OK, as promised, here are the answers to the JA quiz I posted a few days ago. (I could only answer 6 of them):
1) Emma Woodhouse
2) Sotherton
3) Whist
4) Ward
5) Collarbone
6) Broadwood
7) Eliza
8) Catherine Morland
9) Heir at Law
10) Muslin
11) A snug farmhouse
12) Gowan’s Lotion
13) M and A
14) Meryton
15) The Laconia
16) Steward
I’d like to share why I like this period, and why it’s so rewarding to read-write about.
First, the clothes. Yeah, I know this sounds really superficial, but it was a period of about twenty years when women were not corseted and constricted, and I think that’s very significant. Stays were for support more than shaping. If you look online on costume sites, you can see that some stays were virtually like sports bras. Women could actually move–look how often Jane Austen’s heroines stride across-country. The men’s clothes are a tribute to beautiful, athletic male bodies–hideous on overweight slobs, of course, but then what fashion isn’t–and those tight pants–well, say no more…consider too that women wore no underwear. Oh, the possibilities.
There was so much happening in the early years of the 19c–terrific architecture, music, and literature, the abolitionist movement, and great political change. There were women writers, musicians, and artists, and at least one female astronomer. England was considered a sort of maverick country by the rest of Europe–its monarch, under the control of Parliament, was not a despot; there was a very high level of literacy and many regional newspapers, each issue of which was read by several people, and although a small minority (of men) could vote, the public held the effective and powerful tool of the petition.
And of course the fairy-tale world of the Ton, which I guess I do have to mention. I have to admit a few aristocrats go a long way with me, although I find the concept of great families and their politicking fascinating–one of my favorite books is “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Phillippa Gregory, which is rather like the Sopranos at the Tudor court. And generally my heroes are motivated by family honor and duty to the family name, which leads to some tremendous conflict.
So, what about everyone else?
I’m on a Jane Austen email loop, and a few weeks ago someone posted this great JA quiz from BBC Mastermind. Since I know many Regency fans are also Janeites like myself, I thought this might be a fun way to celebrate Friday! I’ll post answers in a couple of days. (Note: I’m a dedicated Janeite, and couldn’t answer all of them)
1) Which is JA’s heroine’s had lived in the world for 21 years with little to distress or vex her?
2) Name Mr. Rushworth’s country house.
3) Which card game did Mrs. Jennings arrange for old friends while Marianne awaited word from Willoughby.
4) What was the maiden name of Mrs. Norris, Mrs. Price, and Lady Bertram?
5) Which bone did little Charles dislocate allowing Anne to avoid meeting Captain Wentworth?
6) Which manufacturer made the mysterious piano sent to Jane Fairfax?
7) What was the name of Col. Brandon’s ward over whose seduction he fought a duel with Willoughby?
8) Which of JA”s heroine’s prefers cricket to books, particularly books of information?
9) Which play does Tom Bertram 5 times propose to put on before agreeing to Lover’s Vows?
10) Which material does Mr. Tilney claim to be an authority on?
11) What does Edward Ferrars say he takes more pleasure in than a watchtower?
12) To what does Sir Walter Elliot attribute Anne’s improved compexion, claiming it has done away with Mrs. Clay’s freckles?
13) At the Box Hill picnic, which 2 letters of the alphabet did Mr. Weston claim were the most perfect?
14) In which town did Mrs. Bennet’s sister Mrs. Phillips live?
15) In which frigate, captained by Frederick Wentworth, had Richard Musgrove served?
16) In what capacity did Wickham’s father serve old Mr. Darcy?
As my own bonus question–which JA heroine do you think you most resemble? (A long time ago, I took a quiz on this topic, too. It was lots of fun, but alas now I can’t find it! The quiz said I’m most like Marianne Dashwood. So watch out if I take it into my head to give a dramatic reading at the Beau Monde soiree next summer!)
Here’s my cover (I figured it out! Thanks, Elena!). Like Cara, I was asked to submit three possible scenes from my book. This scene? Doesn’t happen. The only thing I was adamant about, however, was that the heroine NOT have any curls and have black hair. I also said the hero looked a bit like Hugh Jackman, with extra-broad shoulders. The artist got all those details right, and they look like my characters. I really like this cover, actually, even though there’s no strolling about with flowers scene in the book. To me, it looks like the morning after (ahem). The night before scene is the last one in the book. YES! There’s sex! Oh, how Utterly Risky of me! Anyway, now that I know how to upload pictures, I’m going to be a terror. Ha, ha, the monster has been unleashed! Okay. I think I should cut back on the coffee. More later.
Since we’re talking about covers (though everyone will probably be sorry the topic was brought up, as I can talk about it pretty much forever!), and also cleavage (this woman has her share), I’ll go ahead and post my latest cover. Since it’s the newest, it’s also therefore my favorite, but I love it for the colors and the “headless character” image. I’m a sucker for those.