Friday, August 19, 2011

A Fashionable Glossary of 1819

The New Monthly Magazine and Universal Register was a British journal published from 1814 to 1884. It combined news from around the world and Britain with a wide variety of articles, and some humourous and pointed 'letters to the editor'.


The August 1, 1819 issue of the magazine has a number of interesting articles: 'Philosophy of Domestic Economy', 'A Tiger and Lion Hunt in Hindostan', 'Remarks on the Southwark Bridge', among others.

One of the most interesting however is a tongue-in-cheek look at the language currently in use by the upper classes of society. The writer addresses his remarks to Mr. Editor and shows, by his biting definitions, his disdain for the current morals and modes of the beau monde.


I wish we knew the author of this wickedly funny work. It gives us a wonderfully acute look into the world of the beau monde by a contemporary.

Next week, Sheri Cobb South, award-winning author of  Regency romances, will visit to talk about the Regency in Alabama and its intriguing connection to Napoleonic France. Sheri's writing, including the John Pickett series of Regency mysteries, has been interrupted by a cross-country move from Alabama to Colorado, but her Regency romances, released in electronic format by Belgrave House, are now available for Amazon Kindle.

Until next time,

Lesley-Anne

4 comments:

PuppyLovePrincess said...

i love this! how snarky :)

Anne Gallagher said...

What a wonderful commentary on life and times during the Regency. Thanks for sharing this delicious article.

Lesley-Anne McLeod said...

I'm so glad you both enjoyed it! I was thrilled to find it as I was trawling through the Monthly Museum...

Nancy said...

Love this list! Thanks so much for sharing it!!

Nancy Haddock