The United Kingdom has a rich and extensive history. This might not be more apparent than in the country’s legal history, with strange laws spanning from not wearing armor into the House of Parliament to ladies not eating chocolate on public transportation. Some laws are still enforced, but others are not. While this is definitely... Continue Reading →
Edith Lanchester: How A Victorian Feminist Ended Up In An Insane Asylum
In the Victorian era, insane asylums were a tool utilized by a patriarchal society in the oppression of women. While there were signs of feminism and women’s rights taking hold in the 19th century (i.e. bluestockings, feminist writers, women’s colleges, etc.), progression was slow. Women’s suffragettes, in England, wouldn’t see the fruits of their labor... Continue Reading →
Abode of Love: Home to a Wacky Victorian Sex Cult
What images come to mind for the Victorian era? Maybe corsets, tea, and large country homes come to mind. Maybe the values of the time: wealth, family, morality, and strict gender roles (like divorce as a rare occurrence and society's obsession with virginity). The last thing you might think of is a crazy sex cult... Continue Reading →
Romance or the Marriage Mart?: 10 Victorian Courtship Rituals
In the Victorian era, courtship was a business. There was even a term for it: "the marriage mart." Dowries, lands, and titles served as motivators for selecting a life partner. A gentleman might ask, "Is her dowry large enough?" A lady might ask, "Is his title high enough?" a However, finding genuine love and affection... Continue Reading →
Short Story Performed on Tales to Terrify Podcast
Check out my most recent story! "The Scent of Lavender," which started as a Jack the Ripper origin story but mutated into a monster of its own, was performed on the 441st episode of Tales to Terrify, a Hugo award-nominated podcast.
“Secrets in the Poison” Appears in Twist in Time Magazine
Looking for something to read? Check out my latest story, "Secrets in the Poison," a story of suspense set in the Victorian era countryside.
Featured in an Article: Romance Author Keeps It Short and Sweet
Brooks Kohler, founder of Laptiast.com, was kind enough to write an article featuring my writing. As an author, it's always touching when someone finds your work praiseworthy. Especially with lines like this: "With an ability to craft a story in such a way it not only proves a pleasure to read but also forms a... Continue Reading →
10 Weird Foods the Victorians Ate
The Victorians gobbled down some strange foods, from jellied eels to boiled calf's head. Times really have changed. We might cringe at the thought of eating some of the foods on this list, but more than a century ago, many of these dishes were considered treats and delicacies. a 1) Jellied Eels - Yep! You heard it.... Continue Reading →
Sweet William’s Ghost: A Deadly Ballad
A dead lover returns to his still-alive fiance in the form of an apparition. He asks her to free him of their engagement or he's bound for hell (dramatic much?). That's essentially the gist of this English Ballad, which has many lyrical and musical variations. Of course, there's a push and pull between the ghost... Continue Reading →
A 19th Century Prison Wedding
On the night of November 13, 1885, a buggy rolled up to the Chatham Hill Gaol under the cover of darkness. Out leaped 18 year-old Mollie Downes, her brother, and a minister. What was this young woman about to do? Marry a prisoner, of course. a a Her beloved, James Fauntleroy, was in the Virginian... Continue Reading →