Comments on: Those tiresome Regency misses (not the ladies, but the authorial goofs) http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/ What's hip, what's now, what's tomorrow in the romance genre world. Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:26:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: » Blog Archive » Too Accurate? http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22402 » Blog Archive » Too Accurate? Fri, 07 Dec 2007 15:17:57 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22402 [...] been thinking about this ever since I read Brenda Coulter’s post on Regency titles over at Romancing the blog. It’s a pretty interesting comment trail, too. At least one blog [...] [...] been thinking about this ever since I read Brenda Coulter’s post on Regency titles over at Romancing the blog. It’s a pretty interesting comment trail, too. At least one blog [...]

]]> By: Kimber Chin http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22258 Kimber Chin Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:16:26 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22258 I look at these... Kalen. 'Course that might be because I'm a few days behind. LOL Have I ever heard of a Regency gal in a romance novel carrying a ridicule? I don't remember. Many of them carry reticules though. Maybe because the ridicule sounds so... well... ridiculous (I'll take a chance on punny as no one other than dear Brenda is reading this). I look at these… Kalen.
‘Course that might be
because I’m a few days behind.
LOL

Have I ever heard of a Regency gal
in a romance novel
carrying a ridicule?
I don’t remember.
Many of them carry reticules though.
Maybe because the ridicule
sounds so… well… ridiculous
(I’ll take a chance on punny
as no one other than dear Brenda is reading this).

]]> By: Kalen Hughes http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22213 Kalen Hughes Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:18:56 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22213 I don't know if anyone ever looks at these after their day is gone, but I finally unearthed my OED and here's the scoop on ridicule and reticule (used to mean a small purse): Ridicule is dated to 1805. Reticule is dated to 1824. So your Regency Miss is carrying a ridicule. Your Romantic era Miss is carrying a reticule. I don’t know if anyone ever looks at these after their day is gone, but I finally unearthed my OED and here’s the scoop on ridicule and reticule (used to mean a small purse):

Ridicule is dated to 1805.

Reticule is dated to 1824.

So your Regency Miss is carrying a ridicule. Your Romantic era Miss is carrying a reticule.

]]> By: Pattie http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22195 Pattie Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:26:31 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22195 When I read historicals, I tend to see the anachronisms in speech patterns. That and simple copyediting mistakes seem to JUMP off the page at me. That's when I wish I could hire myself out as a freelance proofreader! :) Nice post, Brenda...have a super day! When I read historicals, I tend to see the anachronisms in speech patterns. That and simple copyediting mistakes seem to JUMP off the page at me. That’s when I wish I could hire myself out as a freelance proofreader! :)

Nice post, Brenda…have a super day!

]]> By: Georgie Lee http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22190 Georgie Lee Wed, 28 Nov 2007 18:53:16 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22190 I read a non-fiction book called "Revolutionary Mothers" about women of the American Revolution. It was a pretty good book until I reached the part where a woman zipped up her bag. How the editors could have missed that one was beyond me. I read a non-fiction book called “Revolutionary Mothers” about women of the American Revolution. It was a pretty good book until I reached the part where a woman zipped up her bag. How the editors could have missed that one was beyond me.

]]> By: Patricia Woodside http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22189 Patricia Woodside Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:06:12 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22189 Interesting discussion. I don't read a whole lot of historicals but even in contemporaries, there can be facts that are dated incorrectly or some other world-building error that jars me as the reader out of the story. When that happens, it really grates on my nerves. One thing that comes to mind that is not, uh, PC is, being PC when the characters wouldn't have been during that era. As much as our current sensibilities may not like it, there were different thoughts, knowledge, beliefs, and moods in other times, even as recently as 20 years ago. It's important to get these things right. I applaud the writers of historicals who get the details right because that's a big job. Interesting discussion. I don’t read a whole lot of historicals but even in contemporaries, there can be facts that are dated incorrectly or some other world-building error that jars me as the reader out of the story. When that happens, it really grates on my nerves.

One thing that comes to mind that is not, uh, PC is, being PC when the characters wouldn’t have been during that era. As much as our current sensibilities may not like it, there were different thoughts, knowledge, beliefs, and moods in other times, even as recently as 20 years ago. It’s important to get these things right. I applaud the writers of historicals who get the details right because that’s a big job.

]]> By: DWTS finale, and a lovers’ spat. « Donna Lea Simpson http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22186 DWTS finale, and a lovers’ spat. « Donna Lea Simpson Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:18:47 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22186 [...] Anyway, on to the lovers’ spat brewing in romancelandia between the readers and the writers. I’ve mentioned it before, the great Champagne Flute Debate of 2007, concerning historical accuracy and readers’ expectations. But it has spread, and is referenced here, and here, and here. [...] [...] Anyway, on to the lovers’ spat brewing in romancelandia between the readers and the writers. I’ve mentioned it before, the great Champagne Flute Debate of 2007, concerning historical accuracy and readers’ expectations. But it has spread, and is referenced here, and here, and here. [...]

]]> By: romance reader http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22181 romance reader Wed, 28 Nov 2007 14:19:31 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22181 I don't care if writers get titles right or the appropriate way to address a certain someone. I don't read historical romance for the accurate representation of the time. If that were the case, most of these romances would never have even happened. It is a fantasy Regency world that I am reading about. Minor details do not bother me. As for editors catching these 'mistakes,' they are not historical experts. They are most likely assuming the writer has done the research. Plus, editors and others have been doing less actual editing over the years. They don't have the time to track down every last minute detail in an historical romance. I don’t care if writers get titles right or the appropriate way to address a certain someone. I don’t read historical romance for the accurate representation of the time. If that were the case, most of these romances would never have even happened.

It is a fantasy Regency world that I am reading about. Minor details do not bother me.

As for editors catching these ‘mistakes,’ they are not historical experts. They are most likely assuming the writer has done the research. Plus, editors and others have been doing less actual editing over the years. They don’t have the time to track down every last minute detail in an historical romance.

]]> By: lac http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22174 lac Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:28:30 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22174 I recently read a novel where the characters sent emails, chatted on mobiles, set up a dotcom, watched DVDs and sold things on Ebay. In 1987. Grrr. I recently read a novel where the characters sent emails, chatted on mobiles, set up a dotcom, watched DVDs and sold things on Ebay. In 1987. Grrr.

]]> By: Michelle Styles http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/comment-page-1/#comment-22173 Michelle Styles Wed, 28 Nov 2007 07:46:22 +0000 http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/2007/11/27/those-tiresome-regency-misses-not-the-ladies-but-the-authorial-goofs/#comment-22173 reticule v ridicule. Actually both terms were used. Dickens also used ridicule on occassion. However, if you look at various fashion magazones from the period (ie La Belle Assemblee founded 1806) or the Ackermann plates, they use the word reticule. BTw the plates from La belle Assemblee are beautiful. It all depends on your source. And quite probably the word reticule will less likely to draw the average reader out, even if both are correct. reticule v ridicule.

Actually both terms were used. Dickens also used ridicule on occassion. However, if you look at various fashion magazones from the period (ie La Belle Assemblee founded 1806) or the Ackermann plates, they use the word reticule. BTw the plates from La belle Assemblee are beautiful.

It all depends on your source. And quite probably the word reticule will less likely to draw the average reader out, even if both are correct.

]]>