  Romance/Love
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"All the privilege I claim... is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone."
- Anne Elliot, Persuasion by Jane Austen |
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Historical Romance: Regency
Historical romances are probably the most popular sub-genre in the romance section. It's not hard to imagine why; we sometimes long for the days when casual dating was known as courtship, when men wore impeccably tailored suits and women wore gorgeous gowns.
A date to McDonald's would never happen; instead the suitor would beg an introduction to the young lady at a ball and if they danced more than two dances together, well, it was a sure sign that they were in love--and a little scandalous at that! Love notes must be kept secret and a smoldering glance could speak volumes.
Welcome to the world of Regency romance, set (duh) in Regency England (roughly 1811-1820). Some say that this genre is overdone, but I always enjoy a well-written story in this period. It gives you as the author an opportunity to play with a more refined era that may surprise you on how challenging it is to get two people in love! Regency romances also give you a good opportunity to show of your skills at clever dialogue; to speak with "wit" was highly prized at the time and this art is rather lost in modern fiction.
Jane Austen was a master at using clever dialogue for her characters. Georgette Heyer was also adept at this talent for her Regency romances. Check both of these authors out at your local library for tips.
Things to Keep in Mind
 Peerage. One of the fun things about writing Regency romances is that you get to populate your stories with Lords, Dukes, Duchesses, and even a Prince or two! But those unfamiliar with peerage can make many errors. For example, who takes precedence, a Viscount or an Earl? What do you call the daughter of a Baronet? Does the third son of a Duke have a title? This website will help answer those questions. Be on the lookout for the very helpful table breakdown of family relations and what titles they have: http://laura.chinet.com/html/titles01.html
The Napoleonic Wars (1799–1815). One of the criticisms leveled at Jane Austen is that her novels never mention the wars that were going on presumably during her stories (as evidenced by soldiers populating her characters). But however you choose to acknowledge or not acknowledge the wars, they had a huge impact on life in Regency England. Perhaps your character has family in the army or navy, or maybe your character is in the army or navy! Some names to be aware of: Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, and "Boney" (nickname for Napoleon Bonaparte).
The role of women. Women of the "genteel" classes could not attend university, or be active in politics. ("Genteel" you may define by the financial ability to hire a servant; more detailed looks at classes can be found in the recommended books below). Few professions were open to women of this class (one being a governess), but it was generally considered that a woman was lowering herself to have to work for her bread. Women who did not marry had little choice except to remain a dependent on a brother or parents, so the emphasis on catching a husband was as much for the woman's independence as well as for other considerations. A women with independent wealth might be able to set up her own household, but she could never live alone; another female relative had to live with her to make it respectable. Even then she might be considered something of an eccentric. A widow who inherited her husband’s wealth at his death was likely the best position a woman could be in—as regards to her independence anyway. Widows commanded an automatic respectability that single women didn’t have and generally had greater freedom of movement because of this. (Though that too was limited; see The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte to see how a widow can also fall under suspicion. For a glimpse of a governess' life, read Agnes Grey also by Anne Bronte.)
Before writing a scene where your heroine runs off to meet her beau at a secret location, remember that a woman's reputation in this era was fragile. Unlike men, genteel women did not go anywhere in public without someone to accompany them (a servant or a sibling will do). A young woman who runs away from home to elope with her lover is in danger of losing her reputation so profoundly that her entire family would be stigmatized (one solution to that is disowning the daughter). The woman who runs off must be hurriedly and quietly married and thus preserve what respectability she has left. Those of you who've read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen will see a good example of this; Lizzy's tears are not just for fear for her sister, but also for the consequences of her foolish actions.
Balls. Informal dancing parties ("assemblies") and the more formal balls were prime occasions of social interaction for young women and where they would have the most chance to meet a potential husband. Towns would have an assembly place where dances could be held, or the local squire could host them if he had a larger house as well. If you were fashionable at all (or rich enough) you went "to Town" (to London) during the warm summer months, called the "Season".
Regency Slang
beneath my touch - not good enough. (i.e. "Miss Smith is a bit beneath my touch," said Lord Davenport with a contemptous sniff.)
bit of muslin - woman of easy virtue (i.e. "The Honorable Harriet Dalrymple will never marry respectably; she's nothing more than a bit of muslin.")
dangling after - hanging about, enamoured of (i.e. "Sir Harry has been dangling after Lady Driscoll this whole evening.")
gammon - trick. (i.e. "You won how much? Are you trying to gammon me?")
setting your cap at someone - to aim to ensnare for marriage, not necessarily a polite expression. Might be aimed at a girl who's trying too hard. (i.e. "Lydia Wydgate has set her cap at Lord Balstrone." "Poor fool is falling for it too.")
See more at: http://www.heyerlist.org/slang.html
Books to look out for
The Regency Companion by Sharon Laudermilk and Teresa L. Hamlin
The Writer's Guide To Everyday Life in Regency and Victorian England : From 1811-1901
Daily Life in 18th-Century England |
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Romance/Love: October 11, 2006 Issue [#1307]
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