fact, it was only just repurchased back in 1748 using money from the capture of the world’s richest treasure ship to date. Now that is an adventure on the high seas waiting to be told! Saumarez will not lose his home again. Not to the French, not to anyone. After all, SAUSMAREZ MANOR is the finest example of Queen Anne Colonial architecture in Britain thanks to Sir Edmond Andros and his renovations.
Admiral James Saumarez, 1st Baron de Saumarez
All questions about the FOLLY AT SAUSMAREZ MANOR will be answered soon. As for Deloraine and the admiral, they’re busy with their intelligence work. Thankfully for the admiral, the Rutledge girls and their mama are only there for a few weeks while they face tombs, witches, fairies, and pirates. Maybe.
Sausmarez Manor
Have you found your way to one of history’s majestic estates? Tell me where in this beautiful world they’re hiding. Maybe I’ll use it for the setting of one of my books.
Sign up for my newsletter so you’ll find out when this book is available for download. You’ll get a free book. Scroll down to the bottom after the comments to sign up.
You can also find me at:
References:
http://www.sausmarezmanor.co.uk/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson%27s_band_of_brothers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Saumarez,_1st_Baron_de_Saumarez
Chambers, IreAnne, Folly at Sausmarez Manor, Purple Storm Publishing, 2018
