Play Book Tag discussion

Another not close vote, lol. The tag for next month will be:

regency

Please share your reading plans and recommendations below.

Remember, for the regular monthly reads, the book can be shelved as "regency" on Goodreads, or be a book that is not yet shelved that way but you feel should be.

One way to find books to read for this tag is to please visit:

https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/...

We encourage people to link to additional lists below if they find them.

Happy Reading!!!

All I can say is "help!". I have nothing on my shelf for this tag. Nothing.

Me either!

I am reading the viscount and the vicar's daughter. It was on my fall flurries list for Christmas time, and apparently it counts as regency. I can't get it through the library, but good old Amazon, for $7.95..... Other choices I have (as a non-regency reader) include:

The heiress gets a duke. (because its sequel the devil and the heiress, looked kind of cute...)

And... The Duke and I, which I believe is Bridgerton #1, and I haven't blitsed that yet, and had planned to soon....

I may read Bridgerton # 1 (!) - The Duke and I

Or Temeraire # 3 - Black Powder War

Or A Wallflower Christmas

Or Lady Osbaldestone and the Missing Christmas Carols (Lady O # 2)

Anita ...
If you haven't read any of the Temeraire books you might want to try one.

Jane Austen is also a real possibility.

This isn't helping me. I've been stuck in Regency England like an addict for most of this year and the last. They're like potato chips... there's always just one more.

I do have sympathy for readers who aren't interested in costume soap operas. There is some serious literature that qualifies, including anything by Jane Austin.

Longbourn is P&P from the perspective of a maid in the Bennett household.

What Angels Fear - The first book of an excellent mytery series

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is very, very long. But worth the time and effort. There were some interesting magical twists on waging war against Napoleon.

Anita wrote: "All I can say is "help!". I have nothing on my shelf for this tag. Nothing."

I'm thinking you might appreciate Byron in Love by Edna O'Brien as he is quite a fascinating character, even though I find him a tad repulsive. I read this some time ago.

There are a couple of others which I haven't read about women associated with Byron, one which has been recently published in 2021 about Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary Shelley's mother, Love and Fury: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft.

Another is about his daughter, Ada Lovelace, Enchantress of Numbers.

I'm not sure what I am going to read either. I have several Jane Austen's which I keep putting off, Sense and Sensibility,Sanditon & Other Stories, Northanger Abbey, and Emma, as well as a Bow Street Runners mystery, Shadow of the Hangman and a book about Napolean on St. Helena, Finding Napoleon

For anyone trying to find a regency book that isn't the traditional romance, I found some good lists that may help. (Double check the actual tags if you're trying to match the exact tag for Fly the PBT Skies)

Some non-fiction related to the regency era: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Regency history: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

"Regency and Victorian Mysteries" https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

"Regency Murder Mysteries" https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

A whole list dedicated to Jane Austen biographies: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...

YA Regency Fantasy: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

MM Regency Romance: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...

Christian Regency Fiction: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

Books written during the regency era (mostly - there are some modern books mixed in this list): https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
The Scarlet Pimpernel is an outstanding option from this list.

Thanks Sue - Scarlet Pimpernel sounds good to me. I never read it, and I would like to read more about the French Revolution. I also own a non-fiction book about the women of the revolution, so I'll look for that too.

Anita - I'm considering Remarkable Creatures . Several people here liked it. It's not a regency romance, but it is set in the right time period.

Many Dicken's books also have regency tags, even though most were written decades later.

I put holds on His Majesty's Dragon, the Duke and I, and the first book in the CS Harris series.
Something by Georgette Heyer.
Mansfield Park or Pride & Prejudice, or a book about Jane Austen.
Emily goes to Exeter
The Regency Years by Robert Morrison
Audible also has many free ones I can try.

I'd like to mix it up with books set in other countries during the early 1800's.

Booknblues wrote: "Anita wrote: "All I can say is "help!". I have nothing on my shelf for this tag. Nothing."

I'm thinking you might appreciate Byron in Love by Edna O'Brien as he is qui..."

I would also recommmend: Romantic Outlaws: The Extraordinary Lives of Mary Wollstonecraft and Her Daughter Mary Shelley - Wollstonecraft is one of the first published feminists. She and Shelley are both fascinating, and full of contradictions. The book also includes Mary Shelley's husband Percy, Lord Byron, and the affair between Byron and Mary Shelly's step sister. Byron really was a rake.

Jgrace wrote: "This isn't helping me. I've been stuck in Regency England like an addict for most of this year and the last. They're like potato chips... there's always just one more.

I do have sympathy for reade..."

These all sound good. I bought Jonathon Strange decades ago it seems, but I don't know if I even opened it. I just put a hold on the CS Harris book too.

You'd think that with an MA in 18th century studies I'd be thrilled with this tag, but I'm not! Mainly due to the fact that if I can, I would rather avoid England until December for Fly the PBT skies (I doubt I'll find any books tagged Dorset/Bournemouth/Southampton - I could cope with London, but may need England too, depending on the tag as I'm trying to get the extra 500 miles each month). Also I have a strict time definition for the Regency period - 1795-1820. However it does mean I can give a lot of suggestions! I've bolded ones I've read and can recommend

For those doing Christmas in July there is Yuletide: A Jane Austen-inspired Collection Of Stories

For Romance lovers:
Bridgerton (obvs)
Georgette Heyer
Cat Sebastian
Tessa James
Austenland
Wyndcross
The smile of the stranger
The Sergeant's Lady

Classics:
Jane Austen
Ann Radcliffe
Frankenstein
Vanity Fair
Les Miserables
The Scarlet Pimpernel

Poetry:
Lord Byron
William Blake
William Wordsworth
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Retellings:
Longbourn
The Other Bennet Sister
Mr. Darcy's Diary - this author has books on other Austen heroes if P and P isn't your favourite
Death Comes to Pemberley
The Austen Girls

Historical fantasy:
Sorcery & cecilia - also young adult
Shades of Milk and Honey (#1)
Glamour in Glass (#2)
Sorcerer to the crown
His majesty's dragon
Mary Bennett and the Bloomsbury Coven
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
Jane and the damned

Historical mystery:
What angels fear
The hanover square affair
Jane and the unpleasantness at scargrave manor (#1)
A Murder in Time
Pride and Prescience
Jane and the Man of the Cloth (#2)
The Duke's Agent
The Hanging Psalm
Secrets in the snow - also young adult
The English Monster

Historical:
The jane austen project
The gentleman’s guide to vice and virtue - also young adult
The lady's guide to petticoats and piracy
Sharpe's Tiger (this needs one more tag of regency for those of us doing fly the pbt skies)
The Happy Return
Young Bloods - Scarrow
Belgravia
Little - Edward Carey
Madame Tussaud - Moran
Burning Bright

Nonfiction:
Any biography on Jane Austen - can recommend Worsley and Clery!
Mad and Bad: Real Heroines of the Regency
Mock Oyster Sauce and a Cure for Corns
Prince of Pleasure
The Regency Revolution: Jane Austen, Napoleon, Lord Byron and the Making of the Modern World
What Regency women did for us
In these times - Uglow
Revolution - Ackroyd
England's Mistress - Williams
Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire - Foreman
Ladies of the Grand Tour
Any book on George III, George IV (early years), Napoleon, Nelson, the Napoleonic Wars or the French Revolution

I'm either going to end up with:
Sharpe's Tiger (if it gets the extra 1 tag!)
The Regency Revolution

NancyJ wrote: "Thanks Sue - Scarlet Pimpernel sounds good to me. I never read it, and I would like to read more about the French Revolution. I also own a non-fiction book about the women of the revolution, so I'l..."

Yeah, the only Dickens I can think that would DEFINITELY fit this time period is A Tale of Two Cities - London and Paris during the French Revolution

Sue wrote: "For anyone trying to find a regency book that isn't the traditional romance, I found some good lists that may help. (Double check the actual tags if you're trying to match the exact tag for Fly the..."

Looking at these lists, I can recommend/suggest:
Perdita - Paula Byrne
The Lady in Red (otherwise known as The Scandalous Lady W) - Hallie Rubenhold, author of The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper.
The Age of Wonder - Richard Holmes
A Royal Affair - Stella Tillyard
The Time Traveller's Guide to Regency Britain - Ian Mortimer. I've read others in this series and it's brilliant!
The Trials of the King of Hampshire

Jane Austen: The World of Her Novels - Deirdre le Faye
Jane Austen's England - Roy Adkins

Jane Austen biographies - I'm just going to list the authors to save me writing Austen's name again and again!
Lucy Worsley
Genius - Paula Byrne
Helena Kelly
E J Clery
Claire Tomalin
Janet Todd
Devoney Looser

Jenny wrote: "Sue wrote: "For anyone trying to find a regency book that isn't the traditional romance, I found some good lists that may help. (Double check the actual tags if you're trying to match the exact tag...

Yeah, the only Dickens I can think that would DEFINITELY fit this time period is A Tale of Two Cities - London and Paris during the French Revolution
"

Thanks, Jenny, that will work for me. If I'm feeling motivated, I might read 3 books related to the revolution.

I saw different dates shown for the Regency era. According to wikipedia, the regency era is considered 1795 to 1837, though the regent was technically only in place from 1811-1820. But I suspect that some of the books with regency tags were tagged based on the recognizable story types, rather than the dates.

Either way - I think Jack the Ripper was at the end of 1800's so it might not fit.

NancyJ wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Sue wrote: "For anyone trying to find a regency book that isn't the traditional romance, I found some good lists that may help. (Double check the actual tags if you're trying to match..."

Yeah, I only mentioned the Jack the Ripper book in case no-one recognised the author's name but enjoyed that one. It was just to jog some memories!

And my dates for the regency start from when George IV took over from George III when he went mad to when George III dies and George IV becomes King, to make it clearer if anyone wants to be as precise as me!

Jenny wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Sue wrote: "For anyone trying to find a regency book that isn't the traditional romance, I found some good lists that may help. (Double check the actual tags if you're ..."

I read that "Officially it occupies only the narrow slot between 1811 and 1820, when King George IV was Prince Regent. Enterprising authors have, however, managed to make it stretch from roughly 1800 to the 1830s (until Victoria comes along in 1837)."

Yeah, there's a lot of different dates floating around the 'net. Just thought I'd share what I'll be using as a definition.

So glad to see many recommended Temeraire! I loved those books!

No clue what I read yet-still worrying about completing some June books I am behind on. But a lot of great lists and suggestions for me to follow up on

Master and Commander is in the Audible birthday sale today!

Woot! I am thrilled!

Also not surprised. I have no shortage of reading options in my TBR Towers, and need no planning. I have every single genre includimg non-fiction and books written during the regency era like Frankenstein.

Do want to remind all that War of 1812 fits as well. This is more for non-fiction options.

Thank you so much, everyone, for the many suggestions and ideas. I will definitely check out each of the specific books suggested to me, and I'm hopeful one of them will do the trick.

Jgrace wrote: "This isn't helping me. I've been stuck in Regency England like an addict for most of this year and the last. They're like potato chips... there's always just one more.

I do have sympathy for reade..."

I really enjoyed Longbourne! Good suggestion.

Anita wrote: "All I can say is "help!". I have nothing on my shelf for this tag. Nothing."

If you read Jane Austen it would count, but I see you gave Pride and Prejudice 2 stars, so are not a fan.

Not thrilled, but will use this to reread Pride and Prejudice and perhaps some mystery book set then if it fits with enough challenges. There is NOTHING that will fit with my Fly the Skies destination, but that was the case for all of the shelves,

Plus, to be honest, I voted for this first since I had no desire for chronic illness at all.

I'll be reading Bridgerton #2- The Viscount Who Loved Me.

Also noticed The Other Boleyn Girl is tagged 5 times as regency, so that may be on the docket as well. It's definitely doesn't fit the time frame of the official Regency period.

Fiction writers and publishers use a lot of latitude when describing something as 'regency' as do readers.

I mentioned the War of 1812 - I have no idea how his books are tagged but these two definitely hit the period given they involve wars by the Prince Regent:

When Britain Burned the White House: The 1814 Invasion of Washington by Peter Snow

To War With Wellington: From The Peninsula To Waterloo plus The Battle of Waterloo Experience (if you have an interest in military history) both also by Peter Snow

Seems to me you can also read biographies of Wellington and others for regency. I'd stretch it to President James and First Lady Dolley Madison given the War of 1812 and the burning of the White House fitting squarely within that period.

Historical Fiction Readers! Isn't there at least one book out there about Wellington and his romantic relationships told from the woman's POV? I have a faint recollection of one being published in recent years -more than one actually because I believe he was notorious for affairs with pillars of society with political connections.

I'll be posting my favroite Christmas Regency recommendations under Christmas in July. Many are considered part of the romance genre but some are really far more than just a romance.

If Queen Victoria is ruling England at the time the book is set, it's past any definition of regency. However, since the Prince Regent became George IV, I would extend it through his reign given little really changed.

I'm looking forward to catching up on some historical regency period mysteries - both series I've started and new ones on the TBR:

Captain Lacey Series: A Disappearance in Drury Lane

St. Cyr - What Angels Fear

Wrexford & Sloan - Murder on Black Swan Lane

I also plan to read the second Temeraire: Throne of Jade

As for romance - most will be for Christmas in July but I have the third Bridgerton here to read: An Offer From a Gentleman.

I want to sneak in a re-read of my favorite Georgette Heyer - Frederica. Never fails to bring joy and comfort and a few good laughs.

Lastly, there're these 2 books in my TBR that call to me:

The Time Traveller's Guide to Regency Britain
Georgette Heyer's Regency World

Look what just popped up on my Facebook feed, perfect for a regency themed month!

https://originaltheatreonline.com/pro....

The actor who portrayed Wickham in the Colin Firth version of P&P gives a one man show on what happens in the 30 years after. Looks like you stream online by downloading the app from the website and paying the fee for streaming.

Theresa wrote: "Look what just popped up on my Facebook feed, perfect for a regency themed month!

https://originaltheatreonline.com/pro....

The actor who portrayed Wickham in the Colin F..."

Oooh - I'll have to check this out!

I think that I am going the Jane Austen route this month - kind of. I'll try to read one actual Austen novel - although not sure which one. And I have the following Austen spin-offs on deck from my physical TBR:
- What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist—the Facts of Daily Life in 19th-Century England
- The Man Who Loved Jane Austen
- Seducing Mr. Darcy (Honestly, this has some pretty bad reviews. But the premise sounds like fun so I'll give it a go. And sometimes it can be just as much fun to read a bad book as a good one :-) )

I'll probably get in at least one Regency romance also, as my TBR is full of them. Maybe a Christmas one?

And - although it goes against my goal to read primary books from my physical TBR - I may read a book from my virtual TBR also: Longbourn

Sue wrote: "For anyone trying to find a regency book that isn't the traditional romance, I found some good lists that may help. (Double check the actual tags if you're trying to match the exact tag for Fly the..."

These are great options, Sue! I was just going to comment that while many of us may instantly think of romance when we think of regency, it is actually much broader than that!

I have two books sitting on my coffee table that I have been meaning to get to for a bit now:

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore
The Most Eligible Lord in London by Ella Quinn

I will hopefully get to one of those!

I still have Regencies I bought when Borders bookstore closed and everything was on clearance. Time to pull some out. The thing about Regencies and romance in general for me is that they are like candy. They are just great in between other books, but a steady diet can be a bit sickening.

Nicole R wrote: "I have two books sitting on my coffee table that I have been meaning to get to for a bit now:

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore
[book:The Most Eligible Lord in..."

I remember my days as an associate in a law firm .... the ONLY things I read for relaxation were cozy mysteries and contemporary and regency romances. This lasted a very long time. My only reading time was commuting and just before falling asleep.

A few options for me:

- The Midnight Bargain / C.L. Polk
- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies / Seth Grahame-Smith
- Pride and Prejudice and Kitties: A Cat-Lover's Romp through Jane Austen's Classic / Pamela Jane

Ok, so a couple of them are twists, but they are on my tbr!

Theresa wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "I have two books sitting on my coffee table that I have been meaning to get to for a bit now:

A Rogue of One's Own by Evie Dunmore
[book:The Most..."

I wonder if this one is Victorian rather than Regency? I read it but I may be confusing it with another one with a similar theme.

Robin P wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "I have two books sitting on my coffee table that I have been meaning to get to for a bit now:

A Rogue of One's Own by [author:Evie Dunmore|18775709..."

The book has 11 regency tags, even though the late 1800's setting is in the Victorian era. I suspect that many books were tagged regency because of the recognizable style of regency romances. Tags rule at PBT.

If a book already has a lot of regency tags, I would count it. If it doesn't, then I will look more closely at the dates to decide.

This article about Duke of Wellington and his women has an interesting reading list at the end. Definitely fits regency.

https://shannonselin.com/2021/03/duke...

Thanks for all the lists!!!

I love the variety of books about the period, including daily life. Many seem tailor made to provide great details for regency novelists. I'm actually getting curious about what Jane Austen ate - and how she cleaned her teeth (I know it was complicated).

I've definitely warmed up to this tag, and I have a nice variety of books on my possibilities list, with romance, fantasy, history, mystery, non-fiction, retellings, and possibly a naval voyage.

Theresa wrote: "This article about Duke of Wellington and his women has an interesting reading list at the end. Devinitely fits regency.

https://shannonselin.com/2021/03/duke..."

It reminds me of the movie about Nelson, and his paramour Mrs Hamilton.

Experts -

I think I need to round out my list with a good bodice ripper (passion not rape).

What are your favorite "sexy" regency books or authors?

NancyJ wrote: "Experts -

I think I need to round out my list with a good bodice ripper (passion not rape).

What are your favorite "sexy" regency books or authors?"

Stephanie Laurens and Eloisa James are a couple that I like.

NancyJ wrote: "Experts -

I think I need to round out my list with a good bodice ripper (passion not rape).

What are your favorite "sexy" regency books or authors?"


I'm going with Temptation's Darling by Johanna Lindsey which is her last book before her passing. The Prince Regent is mentioned in the blurb and it matches well with Pursue It words. I've read others by her and there is usually a good mix of humor in with the bodice ripping romance.

Thanks Robin and Jen.

Nancy - I like Stephanie Laurens overall, but have a few very specific favorites that can easily be read as stand-alones. I have read these in print and last year listened to the audio of all but one - I disliked some of the readers but I also am not fond os audiobooks:

The Lady Risks All but I did not like Matthew Brenhar reading it at all.

A Fine Passion - but disliked Jill Tanner's reading the audio

All About Passion - fabulously read by Simon Prebble - I will listen to him read just about anything.

Devil's Bride - first introducing the Cynster family.

Other readers of her books that I thought great were Steve West, Helen Lloyd, and Napoleon Ryan.

Thanks Theresa, I really appreciate the recommendations. I'll look for these. I have a feeling that I will be reading more print books or kindles this month. I don't like the narration of some of the older books. Some make the women sound squeaky and the men pompous. Maybe they imagine that's the way people talked 200 years ago? Or maybe I'm just spoiled by the recent increase in quality of audiobook performances.

It's hard to even get some of the Heyer books in audio now. The library can only get abridged versions of 2 of the books, and they can't get Frederica at all. Same with Audible. Maybe they're working on new versions.

NancyJ wrote: "Thanks Theresa, I really appreciate the recommendations. I'll look for these. I have a feeling that I will be reading more print books or kindles this month. I don't like the narration of some of t..."

One of the reasons Simon Prebble is so good is that he truly reads the books, and while making vocal adjustments in tone and pace and even accent, is not adopting some fake voice for different characters Jim Dale is one of the few audio readers who successfully changes voice to suit character - but he also comes from a comedy and vaudefille performance background.

NancyJ wrote: "Thanks Theresa, I really appreciate the recommendations. I'll look for these. I have a feeling that I will be reading more print books or kindles this month. I don't like the narration of some of t..."

I should mention that most of the more recent Stephanie Laurens books are set in the early years of Victoria, as they are the next generation - the children of the characters from the Regency.