Panorama of London: 1807 – 1811

Gentle readers, this incredible panorama was found in an attic in Rhinebeck, New York. Forgotten and neglected in a barrel, filthy, and badly torn, this painting c. 1810 revealed itself to be over eight feet long when it was unrolled. Click here to see a magnified version of the painting. The details are staggering. I [...]

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The Discontented Cook: A 19th Century Poem

Gentle readers, this poem in a mid-19th century children’s family circle book perfectly describes the long and arduous day of an ordinary family cook. Oh, who would wish to be a cook, To live in such a broil! With all one’s pains, to cook one’s brains, And lead a Life of toil? “Tis, Stir the [...]

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Anonymous, the new movie about Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, as the true author of Shakespeare’s plays

Gentle Readers, Patty of Brandy Parfums frequently contributes articles of interest to this blog. Her latest post is about Anonymous, the film about the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays, which recently opened in theatres. Introduction  - Instead of writing a traditional plot-spoiler review of Anonymous, which can be found in many newspapers and magazines, I’ve written [...]

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18th Century Visitors and Benton Seeley’s Guidebook to the Great Gardens at Stowe

One of the most pivotal decisions in Pride and Prejudice was when Elizabeth Bennet agreed to visit Pemberley’s gardens and grounds with the Gardiners, only to suddenly encounter Mr. Darcy, who was not slated to return until the next day. Such a visit to grand estates by the well-heeled and more common folk like Elizabeth [...]

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The Pump Room Orchestra: Three Centuries of Music and Social History, by Robert Hyman and Nicola Hyman

Gentle Readers, Nicola Hyman, one of the authors of The Pump Room Orchestra, Three Centuries of Music and Social History, a book that she co-wrote with her musician husband, Robert, sent me this information about music in the Pump Room. The book is available at Hobnob Press in the UK. The Pump Room Orchestra is [...]

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Jane Austen Made Me Do It, Edited by Laurel Ann Nattress: A Review

One regret I have in my busy life is the lack of leisure time I have for reading. Right now there are four stacks of books on the floor of my office, all waiting to be read. So many books! So little time. Given my schedule, I am glad I set aside the required hours [...]

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The Rake’s Progress by William Hogarth

Gentle Readers, Frequent contributor, Tony Grant from London Calling, has been on a hiatus. But he has returned with a vengeance. Please enjoy his observations about Hogarth’s breathtaking series, The Rake’s Progress, and the modern pictures he took as he went on a quest to search for The Rake’s London. In 1733 William Hogarth began [...]

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Persuasion, an Annotated Edition edited by Robert Morrison: A Review

Persuasion, an Annotated Edition, edited by Robert Morrison is published by the Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. 978-0-674-04974-1. 360 pp. 102 color ills. This is a review.

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Child’s Regency Dress at Vintage Textile: A Superb Vintage Clothing Site

I love visiting Vintage Textile, one of the best, most descriptive vintage fashion sites on the Internet. The Regency era fashions are superb. Take this embroidered child’s dress, which was once white. It was made for a child around one or two years of age. The dress, which came from a New England estate, is [...]

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Persuade Me by Juliet Archer: A Review

Persuade Me by Juliet Archer is a modernized treatment of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. When I first received the book I was reminded of the Three Weissmanns of Westport, a modern take of Sense and Sensibility by Cathleen Schine. Since I wasn’t as impressed with the Weissmanns as the New York Times bestselling book crowd seemed to [...]

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A Most Arresting Image: A Shepherd on Stilts Knitting in a Field

They say an image is worth a thousand words. This one, drawn in 1855, made me pause. It’s from Forrester’s Pictorial Miscellany for the Family Circle by Matthew Forrester. Here’s the accompanying text (p. 65-67): The Shepherds of Les Bas Landes. In the south-western part of France, bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, [...]

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Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Book Giveaway

Gentle Readers, Laurel Ann Nattress from Austenprose has edited a splendid new book, Jane Austen Made Me Do It, which will be released tomorrow. In honor of that event, she has begun a Grant Blog tour. Please visit my other blog, Jane Austen Today, and leave your comment if you would like to win a [...]

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