We are finally getting some much-needed rain, and nothing goes better on a grey, rainy day than a nice, hot cup of tea! It is especially enjoyable when paired with a leisurely perusal of TEA WITH JANE AUSTEN by Kim Wilson (2004: Jones Books, Madison, WI). While “tea” as a meal was a later innovation, tea as a beverage was very popular in Jane Austen’s time, and this beautiful little book combines tea history in general, tea in relation to Jane Austen and her life and her writings, and some delicious recipes based on those contemporary to Jane Austen. Interesting facts regarding tea equipment, such as “sugar nippers”, proper tea sets, and so forth bring the references to tea in Jane Austen’s novels to life. A special pleasure to me was the information that Twinings, my favorite tea brand, was a purveyor of tea to Jane Austen! (My personal favorite, Earl Grey, alas, was most likely blended after Jane’s time.) This book is crammed with all kinds of details to interest a serious historian or a lover of period fiction. I can’t think of a better way to spend a rainy afternoon than to curl up with this lovely book and a cup of my favorite blend.
Good morning!
First of all, it is a beautiful day here in Florida. Summer has definitely arrived, and everything is lush, green and blooming. I am happy to trade the earlier warmth for scraping ice in January!
Secondly, HEYERWOOD: A Novel is live! I have the finished, printed book before me as I write, and it is beautiful.
Thirdly, I want to tell you about another favorite author: Amanda Vickery. I have two of her books: THE GENTLEMAN’S DAUGHTER Women’s Lives in Georgian England, and BEHIND CLOSED DOORS At Home in Georgian England. These books are treasur trove. Both are absolutely jammed with all kinds of information about life in the Georgian era, especially the lives of women. Her writing is lively and interesting, and her sources are the nitty gritty details of daily lives: letters, account books, diaries and other such records. THE GENTLEMAN’S DAUGHTER is an account of the daily lives of genteel women, based on their personal records (seldom, if ever, addressed in traditional histories); BEHIND CLOSED DOORS provides detailed information about how English men and women lived in the Georgian period: what they bought, who bought what, and the domestic details so seldom provided. Ms. Vickery’s writing style holds one’s attention, and the information she provides in these two books brings the Georgian period (which includes Jane Austen’s time) to life. Well worth reading just for the pleasure of it, and invaluable source books to students and writers.