A king suddenly falls sick while on the throne. Because of this, the young and handsome son takes over the leadership of a storied country. This plot may seem like the ingredients of a great novel, but it happened. It is the plotline for the Regency. In Great Britain, it was a time of romance and elegance. The name is attributed to George, who is the Prince Regent. He served as a provisional king while his father, George, struggled with illness. The Regency period lasted several in the early 1800s. It saw the fame of many popular authors and art styles that included Jane Austen and the Regency classicism.
The Fine-looking King
The Regency is a time of luxury and romance. But it should come as no surprise. The reason is George, who served as Prince Regent, was a fine-looking and likable young man. Because of this, the art of the time was in step with his looks. The Regency can be thought of as another Renaissance wherein art, literature, and high society greatly flourished. You can imagine the fanciest stuffiest art gallery, which will be the Regency period’s composition.
How can you tell if a Regency romance is not a Regency romance?
Many people love Regency romances. It is a period ruled by elegance as well as etiquette. The world is filled with romance, balls, and duels. Their architecture, influenced by the Corinthian style, is the perfect backdrop of debutantes. Almacks and Vauxhall Gardens were flourishing, and rakes are reformed by romance and love.
However, start reading about Regency romances and start exploring their historical background. You may find that it is set beyond the 1820s, which is not the period of Regency at all.
The strict definition of the Regency is that it lasted only several years, from February 1811 to 1820. Back in the year 1810, George III became severely ill. Because of this, he was incapacitated and unable to rule because of his mental illness. The Regency act was approved following the year, making George, Prince Regent, the ruling heir.
The Regency lasted until the death of the king in 1820 when the Regent finally became King George the fourth and ruled with his right.
Regency feel
You might be wondering why not every Regency romance is set from 1811 to 1820. If they are not established between these dates, why are they called Regency romances at all? The answer to this is the feeling of Regency. Regency has become far-reaching and wide-ranging beyond the time of the nine years to which it existed.
The Regency period is a time of elegance romance and love. Chivalry thrived during the Regency which continues to inspire modern-day readers. Literature and arts in that era continue to be adored and treasured by modern aficionados.
Romanticism
By the time the Regency started, the romantic movement was already well-established. It was a time when literature burgeoned in both poetry and prose. It was the high point for romantic poets such as Wordsworth and Byron. It is also true for romantic novelists such as Walter Scott. At this time, Turner was painting, and the musician Beethoven was composing his most significant works. Although the Regency era was finished, the Romantics persisted.
Jane Austen
The works of famous author Jane Austen are inseparably linked to the era of the Regency. Every novel of Jane Austen was completed during this time. Her work’s feel is archetypal of the Regency romances, mannerisms, and etiquette of the time. However, the novels were not entirely written during the years of Regency, and although Jane died before the end of the Regency, her books lived on to immortality.
