Saturday 26 September 2009

Regency Brighton


Brighton is another town with a great many Georgian style buildings. Its popularity in the early nineteenth century meant that a huge building programme was undertaken. This has given the town a rather grand and harmonious appearance. It is also useful as research material for a new Regency tale.

The small streets with their tiny cottages, the maze of medieval alleys, even the House of Correction, give the impression of a small town. Around this nucleus a new town grew all the way from Marine Parade to Brunswick Town. There are many fine examples of elegant villas and sweeping terraces of tall, colonnaded buildings so beloved by Regency architects.

Set at the end of the main road from London to Brighton and calculated to catch the visitor's eye as he arrived, was the Prince Regent's Pavilion. It is so incredible that normal criticism or comments cannot apply. The Prince loved his summer palace and was a generous and kind host to his guests. I have to confess that I would have loved to dine with him in that awe-inspiring dining room, under the massive chandelier with its mirror palm leaves glittering and twinkling above the candles. No doubt the other ornaments and decorations reflected the lights in fascinating ways also. And then I would have loved the Prince to take me on one of his tours of the kitchens, where fantasy gave way to practicality and he could demonstrate his pride in all the up-to-date gadgets he had installed there.

Just a dream.... but in my story, perhaps some of my characters can live the dream for me.

Saturday 19 September 2009

All things Jane Austen - A Regency day out at Chawton


On a bright and beautiful September morning I took my French friend down to Chawton. Jane Austen's cottage and garden looked their best in the sunshine. The garden was full of colourful flowers and the peaceful atmosphere helped to capture a sense of what it must have been like to live there two hundred years ago.


You enter through a door surrounded by late-flowering roses, to find the interior full of items that bring Jane vividly before you. Her topaz cross and a delightful blue bead bracelet, her small writing table, the letters and papers concerning her books, the fine needlework she produced, all create a sense of her daily life in this home.

On that day, Chawton House, "the Great House" as the Austen ladies called it, was open to the public. This complemented the impressions gained at the cottage, of life as lived by the gentry in a less hurried era.


                                                 Chawton House - 'The Great House'


Diana demonstrates the language of the fan to her beau


A display of Regency era dancing by the Winchester Dance Group

We were fortunate to see a display of Regency dancing - a waltz and several quadrilles, performed in costume. Even more fortunate, we were able to join in the dancing at the end of the display, but I fear we did not perform with as much skill as our teachers.

Diana, the lady in the white dress in the photo, is using her fan to communicate with Regency gentleman David Caldo. Diana gave us a lesson in 'The language of the Fan'.


Wednesday 26 August 2009

Suitable for a Regency hero


At first I was a bit bewildered by Desperate Romantics. Then I saw James Walton's review in The Telegraph, which said:
'Once you realise this is essentially cheerful nonsense, you can relax, give up trying to learn about art history and enjoy even the corniest moments. '

So I did enjoy it - the discovery of the models, the anguished painting, the sliding out of bed to write poems, the rich colours and settings and the dominating energy of Gabriel Rossetti.

Aidan Turner looks very good in period costume. In fact he'd be fine in Regency breeches and maybe he'll land a role in another period film soon. I could well imagine him as Lord Byron
hmmm.......


Sunday 26 July 2009

In All Honour - a hero with a difference




'Why can't I meet a man like Greg in real life?'

Several people have asked this question after finishing In All Honour. Of course, it helped that Greg is over six foot tall, broad shouldered and has a pleasant, open look with glowing amber eyes and coppery brown hair. He is energetic, brave and kind but fierce in the defence of his family and his honour.


In her review of the book for MyShelf.com, Rachel Hyde says: "I often think that there are not enough Regency novels set in Bath, surely one of the main places that come to mind associated with this period. This book brings the town to life, with a good feel of the place and its pleasures and pastimes. I also enjoyed the amiable Greg, a pleasant change from the usual dominating alpha male and somebody it would be easy to like as well as be attracted to. The odd "gray" character might add spice to this type of tale however, where everybody is either very likeable or irredeemable villains but this is still a very enjoyable novel."

Greg appeared in The Wild Card and so he was already established as a nice guy. It seemed to me that the only way to balance this was to have a truly horrible villain. And the people who like Greg so much just love to hate Lord Percival. So I think my story gives pleasure in some rather different ways...

Thursday 16 July 2009

A Treat #Nicola Cornick


I really enjoy reading Nicola Cornick's Regency stories. She brings the period alive and her characters always fascinate me. In addition the places are so well described that I can always see where the action is taking place and imagine the settings, whether ballroom or bedroom.


A couple of weeks ago, Nicola ran a competition to identify some ruggedly handsome heroes. Well, that was a most enjoyable exercise. She was offering a copy of The Scandals of an Innocent as a prize. And then she told me that I was the winner. The selection process involves her very handsome dog, Monty. Nicola explains how the choice is made on her own blog: A Passion for History, where you can also see a photo of Monty.

Anyway, I'm now a big fan of Monty as I have a big treat in store....Nicola's latest book to read - what a great way to spend a rainy evening. So far, my favourite hero from Nicola's stories is Lord Richard Kestrel but perhaps in a few days I'll be changing my mind.

Friday 12 June 2009

Kioskmania



In the interval since my last post, I've been travelling in Turkey. Although there were many other items on the agenda, I kept a keen lookout for kiosks to lounge around in.

This photo is of an open air kiosk in Konya. It is in a rooftop restaurant and is furnished with tables and chairs. No banquettes in this one! The structure gives an illusion of privacy to a family while they eat. The wooden slats form a simple but pleasing pattern. And there are colours and patterns even in the woodwork of the roof.
In the town of Konya some restaurants have set up each room like a different type of kiosk. Some are very large and ornate with silken curtains and impressive ornaments. They have antique tables and chairs in fine woods, These dining rooms are suitable for important celebrations for people in their best clothes.
Other kiosks in the same restaurant are very much closer to a nomad's tent. In these rooms you would sit or recline on a low bench covered with patterned kilims under a draped awning. The food is brought on large brass trays and placed on a low frame about two feet above the floor. When you sit cross legged or recline, you can't really eat too much. Perhaps it's worth trying the kiosk diet...?