Nina Jarrett's Blog

When thinking of summer in the times before theme parks and other modern outdoor entertainments, one's thoughts inevitably drift to picnics.

In the Regency era, summer picnics held a special place in the hearts of individuals seeking enjoyment amidst nature's embrace. Jane Austen skillfully weaved tales that captured the essence of these outdoor gatherings.

In this newsletter, I will delve into the world of Regency era summer picnics, exploring a small part of Jane Austen's literary portrayals...

This year I am traveling ... a lot. I am finally leaving my armchair to see the world and do some firsthand research.

I have been doing intensive deep dives online and asking for suggestions in forums of key historical places to see. From there, Mr. Jarrett and I made a big list of possible destinations, and then whittled them down as we prepared an itinerary that will not kill us off.

In doing so, I have discovered exceptional Living History Museums in both the USA and UK. What better way to ...

People of the Regency era really loved their soup.

Apparently so much that one could not plan a ball until one had enough white soup made.

Wait ... what?

“By the bye, Charles, are you really serious in meditating a dance at Netherfield?—I would advise you, before you determine on it, to consult the wishes of the present party; I am much mistaken if there are not some among us to whom a ball would be rather a punishment than a pleasure.”

“If you mean Darcy,” cried her brother, “he may go to bed...

Book 3 of Inconvenient Brides, My Fair Bluestocking, was just. released last month so it is a great time to discuss the subject of Bluestockings. Who were they? Why were they called bluestockings? And did they wear blue stockings?

And Thomas Rowlandson will (once again) wade in with a drawing on this Georgian and Regency era topic. Boy, that Rowlandson got around!

Until the late 1700s, bluestocking referred to learned people of both genders,

By the time of the Regency era, bluestocking had come...

As Book 4 of Inconvenient Brides is making its way through editing and approaches its release day, I thought I would share some of the journey in writing it.

By now, you may be aware that there is a sleepless young woman residing at Saunton Park. Based on the emails I have been receiving, many of you already guessed why young Jane Davis is suffering from insomnia.

All of this might raise the question—were they aware of the potential problems associated with caffeine in the Regency?

In other wor...

Cricket—a game described as a hybrid of baseball and chess, with games lasting from three hours to five days.

The second most popular sport on earth, with a viewership upwards of 2.5 billion.

And it all began in England, undergoing major development during the 18th century to become the national sport.

So popular that there are records of women playing it, too.

The first recorded match of all-women players was reported in the July 25, 1746 edition of the ‘Reading Mercury’, which must have dr...

Bathing in a gown and bonnet? Yup, they did that at the Roman baths in Bath!

If you had visited Bath during the time of Jane Austen, you would have enjoyed the privilege of using the public baths. Fully dressed.

In the book, Aristocrats, Stella Tillyard provides insight into what it was like to partake in the thermal water therapy using letters from the time period.

In the eighteenth century pride of place went to the Pump Room, where warm mineral water was sold by the glass, and the King’s Bat...

I am super excited to share a wonderful video of dressing in 1802.

Ilsa Gregoor, the costume designer I referenced in my last post about stays (the original push-up bra) created a charming video of historically accurate dressing from underwear to empire gown based on fashion that year.

One imagines that at some point Jane Austen herself wore such an outfit.

From stockings and garters, to chemise, stays, petticoat and the bib dress itself, it soon becomes clear that the invention of zippers ch...

When writing a steamy scene based in the Regency era, significant research is required to understand what layers of clothing would come off.

One of the most complex subjects I encountered was the subject of stays. As a reader, I could get by with a vague notion that it was some sort of corset worn before the time period of ... well ... corsets.

Now that I was writing, it was imperative I attained a deeper (and more accurate) understanding of stays and corsets.

However, it is a subject of deep...

I am happy to announce I am writing the final chapters of the upcoming Inconvenient Brides Book 3, My Fair Bluestocking, before sending it to my editor for the first round of editing.

Due to this current manuscript, I can safely state that I have spent quite a bit of time researching dancing and music to be enjoyed in the year 1820 over this past festive season. In doing so, I quite enjoyed one of Jane Austen's favorite songs, one of her famous hand copied music sheets that provides our modern ...