I love history books and I am always shopping the used bookstores for more. I designed this page to share my extras with others who are interested. It includes a list of books I want and a list of books I either own extra copies of, or know that there are several copies available at the bookshops I frequent.
Yes, I am also interested in swaps, and will consider offers. I am also willing to keep an eye out for a favorite book of yours while searching, within reason.
Note: 24 January 1999. I am working on revising this page. If you are looking for specific titles, I recommend that you try The Advanced Book Exchange, Bookfinder, or Alibris. All three list books available from used book stores all over the world.
(Not necessarily in order of priority)
I am not picky about whether they are hardback or paperback, or even what condition they are in (although naturally I'll pay more for better books); I collect books to read them.
| Title | Author | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson | Harriette Wilson | The first kiss-and-tell book, by a notorious Regency courtesan. |
| Caroline: An Unruly Queen | Flora Fraser | Recently available new in hardback for $35. |
| The Regency Companion | Sharon Laudermilk and Teresa L. Hamlin | Listed in the Gryphon Books Catalog (Summer 1996) for $35. |
| Gentlemen's Clubs of London | Anthony Lejeune | Or any book on the subject. |
| Je ne Sais What: A Guide to de rigueur Frenglish | Jon Winokur | |
| An American in Regency England | Louis Simond (edited by Christopher Hibbert) | Travel journal. |
| Life in Regency England | R. J. White | |
| The British Establishment: 1760-1784, Volume II | Alan Valentine | Biographical dictionary. I have Volume I (A-H). I'd love Volume II or a one-volume edition. |
| Glenarvon | Lady Caroline Lamb | Novel. |
| Almack's | Lady Hester Stanhope | Novel. |
| Camilla | Fanny Burney | Novel. |
| Cecilia | Fanny Burney | Novel. |
| ? | George Cruikshank | Or any book of drawings or caracitures during the Regency. |
| ? | ? | Any book on costume during the Regency. |
| ? | ? | Any book on carriages. |
| ? | ? | Any biography of George Brummell. |
| ? | ? | Any book on 18th century (or early 19th) food and cooking. |
| ? | ? | Any book dealing significantly with Almack's Club. |
| ? | ? | Any memoirs, diaries, or letters from the 18th century (or early 19th). |
| ? | ? | Any book on the history of any aristocratic family. |
| ? | ? | Any book on 18th century (or early 19th) architecture, including Henry Holland, Adam, Inigo Jones, Capability Brown, or Palladianism in general. |
| ? | ? | Any book of watercolors or paintings during the Regency. |
| Title | Bibliographic Info | Comments | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Life in the English Country House: A Social and Architectural History |
|
Traces the development of country houses from medieval times to the present. 244 pages, excellent index, notes, bibliography, 32 color plates, 204 black and white plates, 22 Text figures. Very readable. I found it fascinating! | ||||||||
| A History of Country House Visiting |
|
Views entertainment at country houses from medieval times to the present, from the perspective of the most important person in residence: the visitor. 215 pages, very good index, notes, 41 black and white illustrations. I have not finished this book yet. | ||||||||
| The Concise History of Costume and Fashion |
|
Traces the development of costume from ancient times to 1969. 288 pages, good index, bibliography, 315 illustrations, 58 in color. The illustrations covering the Regency include plates from La Beau Monde, La Belle Assemblee, and others, plus caracitures by Cruikshank. There is a revised 1995 edition of this book available in new bookstores, listed at $14.95, ISBN 0-500-202664. | ||||||||
| Savile Row: An Illustrated History |
|
History of London tailors. Includes a whole chapter on "The Prince and the Beau." 192 pages, index, glossary, directory, uncounted illustrations (1 or 2 on nearly every page), many in color. | ||||||||
| The Prodigal Rake: Memoirs of William Hickey |
|
Covering the years from his birth in 1749 to the death of his wife in 1783. Not quite Regency, but it gives a good background into social and class structure, behavior of gentelemen, clubs, etc., setting the scene for our Heyer heroes. 452 pages, good index. Listed in the Gryphon Books Catalog (Summer 1996) for $13.75. | ||||||||
| The Rise and Fall of a Regency Dandy: The Life and Times of Scrope Berdmore Davies |
|
Davies was a dandy and a close friend of Byron's. When he eventually fled to the Continent in 1820 to avoid his debts, he left a trunk of diaries, letters, and even some of Byron's and Shelley's (previously unknown) manuscripts with his bank, Barclay's of London. The trunk lay untouched until 1975, when they opened it to discover literary treasure. Some letters reproduced in their entireity, including some from Byron and Shelley. 256 pages, excellent index, sources, catalogue of the contents of the trunk. | ||||||||
| Our Tempestuous Day: A History of Regency England |
|
Good basic book about Regency England. 302 pages, good index, bibliography, notes, but few illustrations. This book may still be available new in paperback. | ||||||||
| What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew: From Fox Hunting to Whist-- the Facts of Daily Life in 19th-Century England |
|
Although it contains some known errors and it focuses on the mid-nineteenth century, this book gives a good introduction to a lot of basics, like money, the calendar, titles, card games, mail coaches, etc. 416 pages, good index, bibliography, 135-page glossary, smattering of black and white illustrations. This book is available new in paperback for $14. | ||||||||
| The Prince of Pleasure and His Regency 1811-1820 |
|
Year-by-year chronology of the events, people, and institutions of the Regency. 304 pages, measures 8"x10". Lavishly illustrated, with 44 color plates and uncounted black and white plates. Excellent index and bibliography. Very readable, with lots of anecdotes. | ||||||||
| The Story of Fanny Burney |
|
Juvenile biography of Fanny Burney; nonetheless informative. Index and bibliography. |
This is not a business; it is a hobby. It is also Winter in Chicago, with White Death From the Sky. They also closed my neighborhood post office, so I have to go downtown to mail packages. All of which merely means that I make no promises of promptness. Prices are in U.S. Dollars. Several are listed "Not Priced" because although I have seen copies of them at my local used bookstores, I do not know the price. Where there is a price listed, it does not include shipping or insurance of any kind, which are, if you decide to buy, entirely at your option and your expense. I will use whatever shipping service and insurance you request, within reason, of course. I do not know what shipping costs are until I step up to the register at the post office (or the UPS office or wherever). 4th Class Book Rate is always cheapest, but it sometimes gets sent on a slow boat to China and back.
That said, I hope this page will serve to unite you with books you want!
L.A.W. 16 March 1997
Available at local bookstores.