The Time Traveler’s Guide to Regency Britain by Ian Mortimer (published 2022) is a thorough overview of thesoc Regency era, including a look at the social strata, food, dwellings, entertainment, and so much more. It would have been helpful to read this before jumping in to my most recent Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer obsession! Covering the years 1780-1830, this volume introduces the reader to all the many changes that happened to make Regency Britain really feel like a modern age, versus the pre-Regency era.
Jane Austen’s era, and particularly her novels, came into clarity as I read about the city of London. For example, I saw more clearly the role of social class on poor Jane Bennett’s visit to the city in Pride & Prejudice. The Mr. Gardner’s way of life, as a gentleman, was very good but nothing compared to the wealthy life-style enjoyed by Darcy and Bingley.
I was the most shocked to see the stark differences between those in the upper classes and the everyday Londoner. It should go without saying that it was a starving and difficult life for the majority of Londoners. It’s even worse than I thought. Due to the filth of the city, life in a country house was much nicer. But none of the horrors of life during this time are present in Jane Austen’s novels. I learned, though, that by the end of this era, in 1830, there were already groups aware of the plight of the poor and indigent people. Humanitarian groups had been formed to deal with inequalities and injustice, and Britain had some hope for improving in the future.
This Time Traveler’s Guide was an informative and entertaining look at the era that I am so interested in reading about lately. I read the book slowly and took breaks to read a few favorite Jane Austen novels, P&P fan fic, and Georgette Heyer books (as can be noted by the many Heyer reviews on this blog!). I also found myself looking up more details, like comparing maps of London from the beginning of the era and the end and looking up characters and music (for example). This is a book that piqued my curiosity and left me not just enriched with information previously unknown but also eager and open to continuing to learn more about this fascinating era.
