Abegail, I am thrilled you found my story engaging despite its shortcomings. The critique of a fellow author always humbles me. Rather than acquit myself, I shall endeavour to do better in the future. The fashions described here are based on real dresses in the V&A collection, as well as on several other dresses depicted in period portraits. Not all of the details can be seen in these portraits since most only portray the top half, but if the dates on the paintings are correct, all of the dresses fall within the period from 1795-1815. My imagination had to fill in the details, and I am sorry if this gave the dresses a more modern aspect. As to meals, Jane Austen avoids describing them. I based my writing on the relatively sparse descriptions in The Diary of William Holland (Puapers and Pig Killers) as customs in London were very different from customs in the countryside. I recognize that this does not make me an expert, and I shall research this better for my upcoming book, or avoid meals altogether. After all, it worked for Ms. Austen. As for the parsonage, it was purchased by Mr. Edwards and gifted to Mr. Watson. This fact got edited out by the editor. As did the fact that the old parsonage was no longer in use, except for the few families who lived nearby. Your observation makes me feel somewhat vindicated for including these facts in the first draft. Jane Austen captures the decline of the British class structure with such subtlety that we tend to underappreciate that her stories are populated with middle-class characters who come into contact with the upper class. It was a changing world, and the growing presence of diverse ethnicities would not have gone unnoticed by such an acute mindas Jane Austen's. It cannot be a coincidence that the heroine of Sanditon was mulatto, but I acknowledge that I am far from an expert on the subject. Thank you so much for taking the time to read the novel and for your very valuable assessment. This is a debut novel in the genre. Hopefully, future novels will not disappoint.
As for the parsonage, it was purchased by Mr. Edwards and gifted to Mr. Watson. This fact got edited out by the editor. As did the fact that the old parsonage was no longer in use, except for the few families who lived nearby. Your observation makes me feel somewhat vindicated for including these facts in the first draft. Jane Austen captures the decline of the British class structure with such subtlety that we tend to underappreciate that her stories are populated with middle-class characters who come into contact with the upper class. It was a changing world, and the growing presence of diverse ethnicities would not have gone unnoticed by such an acute mindas Jane Austen's. It cannot be a coincidence that the heroine of Sanditon was mulatto, but I acknowledge that I am far from an expert on the subject. Thank you so much for taking the time to read the novel and for your very valuable assessment. This is a debut novel in the genre. Hopefully, future novels will not disappoint.