Category Archives: Decorum

Aspects of Regency Manners and Mores

The Regency Way of Death:   Origins of Night Funerals

During the Regency, there were still some wealthy aristocrats, and quite a few royals, whose funerals were held after dark. But those night-time funerals had their origins in the seventeenth century and actually began as a revolt by a number … Continue reading

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The Regency Way of Death:   Ladies at Funerals?

Did women attend funerals during the Regency? That is a rather complex question for which a simple "yes" or "no" answer will not suffice. The statement that Regency women did not attend funerals due to their "delicate sensibilities" has been … Continue reading

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The Cut:   The Ultimate & Final Social Weapon

The cut to which I refer is, of course, the dreaded cut direct, though there is some debate regarding its name during our favorite period. The cut has made its appearance in a great many Regency novels beginning with those … Continue reading

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The Regency Way of Death:   The Tricks of the Funeral Trade

Last week, I wrote about the various aspects of the funeral trade in Regency England. That trade was completely unregulated, as it had been for more than a century, and corruption was rampant among many of those who were involved … Continue reading

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The Regency Way of Death:   Furnishing the Funeral

Most scholars agree that the early modern period in Europe ended with the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo and the emergence of the first "global powers" at the Congress of Vienna. Thus, this long period of transition from the Renaissance … Continue reading

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The "Expunger of Naughtiness" — Thomas Bowdler

I must admit, I purloined that delicious phrase from the title of a brief article in The Republican, written by Richard Carlile, about Thomas Bowlder. In fact, it is a very apt description of what he did to some well-known … Continue reading

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Did Prinny Turn the Victorians into Prudes?

Well, he didn’t do it all by himself, he had help. From the Carlton House set, from his princely brothers, even, ironically, from his father, George III. All of the various influences in his life contrived to turn a very … Continue reading

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A Gentleman Does Not Wear a Sword in the Presence of a Lady!

Over the years I have read any number of Regency romance novels in which the hero wears his sword on some social occasion. Shame on him! No true gentleman would ever have worn a sword in the presence of any … Continue reading

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