My goodness. By some
fortuitous stroke, the publishing world has released a slew of books this fall
that are setting the heart of this history geek to going pitter-pat. If you too
happen to proudly claim the history geek moniker, it might not be too late to
ask Santa to make some of these appear under your tree.
Dress in the Age of Jane Austen by Hilary Davidson
Just released in November from
Yale University Press, this is a look at the clothes worn by all classes, male
and female, during the “long Regency”, 1795-1825. It’s lavishly illustrated
with formal portraits, fashion plates, amateur sketches and drawings of the
era, and photos of extant examples. Awesome book; I already got a copy (yay for
Barnes and Noble coupons!) and I’m making myself wait till the day after
Christmas to dive in, because I know I will be totally engrossed.
The Regency Years: During Which Jane Austen Writes, Napoleon Fights, Byron Makes Love, and Britain Becomes Modern by Robert Morrison
Published in April, here’s another
broad overview of the history and culture of the Regency in England (covering
the actual Regency years, 1811-1820). There have been a few of these published
in the last five years or so; reviews are generally good, but I haven’t yet had
a look at it. Anyone?
Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune: How Younger Sons Made Their Way in Jane Austen’s England by Rory Muir
I’m very much looking forward
to reading this one. Fiction is full of dashing young noblemen who will one day
(or already have) inherited their family titles, wealth, and properties...but
what happened to their younger brothers who might receive a small inheritance
(perhaps from their mothers) but who, overall, usually had to make their own
ways in the world? From the book’s description: “If they were to remain ‘gentlemen’,
only a few options, such as joining the Church or the army, were available to
them. Each of these careers had its own attractions, drawbacks and
peculiarities, and Gentlemen of Uncertain Fortune is the first exploration of
the lifestyle and prospects afforded by these different professions.”
Bloodlust and Bonnets by Emily
McGovern
I love me a good graphic
novel...and even more, I love me a good, funny, Regency-set graphic novel
featuring a vampire-hunting Lord Byron and a motley fellowship including an
adventure-hungry young debutante and a mysterious bounty hunter and their
increasingly outlandish escapades. This one I may crack on Christmas night,
after the dishes are in the dishwasher and the leftovers tucked away in the
fridge.
How about you? Any good
history geekish books you’ve got on your wishlist?
Have the happiest of holidays,
dear readers!
