Don’t Try This at Home: Common Cures for Ailments in the Regency
I’m returning to one of my favourite books today, Buchan’s Domestic Medicine. At the back of my 1809 copy is a British Family Herbal, containing details of all the items thought necessary for both domestic use and for private medical practice. I’ve made a selection of some that will be familiar to you and some […]
A Curious Case
It’s not long until my next paranormal mystery/romance, A Plethora of Phantoms, is released. Set in present day Bath, the story features a Regency period dressing case. The idea came to me when I spotted this beauty on the internet. As you can see, the case is cleverly designed to hold everything that a well-heeled […]
Plagued by unruly spirits, who’s Freddie going to call?
This winter will be an exciting time for me and not just because of Christmas. My new contemporary mystery/romance, A Plethora of Phantoms published by Darkstroke will be released on 20th December. It’s up for pre-order now. In case you’re thinking that horror isn’t your thing, I can assure you that you’ll find a lot […]
Who Wants a Glass of Water?
Today, I thought I’d take another look at Buchan’s Domestic Medicine. In my edition, there is a section that discusses mineral waters. Now, for anyone who is a fan of Regency novels there is often mention of ‘taking the waters’, and this was usually undertaken in Bath, a city still known today for its hot […]
Foodie Heaven? Head to York
Last week I went up to York for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Afternoon Tea. It was an extra special occasion for me as I was one of the eleven finalists for the 2021 Joan Hessayon Award, for my book, The Unquiet Spirit. Deciding to make the most of things, the husband and I travelled up […]
Finding the Right Spot
A couple of weeks ago I made a trip to Falmouth in Cornwall; it was mainly for research purposes for my forthcoming book due out later this year, but I can’t deny that I also enjoyed my visit and it wasn’t all about work. It was sad to discover that, thanks to Covid restrictions, one […]
A Cure for Every Ill?
Having recently purchased one of the most popular domestic medical advice books of the Regency period – Buchan’s Domestic Medicine Modernized– I thought I’d look at a few common ailments and see how they were treated in the past. If you’re a bit squeamish, look away now! FeversAccording to Buchan, fevers are usually caused by […]
Wellington: Was his one failure the making of him?
I thought I’d write a little bit about a real-life Regency hero, Arthur Wellesley, the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852). From unpromising beginnings, Wellington rose to become one of the towering figures of the nineteenth century. His reputation for integrity and devotion to duty make him stand out in an age when these qualities were seldom […]
Will You Take the High Road? A Tour of Scotland
Regular readers of my blog may recall my article about John Byng, Viscount Torrington, an 18th century diarist who wrote about his travels round Britain. Well, in the Gentleman’s Magazine, I discovered yet another chap who enjoyed touring the country. Amongst the ecletic mix of articles in the July 1812 edition, one in particular caught […]