One doesn't often come across a Georgian novel that's narrated purely from a male's perspective. Not only is Mackenzie Lee's writing a breath of fresh air, but it's also incredibly clever and fun. Henry Monty is your classic rake. He drinks, gambles, fornicates, and is determined to be as much of an embarrassment to his … Continue reading Review: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice & Virtue
While doing research for an upcoming Novella, I found it surprisingly difficult to find information about male sex workers during the regency period in England. There's quite a bit of information about the subject during the Victorian era, as well as, some references to Georgian times... but regency proved to be harder to pin down. … Continue reading Breeches over petticoats? Regency brothels got you covered
Writers can often become like horses with blinders. We become deeply involved in our subject matter, forgetting that others may not be so... enthusiastically invested 🙂 When I say I write Regency romances, I sometimes forget that not everyone knows what I'm talking about. That is when I back-paddle and say, "What I meant to say … Continue reading Regaling with Regency
Not all prostitutes in Regency London were equal. Not only was there a difference in their background and how much they earned, they also had different lifestyles and priorities in life. As in many aspects of London society, there was a hierarchy in the prostitution profession. There were the streetwalkers who plied their trade on the streets, above … Continue reading Skirting the World of the Demimonde
While most writers of the Regency period focus on titled gentleman of the aristocracy such as the Duke of this or Earl of that, one mustn't forget the social trends of the time which is the rise of the upper middle class or the "New Rich". The industrial revolution not only led to a burst in population … Continue reading Snaking Up the Social Ladder of the Ton
The use of contraceptives in the Regency era
Before the Regency period came along there was the Georgian era, which had a far more lenient view on prostitution and the women engaged in the profession. Harris's List was a guide published once a year that listed all the prostitutes working in Covent Garden with some very colorful descriptions of their skills and note-worth … Continue reading A Gentleman’s Guide To Prostitutes – The Harris List
While researching different parts of 19th century London for my book, I was specifically looking for an area with a higher concentration of French immigrants, and that is how I stumbled upon Spitalfields. This East End London neighborhood got its name from St. Mary's Spittel (hospital) for lepers in the 1100s. Up until the early 1800s … Continue reading Weaving Through the Silk & Slums of Spitalfields
If one peaked behind the curtain of Regency London's glamorous ton balls, fine carriages and fashionable shops, one would see an entirely different world. A world that was steeped in poverty, crime and desperation. Steps away from the majestic Westminster Abbey lay one of the worst slums in London: The Devil's Acre. Like most slums it … Continue reading From Sanctuary to Slum – The Devil’s Acre
One of the neighborhoods in London that I mention in my book "A Gentleman's Bidding" is Cheapside. I simply love the name and how incredibly misleading it is! You mean it wasn't a crummy, slummy, poor neighborhood? NO! In fact it was a very elegant and fashionable shopping area. It was the large array of businesses and shops … Continue reading Cheapside – Not So Cheap After All!
