Part I of The Real Jane Austen

King George IV

King George IV "Prinny" was a controversial figure in British history. As a young prince he fell in love with an older Roman Catholic, Maria Fitzherbert and married her in secret. The marriage was soon discovered by his father George III and dissolved under the Royal Marriages Act which would not allow a marriage without the consent of the king. By his early 20's Prinny had become a profligate gambler, drinker and deeply in debt. He finally fulfilled his obligations and married Caroline of Brunswick in 1795 with pressure from his father who would only help him with his outrageous and ever mounting debt if he agreed to the marriage. Although the two were very ill suited they produced a daughter, Princess Charlotte in 1796 and promptly separated. He did have his own following, but most of British society sympathized with Caroline.
By 1811 Prinny's father George III was deemed unqualified to continue his reign due to an ongoing bout of madness caused by porphyria. He was appointed Regent at this time and continued to rule in this vein until 1820 when he ascended the throne when George III died. One the greater political follies he made was denouncing the Catholic Emancipation Bill for Ireland which he had originally strongly supported.
By the end of his life, George was a laughing stock and suffered from many health issues and illnesses. He rarely appeared in public and became a recluse. He died at Windsor castle on June 26, 1830.
Although he was touted one of the most infamous rulers of England he did leave England with a few of its more well recognized architectural structures, including Buckingham Palace and Brighton Pavilion.

British Slang

Have you ever wondered where a certain turn of phrase originated? The following site is an interesting resource to satisfy your curiosity about folk etymologies:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~genepool/sayings.htm

An Elegant Madness - A Book Review

"An Elegant Madness" was an informative and enjoyable read. Here is a review by amazon.com

Amazon.com Review

Regency England was, according to Venetia Murray, a "glorious paradox": High society placed a premium on civilized living, yet vulgarity, gluttony, and moral vicissitude were considered fashionable--and socially acceptable--vices. In An Elegant Madness, Murray examines this polarity, providing readers with an accurate, entertaining, easy-to-read portrayal that conveys the mood of the period, focusing primarily on the oft-paradoxical social practices and attitudes of the English aristocracy.

Generally understood as a 50-year period beginning, as with the French Revolution, just before the dawn of the 19th century, Regency England (or, more precisely, its uppermost stata) remained, in many ways, oblivious to and safely distanced from the ravages of the Napoleonic Wars consuming the continent. The tone of society, according to Murray, tends to be set by its titular head; thus, the paradox and political detachment of the Regency Period emanated primarily from its leader, the Prince Regent. The carefree Regent, who would reign as King George IV from 1820 to 1830, was known not only as "The First Gentleman of Europe," but also as a dedicated hedonist, drunkard, and lecher. Elegance and vulgarity characterized the rest of the English aristocracy, as well, and Murray's chapters clearly illustrate how Regency high society appropriated for itself the same duality as their leader's. Her chapters, each a freestanding study of its own, examine fashions of the period, the (exorbitant) cost of living, London high society, clubs and taverns, the common practice of taking a mistress, the country home, and the seaside resort. She embellishes her study with cartoons, prints, and caricatures of the period, all of which contribute to our understanding of this unique period of English history. --Bertina Loeffler Sedlack --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Regency Women

A beautiful compilation of Regency Women with music by Felix Mendelssohn - Andante sostenuto, in G minor Op. 19 No. 6 "Venetian Gondola Song"

Sandwiched in history

One big reason I find the Regency Era so interesting is that it is sandwiched between two very opposing times in history. Although the Georgian Era (which I think Regency was technically a part of) had its moments, it was its own time of slowly transitioning away from the Reformation to Enlightenment. Then came the Victorian Era with its strong moral code and the excitement of the Industrial Revolution.
So here is the Regency, stuck in the middle with a war raging across Europe which starred one of the more crazed egotists in written history. That really makes a great mix for crazy fun!

Regency Times!

Welcome to my Regency Era Blogger, even if it is inaccurate most of the time! I've created this blog to throw out on the world wide web, my very limited understanding and view of this amazing era in England. Although it may seem prosaic at times, I will be thrilled to know that anyone has viewed and possibly even enjoyed this site. Because it would come as a pleasant shock, please leave any comments you'd like (whether positive or negative). I'd especially appreciate any words of advice or corrections of any mistakes I may have made!

Hope you enjoy!