5 Fun Facts about Regency England that May Surprise You

by Donna Hatch 1.       It was not scandalous for ladies to show their ankles during the Regency Era. A number of Regency fashion plates and caricatures depict ladies revealing silk stocking-clad ankles and low-cut slippers, which were much like todays ballerina flat, while dancing, sitting, and walking. During the Victorian Era, shoe fashions changed from slippers to the Victorian boot. This happened about the same time that hemlines lowered and skirts widened. In addition to…

Gifts for the Regency Geek

This year, I put together a wish list of totally impractical items I’d love to have for Christmas–you know the kind–not a KitchenAid mixer or a new pair of shoes, although I’d love to have those, too. Sometimes it’s fun to get personal, frivolous items that I don’t “need.” Here are some geeky gifts I’d love to have. This first selection is of hatpins. Ladies wore these to keep their hats from blowing away. Many…

Historical Accuracy–How Important is it?

Most readers believe whatever the author tells them about their characters and their worlds. Since fiction comes straight from the author’s imagination, this is usually just fine. However, when an author writes a book that takes place in a real setting, it’s a game changer. Imagine if your entire knowledge about a particular place, such as Hawaii, comes from a novel. Then you visit Hawaii expecting to find it very similar to what you read,…