Julian Fellowes’ Belgravia: A New Novel by the Creator of Downton Abbey
As a general rule, I don’t accept books for review here at MimiMatthews.com. However, when I was approached several months ago to participate in the Progressive Blog Tour for Julian Fellowes’ new novel, Belgravia, I simply could not refuse. Many of you probably already know Julian Fellowes as the creator, writer, and executive producer of the popular television series Downton Abbey. He also wrote the screenplay (and won an Oscar!) for one of my favorite movies, Gosford Park. His other film, television, and print credits are too numerous to list. Suffice to say that he has been entertaining those of us who love historical drama for a very long time.[…]Continue Reading
Napoleon vs. Wellington: The Art of the Passionate Love Letter
Ranging from the desperately passionate to the treacly sweet, historical love letters are as informative as they are entertaining. But who amongst our favorite figures of the 19th century penned the most heart melting missives? Naturally, one would assume the honors for this would go to Byron, Keats, or Shelley. Their love letters were sublime, there is no doubt. However, if you have a yen to read truly smoldering love letters, might I suggest a gentleman who, when not busy conquering the world, expended his time writing scorching hot letters to his wife?[…]Continue Reading
A Soldier Writes Home: Letters from the Georgian Era through World War II
“The field of battle is a festival of honour; a sublime pageant. But this is war!”
Sir Robert Ker Porter, 1809.
Whether it is touched upon in conversation between those characters safe on the home front or dealt with directly via a character who has been in the military or is still serving abroad, war is a part of many historical novels. Indeed, there aren’t many fans of Georgian and Regency fiction who could not recite to you the salient facts of the Battles of Trafalgar or Waterloo. However, what makes us, as readers, invested in the characters does not come down to a mere recitation of facts on a timeline. It comes down to emotional authenticity.[…]Continue Reading