Greetings, friend! Do you ever imagine yourself living in Jane Austen’s time? Do you know what aspects of Regency life you’d like or not like? It’s fun to think about, isn’t it? Author Elaine Jeremiah stops by today to share a little about her newest release in the Love Without Time series, a series where her modern-day characters Cassandra and Mia travel back to the year 1815! I hope you enjoy Elaine’s post and excerpt!!
Thank you, Meredith, for hosting me on your blog today. I just wanted to share some thoughts on what it would actually be like if it was possible to step back in time and visit Jane Austen’s Regency England.
What would be the things that you would notice the most? Well once you’d got over your shock at being in Regency England and seeing all the unspoiled countryside and beautiful Regency gowns, if you were there for any length of time, you’d notice many things that we take for granted were not available.
Think indoor plumbing – there wouldn’t be any. So no running water, no plumbed in toilets. Washing clothes would be a nightmare as you’d have to do it all by hand – you or a servant if you were wealthy enough to have one. Imagine trying to keep those beautiful gowns clean! You can understand why wealthy people had so many servants. If you needed the bathroom in the night, you might use a chamber pot – or if you were feeling very adventurous you might use a privy in the back garden! Not great on a cold winter’s night.
There would be no central heating; every room would have a fireplace and that is how the rooms 
would be heated. There’d be no electricity so once it got dark, you’d use candles. If you were poorer, you’d use tallow candles made from pork or beef, which could smell really bad. The middle classes would use candles made from mutton, which smelt a bit better. Many poorer people also used rushlights, which were a type of candle made by soaking the dried pith of the rush plant in fat or grease. They were inexpensive to make – regular candles cost a lot more.
No electricity would of course mean no electrical appliances such as vacuum cleaners, kettles, toasters, electric ovens, washing machines or dishwashers would be available. And definitely no Facebook. 😉 Imagine cooking for yourself using a spit over a fire. Or trying to keep clean with no showers, only the occasional bath and no antiperspirant deodorant. Nightmare! And health care as we know it would be non-existent, so you’d have to try not to get ill while you were there.
What about the nicer side of Regency England? Well for me, having grown up in the county of Hampshire, which is of course the county where Jane Austen also grew up, I would love to travel back in time and see how rural it was. Parts of Hampshire are still rural today, but huge areas are now very urbanised. The population in the south of England has grown and grown and Hampshire is no exception, so I would love to be able to see it how it was – not too many people and plenty of unspoilt countryside.
I think Jane Austen would be shocked by what England is like today – yes there are plenty of perks to modern life, but there’s a lot that’s not so great now – cars, pollution, busyness and life just seems to be lived at such a fast pace. Society has changed so much too; people think differently on a whole host of issues which I think she’d struggle with. I think if she visited twenty-first century Hampshire now, Jane would quickly find herself missing the peace and tranquillity of Regency Hampshire and Regency England as a whole.
When all’s said and done, though, although I’d like to visit Regency England, I’d make my trip a brief one. I’d miss my twenty-first century comforts too much!
Goodness, Elaine! I have always thought of the lack of electricity and plumbing as being some of the greatest challenges of living in the Regency Era, but this post really drives home that the variety of unpleasant smells deserves to be right up there as well!
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~ Excerpt from By Time Divided ~
I crouched down next to her, ignoring the corset digging into my ribs. ‘Being stuck in the past may seem
terrible now but…’
‘But what?’ came the muffled reply. I said nothing for a moment. In many ways, it was terrible here in Regency England. Corsets, no indoor plumbing, no electricity, no rights for women… There were good sides to it though – if I could remember what they were!
‘It gets easier with time.’ This much was true at least. ‘And it is lovely to see how unspoilt England was. Or rather is. People are more unspoilt here too.’
Mia raised her head. ‘In what way?’
‘Well the girls for one are a lot more innocent. They’re less complicated than in the twenty-first century.’
‘How do you mean? They don’t know about sex?’
‘It’s not that exactly. They don’t know as much as you and me – women are expected to wait till they’re married to have sex – but they’re not completely clueless about the opposite sex and relationships.’
‘So what is it?’
‘I guess it’s something to do with society’s expectations on them. You know, they don’t have a formal education like the men, and much of what they learn is training on how to be a dutiful wife…’
‘Sounds bloody awful!’
I grinned. ‘Yeah, I s’pose it is. But what I’m trying to say is that in many ways it’s a simpler life. For men and women. There’s no electricity for one thing, which means no electric lighting, no washing machines or dishwashers and certainly no internet.’
‘So no Facebook or Twitter.’
‘Exactly. Less pressure on people in many ways. Or at least there is pressure, but a different kind.’ I held out my hand to Mia. ‘Come on, get up. You’ll ruin that dress and we need to get indoors. The rain’s getting heavier.’
Mia grabbed hold of my hand. ‘Look at you, calling the shots,’ she said as she stood up. ‘I’m impressed.’ She gave me a half-smile and seemed less subdued, following me as I made my way out of the woods and back onto the massive lawn. We walked on in silence for a bit. I felt trepidation begin to creep insidiously through me.
‘So we’re gonna gatecrash the house party, are we?’ Mia asked me as we approached the huge edifice looming up ahead of us. I laughed.
‘You could say that.’ I glanced at her. She always looked beautiful and today was no exception. But there was no getting around the fact that she wasn’t white. I had no idea if my Regency friends would have even seen a black or mixed-race person before, let alone have spoken to one.
Mia caught my eye. Her hand went unconsciously to her hair, where unruly tendrils were curling out from under her bonnet. I’d never seen her look so awkward before. ‘Is my hair OK, Cass?’ she asked.
‘Yes, there’s nothing wrong with your hair.’
‘But?’
I stopped walking and reached for her hand. ‘There’s nothing wrong with you, Mia. You look lovely as always. But I should warn you that the people we’re about to meet…’
‘Are a bunch of racists?’
I winced. ‘By our standards, yes. But they’re also from a different time, a different society. It’s 1815 here, the slave trade has been abolished, but in Regency England the vast majority of people are white, they’re not used to being around people of different ethnicities so…’
‘I should expect them to treat me like dirt?’
‘I’m not sure they all will,’ I told her. I couldn’t imagine Isabella treating anyone like dirt. ‘Just don’t be surprised if some of them make comments to you or about you that are offensive. We’re not in the twenty-first century any more.’
‘You can say that again,’ Mia replied, wrinkling her nose as she gazed up at the leaden sky, seemingly oblivious to the fat drops of rain falling onto her face. She turned back to me.
‘So if they’re rude to me, I’m supposed to stand there and take it, am I?’
I sighed, giving her a rueful look. ‘No, I don’t expect you to do that, just… don’t be rude back. Find a witty retort to make. I’m sure you’ll think of something. You usually do in similar situations.’
‘Similar situations? Cass, what planet are you on? There’s nothing similar to this situation in… in the whole of the universe.’ She threw her arms out wide to reiterate her point.
It was then, as I took a quick glance over my shoulder, that I caught a glimpse of someone standing at one of the windows of the house which overlooked the lawn. We’d been spotted.
Thank you for sharing this excerpt, Elaine. It will be interesting to see the other characters reactions to Mia…or better yet, her reactions to them! It sounds like Cass and Mia are about to have a bit fun at this house party! 😏
~ Book Description ~
Having accidentally time travelled to Regency England, Jane Austen fan Cassie Taylor finds herself unexpectedly back in the twenty-first century. But everything has changed. She’s been missing for three weeks and her parents are upset and disbelieving when she tells them where she’s been. The police aren’t too pleased either.
Cassie’s best friend Mia doubts the story, yet stands by her friend. And then the unthinkable happens when both of them end up in Regency England. Now Cassie has an even bigger problem: Mia is mixed race and they’re stuck in an era where the slave trade has only just been abolished. Cassie must somehow explain herself to her Regency friends – why she vanished and who her friend is. She also needs to find Ted, the love of her life.
How will Cassie manage to protect Mia from the insults of Regency people who see her as worthless? And how will she ever find a way for her and Ted and Mia to finally return home?
~ Connect with Elaine ~
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Elaine generously brings with her 1 ebook copy of Love Without Time and 1 ebook copy of By Time Divided for me to randomly give away to ONE lucky reader. Woot Woot!!! 📕📗
To enter this giveaway leave a comment, a question, or some love for Elaine!!
- This giveaway is open worldwide. Thank you, Elaine!
- This giveaway ends November 29th
Though like FD, not much into dancing (except for the partner), would like to attend the assemblies/balls during that time.
One aspect that I would not enjoy are the restrictions given to female at that time.
Yes, I think the balls would have been fun. I had a chance this summer just gone to try out some Regency dancing. It was fun but I found some of the moves quite complicated. Thank you for your comment. Good luck in the giveaway.
I have really enjoyed Elaine’s books and they do give you a lot to think about. 🙂 Most of all I’d miss our modern bathrooms! Don’t put me in the drawing for I have her books already.
Thanks so much for all your support Brenda! You’re a star. 🙂 I think I would miss bathrooms too for sure lol. I’d hate not to be able to keep clean very easily.
Having been born and lived in a house with no indoor toilet, or hot running water, or any central heating (and no washing machine) I could possible cope with some of the disadvantages of Regency times, a bit like five day power outages we have suffered in Canada
Wow! Sounds like you might be all right in the Regency era! I don’t think I could live without indoor plumbing, central heating, washing machines… The list is endless! Thanks for your comment and good luck in the giveaway.
Would absolutely love to wear the Regency clothes. I think the thing I’d miss the most is my laptop. I spend most of my days at home and without my sites like this one and GoodReads I’d be lost. Good luck with the book!
Thanks Teresa! I have a Regency dress – it is great fun to wear to events. 🙂 I would miss my laptop too – but I think I’d miss the basics even more – like indoor plumbing and central heating! Good luck in the giveaway.
I’d feel the same way, Teresa! Regency clothes are so lovely! But it would be a bit lonely to not have the internet and the ability to connect with online friends…hopefully there will be enough friends living nearby!
If I lived in Regency England, I would definitely want to be a gentlewoman so that I would have servants to take care of everything. On the other hand, I would detest not having indoor plumbing. At least being a gentlewoman, I would not have to empty the chamber pot. Thank you for the excerpt and giveaways.
Hahaha – yes I’d have to have servants too for emptying the chamber pot!!! I think the difference between being rich or poor was even bigger back then. Much better to have servants to do everything. Thanks for your comment and good luck in the giveaway.
Modern medicine is a must for me as I am in remission for CML (leukemia), have diabetes and had an open heart surgery. So…no thank you to traveling back in time. Although I must say I do enjoy reading about such. Outlander is one of my favorite series although with the movies made of that. Thanks for sharing here.
Thanks for your comment Sheila. You’ve obviously been through a huge amount lately – and I don’t blame you for wanting to stay in the 21st century! Health care is a huge reason to stay. I have a long term health condition which I’m still being treated for and most likely always will be and if I was in Regency England, I would not be well. So despite the busyness of 21st century life, I’m definitely glad of its perks.
Thanks for your comment and good luck in the giveaway.
I would hate to live without the mod cons now although the house I lived in until nearly 4 had an outside toilet and a tin bath in front of the fire. But the countryside was only a few yards away!
My Gran lived in North Yorkshire in a village with 2 streets, we could go over the back fence and down the field to play near the river.
My Nana lived in a cottage with an outside toilet and just a cold tap into a stone sink until I was about 14.
I remember having to scrape at the thick ice patterns on the windows to see out!
I had a great childhood, we didn’t have much money but we played out and never felt deprived of anything.
Now? I love my central heating, my plumbed toilet and shower, my washing machine etc etc. But yes, the lovely gowns and the abundant countryside were a plus!
Thank you for this post and the excerpt, I’ve added this to my list as I don’t like rafflecopter.
Thank you for your comment Glynis! I think in some ways life was simpler in the past – even if people didn’t have what we’d take for granted now like indoor toilets and so on. I did grow up in a house without a shower – so we always had to have quick baths or a wash in the mornings. I do appreciate having a shower now – so much quicker.
Re the giveaway – I’m not doing a rafflecopter, I will simply send two mobi files of my two books to whoever wins, so if that appeals to you do enter the giveaway. 🙂
Oh wonderful! I’ve cleaned my glasses now . In that case yes please I would like to be entered thank you
In so many ways, I would enjoy living in the English Regency period. I already write with a dip pen and bottled ink (I don’t have to press down which means I can write longer without pain) and often by candlelight. I would hope to be middle-class or higher with at least a servant or two. I enjoy reading and gardening, embroidery and writing letters by hand. I am already an Anglican and know the 1662 Book of Common Prayer fairly well already, and I’d love to be involved in church activities, perhaps helping with a parish school for girls. Or if necessary, I’d work as a governess until married.
But being without modern medicine would be a challenge. And the difficulties of being a woman and dealing with monthly cycles–ugh! The corsets would be uncomfortable, too. But the overall simplicity of English life in 1815 would be very welcome.
Thanks for this excerpt and this thought-provoking post!! 😀
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Hi Susanne! Thank you so much for your comment. I too am an Anglican 🙂 and obviously I love the Regency era – but like you I don’t think it would have been much fun for women overall. I agree though about the simplicity of life and it really was lived at a much slower pace. And Southern England would have been so much less spoilt. I really would love to be able to see that. Good luck in the giveaway.
Your books sound lovely! A requirement for my next home will be a fireplace or two, or more! That’s what I love!
Thank you! I agree – a home with a fireplace is lovely. 🙂 Good luck in the giveaway.
I love time travel stories, so these books are right up my alley! I tend to look at the past through rose-colored glasses, but I don’t think I’d enjoy living there permanently. I’d like to visit, though! I’m just waiting for someone to invent a time machine!
Congrats on your new book, Elaine!
Thank you Pat! I’m with you re living in the past – sounds good in theory but in practice it probably wouldn’t be half as nice.
Good luck in the giveaway.
I would love to attend the assemblies and balls, and I do enjoy dancing. However I fear I am too old and would have to sit with the chaperones! I think I would rather give up electricity than modern plumbing (If I could only keep one). I think that the time travel premise is fun because the character can always return to electricity, plumbing, central heat and all the other modern conveniences we often take for granted.
Yes, the balls do sound fun. I agree with you about indoor plumbing – I couldn’t give that up! Then again, I’m not sure I’d get on very well with candlelight in the dark evenings. Thank you for your comment and good luck in the giveaway.
Living in Regency England? Nope. Not me. I prefer to read a book or watch period drama. I would be at a total loss without electricity, plumbing, and modern medicine. I would enjoy the gardens though, Thanks for sharing an excerpt Elaine and Meredith. I always enjoy your posts.
Thank you Laurel. I think when all’s said and done I agree with you – overall life in Regency England would not be great. But a visit? I wouldn’t say no to that. 😉
There are definitely some trade-offs – beautiful gardens, homes surrounded by natural beauty…but no electricity or medicine. It is great to be able to visit Regency England with our books and period dramas! Thanks so much for the lovely visit, Laurel Ann!
If I could have my modern medicine….. I was an early hypertensive (29) and high lipids (38). My doctor said I could never run enough marathons to take care of the problem. I have been on meds most of my life (I am 69 now). It is familial. My Mother died at 73 (she would have died at 50 after the first heart fibrillation attack which led to its stoppage) after having had 3 open-heart by-pass surgeries. I am clean as a whistle. There are also a few other things I have to treat forever as well.
Thank you for your comment. I too have a chronic condition that I have to take medication for every day, so I too would suffer in the Regency era. I would love to be able to visit though – but only briefly. There’s a lot about the 21st century to be thankful for! Good luck in the giveaway.
Your new book sounds really good. I enjoy exploring the idea of time travel through books, but every time I read something like that I can’t help but think about how I would deal with time travel myself. With my ancestry, (Norway) where my great grandparents left the old country to be able to own and work their own land, I assume my life in any era would probably be in the tenant or servant class. So, no thank you to living in the Regency. Just a short visit might be interesting if I could go see an ancestor. I also think about the past whenever we have a power outage. Trying to read a book by candlelight surrounded by total darkness is really HARD!! No backlit IPad. ha
Thank you for your comment Michelle! What you’ve said is really interesting and it’s lovely that you know something about your ancestry. 🙂 I agree with you re living in the Regency. I think often in life when things get hard we tend to forget about how good we have it compared with our ancestors. Life was so much harder for them. I don’t like being in darkness either – I guess no one does and it’s definitely a pain when there’s a power cut, especially in the dark evenings.
I hope you get to read my books sometime and good luck in the giveaway!
I like indoor plumbing too. And toilet paper. I don’t have a shower, just a bathtub. I really depend on my microwave. I’d be too scared to go back in time. What if I got stuck there? I do enjoy time travel stories and other historical books. I like the Hampshire sign. Modern candles are great – beeswax, etc.
I like the Hampshire sign too! Though I’m biased as I grew up there. 😉 I wouldn’t want to get stuck in the Regency era either. There’s too much I’d miss – apart from the basics, things like my laptop and smart phone, though I didn’t grow up with those things. I would want to stay warm too and I wouldn’t want to be without central heating on a cold winter’s night.
Thanks for your comment and good luck in the giveaway. 🙂
Your informative post is a good reminder of the modern conveniences we will dearly miss. I don’t think I can do without Internet and modern appliances as it greatly benefits us all. I would not give them up just to go back in time and live a simpler life. On the other hand I think people living in previous centuries generally are more chivalrious, courteous and considerate though some may not abide by the code.
It’s easy to say that modern people are more healthy as statistics do show that we lead a longer life. But we also develop modern diseases that are unheard of in the past. Since modern modes of transportations were not invented yet like cars, planes or buses, people tend to walk if it is near (good for health) or ride on carriages. So the time saved can be used for other things but then we contribute to pollution. So there are pros and cons for living in the past and present times.
I completely agree with you that there’s pros and cons between now and times gone by. What we’ve gained are things like technology, more prosperity for more people and much better health care. I think something we’ve lost is being able to live in a simpler way – life today just seems to be lived at such a fast pace and it can be hard to slow down. I do think that this often has an adverse effect on people’s health nowadays.
So yes, there’s good and bad things about 21st C life. Thanks very much for your comment and good luck in the giveaway!