Saturday 19 September 2009

All things Jane Austen - A Regency day out at Chawton


On a bright and beautiful September morning I took my French friend down to Chawton. Jane Austen's cottage and garden looked their best in the sunshine. The garden was full of colourful flowers and the peaceful atmosphere helped to capture a sense of what it must have been like to live there two hundred years ago.


You enter through a door surrounded by late-flowering roses, to find the interior full of items that bring Jane vividly before you. Her topaz cross and a delightful blue bead bracelet, her small writing table, the letters and papers concerning her books, the fine needlework she produced, all create a sense of her daily life in this home.

On that day, Chawton House, "the Great House" as the Austen ladies called it, was open to the public. This complemented the impressions gained at the cottage, of life as lived by the gentry in a less hurried era.


                                                 Chawton House - 'The Great House'


Diana demonstrates the language of the fan to her beau


A display of Regency era dancing by the Winchester Dance Group

We were fortunate to see a display of Regency dancing - a waltz and several quadrilles, performed in costume. Even more fortunate, we were able to join in the dancing at the end of the display, but I fear we did not perform with as much skill as our teachers.

Diana, the lady in the white dress in the photo, is using her fan to communicate with Regency gentleman David Caldo. Diana gave us a lesson in 'The language of the Fan'.


Wednesday 26 August 2009

Suitable for a Regency hero


At first I was a bit bewildered by Desperate Romantics. Then I saw James Walton's review in The Telegraph, which said:
'Once you realise this is essentially cheerful nonsense, you can relax, give up trying to learn about art history and enjoy even the corniest moments. '

So I did enjoy it - the discovery of the models, the anguished painting, the sliding out of bed to write poems, the rich colours and settings and the dominating energy of Gabriel Rossetti.

Aidan Turner looks very good in period costume. In fact he'd be fine in Regency breeches and maybe he'll land a role in another period film soon. I could well imagine him as Lord Byron
hmmm.......


Sunday 26 July 2009

In All Honour - a hero with a difference




'Why can't I meet a man like Greg in real life?'

Several people have asked this question after finishing In All Honour. Of course, it helped that Greg is over six foot tall, broad shouldered and has a pleasant, open look with glowing amber eyes and coppery brown hair. He is energetic, brave and kind but fierce in the defence of his family and his honour.


In her review of the book for MyShelf.com, Rachel Hyde says: "I often think that there are not enough Regency novels set in Bath, surely one of the main places that come to mind associated with this period. This book brings the town to life, with a good feel of the place and its pleasures and pastimes. I also enjoyed the amiable Greg, a pleasant change from the usual dominating alpha male and somebody it would be easy to like as well as be attracted to. The odd "gray" character might add spice to this type of tale however, where everybody is either very likeable or irredeemable villains but this is still a very enjoyable novel."

Greg appeared in The Wild Card and so he was already established as a nice guy. It seemed to me that the only way to balance this was to have a truly horrible villain. And the people who like Greg so much just love to hate Lord Percival. So I think my story gives pleasure in some rather different ways...

Thursday 16 July 2009

A Treat #Nicola Cornick


I really enjoy reading Nicola Cornick's Regency stories. She brings the period alive and her characters always fascinate me. In addition the places are so well described that I can always see where the action is taking place and imagine the settings, whether ballroom or bedroom.


A couple of weeks ago, Nicola ran a competition to identify some ruggedly handsome heroes. Well, that was a most enjoyable exercise. She was offering a copy of The Scandals of an Innocent as a prize. And then she told me that I was the winner. The selection process involves her very handsome dog, Monty. Nicola explains how the choice is made on her own blog: A Passion for History, where you can also see a photo of Monty.

Anyway, I'm now a big fan of Monty as I have a big treat in store....Nicola's latest book to read - what a great way to spend a rainy evening. So far, my favourite hero from Nicola's stories is Lord Richard Kestrel but perhaps in a few days I'll be changing my mind.

Friday 12 June 2009

Kioskmania



In the interval since my last post, I've been travelling in Turkey. Although there were many other items on the agenda, I kept a keen lookout for kiosks to lounge around in.

This photo is of an open air kiosk in Konya. It is in a rooftop restaurant and is furnished with tables and chairs. No banquettes in this one! The structure gives an illusion of privacy to a family while they eat. The wooden slats form a simple but pleasing pattern. And there are colours and patterns even in the woodwork of the roof.
In the town of Konya some restaurants have set up each room like a different type of kiosk. Some are very large and ornate with silken curtains and impressive ornaments. They have antique tables and chairs in fine woods, These dining rooms are suitable for important celebrations for people in their best clothes.
Other kiosks in the same restaurant are very much closer to a nomad's tent. In these rooms you would sit or recline on a low bench covered with patterned kilims under a draped awning. The food is brought on large brass trays and placed on a low frame about two feet above the floor. When you sit cross legged or recline, you can't really eat too much. Perhaps it's worth trying the kiosk diet...?

Friday 1 May 2009

The Kiosk in the garden

To us the word 'kiosk' represents a small structure where newspapers are sold. The word came into English from the Turkish 'köshk', meaning 'pavilion'. In the heat of summer it was more pleasant to spend as much time as possible in the open air. The kiosks were made of wooden slats and could be as simple or as ornamental as wished.
                                      
In many cafés in the south west of Turkey you can choose between a table and chairs or a kiosk. Taking tea in a kiosk is a lengthy and relaxing business. The cushioned benches are so tempting you may well have a little siesta before you can find it in your heart to get up and leave. Under the wooden roof of your temporary home with its decorative slatted rails, you can lie and watch the poplar branches sway gently in the breeze against the vivid blue sky.




As I love this element of Turkish life, it was inevitable that a kiosk would appear in my story, April and May,  set in Constantinople. Of course it is not just an agreeable place to sit during the heat of midday but the only safe place for conversations about planning great political changes. It is in the kiosk, too far away for any prying ears to make out what is said, that His Excellency, Kerim Pasha, can discuss the proposed vital military reforms with Tom Hawkesleigh.




There is a kiosk on the cover of April and May, although a more ornate one, reminiscent of the harem kiosk at Top Kapi Palace.