The Gentlemanly Professions
What options did the younger sons of the gentry have when choosing a profession.
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Napoleon, Invasion, and Jane Austen
I’d like to welcome Abigail Reynolds today. We’ll be discussing just how likely was a Napoleonic invasion of England during the regency era. “[France] must destroy the English monarchy, or expect itself to be destroyed by these intriguing and enterprising islanders…Let us concentrate all our efforts on the navy and annihilate England. That done, Europe is at our feet.” – Napoleon Bonaparte, 1797 What if Napoleon really had conquered England as he had planned? When … Continue reading →
The Militia-A Different Breed of Officer
In Austen’s Pride and Prejudice we encounter a military regiment temporarily stationed in Meryton. These men are members of the militia, not the regular army (discussed in the last post.) While at first blush, there may seem little difference between the regular army (the Regulars) and the militia, the differences are striking and significant. What was the Militia? The militia served as a peace keeping force on home soil. History had taught that a … Continue reading →