Reference Books


— The London Encyclopaedia
by Christopher Hibbert and Ben Weinreb, Macmillan, c. 1983
An extensive compendium of factual information about London.


— English Women’s Clothing in the Nineteenth Century
by C. Willet Cunnington, Dover Publications, Inc., c. 1990

Excellent reference on period women’s clothing, including hats, undergarments and accessories.


— British Food: An Extraordinary Thousand Years of History
by Colin Spencer, Columbia University Press, c. 2002

A wonderful book that traces the history of British cuisine, both its highs and lows.


— Jane Austen in Bath: Walking Tours of the Writer’s City
by Katharine Reeve c. 2006

This is a delightful book for anyone who wants to know more about Bath, England––especially during the Regency period. It has excellent maps and explanations of the city, its streets and buildings. There are many period drawings and paintings of the various city landmarks that add a wealth of historical realism, plus a great deal of information about Jane Austen herself.


— Nelson’s Navy: The Ships, Men and Organisation (1793-1815)
by Brian Lavery c.1989

An absolutely fabulous resource book about the British Royal Navy during the Peninsular Wars. A true wealth of historical information for anyone interested in the navy during the Regency era.


— Common Errors in English Usage
by Paul Brians c. 2003

An easy to use guide that clarifies commonly mispronounced and misused words.


— A Taste For Diversions: Sport in Georgian England
by Dennis Brailsford, The Lutterworth Press, c. 1999
Intriguing book about English sporting life from 1715-1830, includes boxing, sailing, hunting, horseracing and much more.


Georgian Jewellery 1714-1830 by Ginny Redington Davies with Olivia Collings, Antique Collectors’ Club, c. 2007

If you love Georgian jewelry and want to know more, this book is a must read. Dazzling reference with beautiful photography of period gemstones and settings. Excellent text. My Regency heroines would approve.

The Complete Servant by Samuel and Sarah Adams
A first-hand account of the backstairs lives of servants in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, originally published in 1825. A wonderful primary source for writers and those interested in the Georgian and Regency eras in England. Even includes recipes for cooks and how to make perfumes and cosmetics.

 

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