Trollope, the Postal Pillar-box, and the Fourth Wall
But first, a digression into postal history! (British history and literature are so charmingly replete with such odd anecdotes. Trollope most of all would approve,
Tag: history
Trollope: Bad Marriages and Toxic Masculinity
Trollope’s Bad Marriages Anthony Trollope was an advocate of marriage, having famously said that a woman’s “best right” was to a husband, not the vote.
Research-reading Anthony Trollope: Trollope’s Women
The Sexist or the Feminist? Anthony Trollope and His Women By Alicia Rasley I’m back in the mid-to-late-19th Century Britain, when ladies wore bustles and
Research-reading Sherlock: Holmes and the Agony Columns
Research-reading Sherlock: Newspapers part 2 by Alicia Rasley Sherlock Holmes and the Agony Column Last post, I discussed how Holmes and Watson used the many
Research-reading Sherlock Holmes
The Curious Case of the Author and the Detective Hi, I’m Alicia Rasley, a new Book View Café member. I write Regency romances, and I
A Lot of Hot Air…Or Was It?
My dear nephew (thanks, Ian!) sent me the following item, which first appeared in the Northampton Mercury on July 23, 1808, and again on the
Was Waterloo Necessary?
Two hundred and nine years ago this month, Napoleon experienced his final victory at the Battle of Ligny (on June 16)…and his final defeat two
The Butler Did It
This is another in our occasional series on servants young ladies of the upper classes would have encountered in the 19th century. We have already
Queen Victoria Goes to Kokomo
I’m lucky enough to be looking forward to a visit to warmer climes in the near future—when you live in the chilly north, a few
Winter Wonderland
Once upon a time (well, before 1831), two interesting facts were true: London Bridge was located somewhat further downstream on the Thames than it is
Feeding Your Invalid in the 19th Century 7: Please, Sir, Can I Have More?
The Victorians adored gruel so much that the variations were endless – rice, flour, arrowroot, groats (a mixture of grains), cornmeal, toast, sago. It was
Feeding Your Invalid in the 19th Century 6: Gruel
When we think of godawful 19th century food, gruel comes immediately to mind. Remember Grace Poole bringing the mess to a boil in the attic
Feeding Your Invalid in the 19th Century 5: Ale Caudle
Because Christmas is coming, here’s a more cheery recipe that you might even try. Ale caudle was possibly quite good for you. When Marian Halcombe‘s