Men-At-Arms Series 126

I should catalogue my small but useful collection of non-fiction. Recently, I visited the National Army Museum in search of information. (At the moment I am researching British Hussar Regiments in the late 18th and early 19th century for my new novel, Monday's Child, the sequel to Sunday's Child published as an e-book.) Anyway, while removing a book from the shelf I found Wellington's Light Cavalry No.126 in the Men-At-Arms-Series by Bryan Fosten published by Osprey. I bought this informative book with many illustrations of uniforms and equipment ages ago and had forgotten about it. That's why I need to make a list of my books.

From My Bookshelf

Redcoat - The British Soldier in the Age of Horse and Musket by Richard Holmes is an interesting addition to my library.

 'Wonderful ...Not just a work of history - but of enthusiasm and unparalleled knowledge.' Bernard Cornwell.

'Redcoat is the story of the British soldier from the Seven Year War through to the Mutiny and Crimea. It is consistently entertaining, full of brilliantly chosen anecdotes, and rattles along at a good light infantry pace.' David Crane. Spectator Books of the Year.

From my bookcase Wellington's...

Amongst other books I am reading Wellington's Peninsular War Generals & Their Battles. A Biographical and Historical Dictionary by T. A. Heathcote.

The book "covers the lives of forty-one of the best known divisional commanders, principal staff officers and heads of supporting arms and services in Wellington's Anglo-Portuguese army which famously halted Napoleon's previously invincible eagles and forced them back into France..."

Home Grown Vegetables

Home grown vegetables for lunch today. New potatoes with parsley sauce, Swiss Chard dressed with powdered sesame seeds and vinegar and runner beans. Delicious.

English Costume for Sports and Outdoor Recreation.

English Costume for Sports and Outdoor Recreation 16th - 19th century by C. Willet and Phillis Cummington is a very interesting book. I don't own a copy but have frequently consulted a copy borrowed from the library.

Weeds and Pot Marigolds

The weeds have been growing like crazy, and the Lady's Mantle had finished flowering in a long narrow border, so I weeded and pruned this morning. Must say the pot marigolds look marvellous they are about two and a half feet tall, usually they are only about fifteen inches tall.

Costumes ffor Birth, Marriage and Death

Costumes for Births Marriage and Death by P.E.Cunnington and Catherine Lucas from the 11th century to 1914.  In the past I have consulted this book which is informative and interesting.

Costume - Household Servants -11th - 19th Century

Costume of Household Servants by P.E. Cunnington.

I don't own a copy of this book, but I have consulted and read it for pleasure in the past, and found it interesting and useful.

Handbook of English Costume in the 19th Century

Here are two more snippets from the Handbook of English Costume in the 19th Century by C. Willet and Phillis Cunnington.

COURT

'My dress at Court was a white satin petticoat with a patent net drapery - gold Brussels and fringe - gown; and train of green velvet ornamented with gold; headdress of seven white ostrich feathers and diamonds.' 1813. Journals of Mrs Calvert.

BRIDAL DRESS

'a robe of real Brussels point lace over white satin...cottage bonnet of Brussels lace with two ostrich feathers; she wore a deep lace veil and a white satin pelisse trimmed with swansdown. The dress cost seven thousand guineas, the bonnet 150 and the veil 200.' 1812. The Ipswich Journal.

National Army Museum, Chelsea, London

Yesterday, I visited the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London and made loads of notes for the sequels to Sunday's Child set in the Regency era. I also visited the research centre. The staff were very helpful and found books for me to consult. A very happy day.

Handbook of English Costume in the 19th Century

Handbook of English Costume in the 19th Century by C.Willet and Phillis Cunnington contains detailed descriptions of fabrics, gentlemen's and ladies' clothes and accessories.

For example: "Waistcoats: Materials: Striped Marcella, buff kerseymere, striped Valencia, casimere, swansdown, jean.

Throughout the two decades the back could be drawn in by means of one or two pairs of tapes or (rare) midline lacing.

Pockets sometimes absent, otherwise two horizontal c 5" wide, welted, containing the snuff-box, the watch being carried in the fob.

The lining and back usually twilled cotton, occasionally silk; the canvas of the eighteenth century no longer use.

Colours

'white, green buff with blue or black stripes wide asunder; blue striped twill jean manufactured expressly for the waistcoats and trousers of men of fashion. 1810 Ackermann's Repository."

Historical Research - Costume

Dictionary of English Costume 900 - 19000 by C. Willet and Phillis Cunnington.  I always find these authors' books interesting.

Family Tree

This morning, I revised the first two chapters of Monday's Child, the sequel to Sunday's Child.

I had been struggling to introduce the characters from the earlier novel without confusing the reader. Then it was though a bright light was switched on. I realised I need to construct the heroine's family tree.

Historical - Research - Underclothes

The History of Underclothes by C.Willet & Phillis Cunnington. Over the years I have used books by these authors for research, and always found the detailed information extremely helpful, so I have ordered a copy of this one.

Culinary Delights

Shopped for food like crazy today. This week I plan to use Swiss chard from the garden to make a chard and ricotta pie, and to use the stalks for a cheese dish. I also plan to make colcannon, mango ice cream, and courgette pickle with courgettes from the garden. I also bought ready made biscuit dough which my small granddaughter will enjoy rolling out and cutting into various shapes before I put the biscuits in the oven. And I'll make more ice lollies for the grandchildren. Well that plus my strict writing routine and some gardening should keep me out of trouble.

Regency - Reseach - The Duchess of Richmond's Ball

The Duchess of Richmond's Ball 15th June 1815 by David Miller. Chapter One gives a very brief history of the Low Countries, Chapter Two introduces the reader to the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and their family, Chapter Three describes the arrival of the English, who had been "confined in their homeland" since the short peace in 1803.

Apart from the events preceding the famous ball David Miller presents the guest list and allows the reader to make the acquaintance of Civilian and Military guests. He also delves into romances, and in Appendix E examines Wellington's affair with James Wedderburn-Webster's wife, Lady Frances.

All in all valuable research.

Regency - Romance - Jane Austen's Christmas

Jane Austen's Christmas, The Festive Season in  Georgian England, Compiled by Maria Hubert.. "delivers far more than it promises ... far from an exploitation of current popularity it is a most interesting compilation of diaries, letters, extracts from the novels and even a rhyming recipe for Christmas pudding! Conjures up wonderfully the spirit of the times.  THE LADY"

Regency - Research - The Wordl of Jane Austen

Although I own several books about Jane Austen I particularly like this well-illustrated one - The World of Jane Austen by Nigel Nicolson Photographs by Stephen Colover first published 1991.

"Nigel Nicholson explains how Jane Austen's creative talent embraced a keen awareness of architecture, gardens and landscape. He follows her through southern England  and as far north as Staffordshire to identify the places she lived in and visited, and suggests how she drew on them for settings of her love stories - grand houses like Rosings and Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice, elegant town houses in Bath and London and Regency villas."

Regency - Research - Madams Bawds & Brothel Keepers of London

Madams Bawds & Brothel Keepers of London by Fergus Linnane "is an entertaining romp through several centuries of social history," including The Regency.

Regency - Research - Royal St Jame's

Royal St Jame's Being a Story of Kings, Clubmen and Courtesans by E.J. Burford is useful when researching Regency London.

"A scandalous and sumptuously illustrated history of the royal parish of St James in London, from earliest times to the heyday of the Regency... the author colourfully portrays the astonishing variety of the little world of St James. He describes the long-standing rivalry between the beaux and bloods of the great Georgian clubs of White's, Boodles and Crockford's" - as well as many anecdotes.