The Famous White Soup from Pride and Prejudice

By Camille Elliot/Camy Tang

Why did Mr. Bingley insist on white soup? Explore its Regency history, literary significance, and my recreation of the famous dish.

There was a line in Pride and Prejudice that always baffled me. Mr. Bingley is talking about the ball he plans to host at Netherfield:

“If you mean Darcy," cried her brother, "he may go to bed, if he chooses, before it begins—but as for the ball, it is quite a settled thing; and as soon as Nicholls has made white soup enough, I shall send round my cards.”

Nicholls is the housekeeper/cook at Netherfield. Bingley is saying the invitations will go out once she has prepared a large enough quantity of this particular soup.

What White Soup Actually Was

White soup was exactly what its name suggests—a rich, creamy, pale-colored soup that was considered an elegant dish for special occasions. Most recipes included:

• A rich meat stock made from veal, chicken, or both (sometimes with bacon for extra flavor)
• Blanched almonds, pounded into a paste
• Cream, with egg yolks sometimes added for extra richness
• Rice or breadcrumbs to thicken the soup
• Seasonings such as herbs, mace, or even anchovies, depending on the recipe

Historians generally believe white soup evolved from the French court dish Potage à la Reine (“Queen’s Soup”), which itself descended from medieval aristocratic cookery. Recipes for white soup appear in several cookbooks from Jane Austen’s time, including Martha Lloyd’s household book (Martha later lived with the Austens and eventually married Jane’s brother Francis) as well as the Knight family cookbook.

It was not quick to throw together. The stock was typically simmered for hours, then left overnight so the fat could be skimmed off. After that it was enriched with finely pounded almonds, strained, and then finished carefully with cream so it stayed silky rather than curdling. Preparing enough for an entire ballroom full of guests would have required advance planning and a busy kitchen staff.

Why White Soup Mattered

At many Regency private balls, supper was served late in the evening, often around midnight after several hours of dancing. White soup was one of the fashionable dishes commonly served at these suppers, alongside negus—a warm wine punch that was equally popular.

Food historian Joyce White wrote that serving white soup “confers a certain amount of status.” It’s easy to see why. The soup required generous amounts of meat, cream, and almonds, along with many hours of preparation. It wasn’t the sort of meal most families would make on an ordinary weekday.

So Bingley is doing more than mentioning the menu. He’s showing that he intends to host the sort of elegant entertainment everyone would expect at Netherfield. It’s one of those ordinary details Jane Austen slips into her novels that tells us something about her characters and everyday Regency life.

I then found these two fascinating articles on white soup from the Jane Austen Centre and the Austenonly blog. I decided to try making it!

The Original Recipe

I followed the original Regency recipe from the book by John Farley, published in 1811, The London Art of Cookery and Domestic Housekeepers' Complete Assistant : uniting the principles of elegance, taste, and economy : and adapted to the use of servants, and families of every description. You can download the scan of the original book from the link.

Here’s the original recipe:

White Soup.

PUT a knuckle of veal into six quarts of water, with a large fowl, a pound of lean bacon, half a pound of rice, two anchovies, a few pepper-corns, a bundle of sweet herbs, two or three onions, and three or four heads of celery cut in slices. Stew all together, till the soup is as strong as you would have it, and then strain it through a hair sieve into a clean earthen pot: let it stand all night, skim off the fat, and pour it into a stewpan. Put in half a pound of Jordan almonds beat fine, simmer a little, and run it through a tamis: add a pint of cream and the yolk of an egg, and send it up hot.

Also, it mentions a few pages earlier:

“In the preparation of white soup, remember never to put in your cream till you take your soup off the fire, and the last thing you do, must be the dishing of your soups. ”

Camy’s Regency White Soup Adventure

I didn’t have a pot large enough to hold an entire chicken and 6 quarts of water, so I halved the recipe:

• 1 package of beef shank, 1 pound (When looking up what a “knuckle of veal” was, I found this online: “Look for veal shank. The main thing for your stock is to get bones with a good deal of marrow. Knuckles, by the way, typically need to be cracked, whereas the shanks are often sold in 2"to 3" pieces, so the marrow is already exposed.”)
• 2.5 pounds chicken thighs, in lieu of half a chicken
• 1/2 pound bacon, chopped
• 1/4 pound rice
• 2 anchovy fillets (I assumed the recipe meant 2 entire anchovies, so I minced 2 fillets)
• 5-6 peppercorns
• A handful of minced fresh basil. I wanted to also add fresh thyme but didn’t have any, so I added a teaspoon of dried thyme.
• 1 large onion, diced
• 2 bunches (or less) of celery, chopped (When I was chopping, it seemed like a lot of celery, but then I started the soup and realized it’s a lot of soup, so 2 entire bunches of celery ended up not being all that much. Still, reduce to only 1 bunch if you’re not a fan of that much celery.)
• 3 quarts of water
• 1/4 pound raw almonds
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 cup cream

I put everything but the almonds, egg, and cream in my stock pot on high heat, raised it to a boil, then put the heat to medium and simmered it. My stock pot was extremely full—in fact, I kept back one of the celery bunches and let the soup simmer for about an hour to reduce the water volume, then added the rest of the celery. (In hindsight, I probably could have just left out that second bunch of celery.)

I wasn’t entirely sure how long is “as strong as you would have it,” so I looked it up in my Williams-Sonoma cookbook, which said that a typical meat stock takes about 3.5-4 hours of simmering, partially covered. So I simmered for 4 hours, partially covered.

The soup got thick pretty quick, probably from the rice, so that it was more like a stew than a soup. Also, like when you make rice on the stovetop, the bottom can burn. (Sigh. I should have expected that.) So I had to be sure to watch it and stir consistently.

I strained the solids only through a metal colander, and then I forgot to put the soup in the fridge to let the fats solidify on the top so I could skim it off. Sigh again.

I was a bit surprised at how little soup there was, but then I’d looked at how much solids I had, and it made more sense.

I put 1/4 pound of raw almonds in my blender with 1/3 cup water and pulsed until it was all ground up, then added that to the soup. In hindsight, I should have used blanched almonds so the soup would be more “white.” I then brought it to a boil and simmered it, covered, for 15 minutes.

I strained the almonds using a wire strainer, which was a rather tedious process. Belatedly, I put it in the fridge to solidify the fats so I could skim them off.

I whisked the egg yolk, then tempered it by adding hot soup a little at a time, whisking in between until the yolk was hot enough, then whisked all of it into the soup. Then I stirred in the cream.

At the End of the Adventure

It tasted fabulous! It’s extremely creamy and rich even though there’s only 1 cup of cream for the entire pot of soup, I think because of the rice and almonds that thickened it. The meat flavor and the almond flavor both come through. It’s extremely elegant as a cream soup—it deserves fine china and silver cutlery.

I had saved the meat, veggies, and rice because I couldn’t bear to throw them away. I stripped the meat off the bones and shredded it. Then I added it all back to the soup to make it more stew-y and significantly less elegant. Mr. Darcy would be appalled, but Captain Caffeine was pleased by the result.

Bonus Epilogue

This would have been an expensive soup in Jane Austen’s day, because of the amount of meat in it. And there isn’t even meat in the soup itself! It was a bit pricey even for today. It was also rather tedious to make.

If you try this recipe, consider making homemade pressure-cooker stock to save several hours. Additionally, you can try using whole milk instead of cream so it’ll be a bit less rich. You might also consider using almond milk instead of the ground almonds—I’m pretty sure it would taste the same with much less work.

Despite the work involved, I can see why Mr. Bingley insisted on serving white soup at Netherfield. Rich, elegant, and surprisingly delicate, it feels exactly like the sort of dish that belongs at a grand Regency ball.

Would you have tried it?

(This article first appeared on my personal blog and has been updated for Heroes, Heroines & History.)

About the Author

Camy Tang writes Christian historical and contemporary romance filled with intrigue, adventure, and faith. Under the pen name Camille Elliot, she writes the Christian Regency romantic suspense series Lady Wynwood’s Spies, set in 1811 London where secrets, espionage, and slow-burn romance unfold against the glittering backdrop of high society.

If you enjoy Regency romance with adventure and a dash of humor, you can receive her novella Lissa and the Spy free when you join her newsletter.

Lissa and the Spy

A Regency Romantic Suspense Novella

In her quest for a marriage of convenience, plain and unpopular Lissa finds herself entangled with the enigmatic Lord Jeremy Stoude, who has a secret mission for the Crown. As danger stalks them, they must navigate a labyrinth of society’s expectations and their own insecurities to find love.

Click here to get Lissa and the Spy

The Unwritten Rules of Regency Ballroom Conversation

By Camille Elliot/Camy Tang

Yes, it's AI-generated — but we did our homework. Costumes are period accurate for the Regency era, and her gown is based on the fashion plate below.

What Were You Actually Allowed to Talk About at a Regency Ball?

Picture this: you're in a candlelit ballroom, wearing stays that make breathing a creative exercise, and a young man you've never met is leading you onto the dance floor. You have approximately four minutes to make a good impression. And most of the interesting things in your head are completely off-limits.

Welcome to the Regency London Season.

The Approved List

The rules around ballroom conversation were unwritten but universally understood: keep it light, keep it impersonal, and for heaven's sake, keep it safe.

Approved topics included the weather, the quality of the supper, the latest fashions from Paris, and music. Think of them as the small talk of 1811, designed to fill silence without revealing anything that might embarrass you or your family.

Jane Austen, who attended plenty of these events herself, had a lot of fun skewering this convention. In Northanger Abbey, the charming Henry Tilney meets Catherine Morland at a ball and immediately parodies the expected script, archly predicting exactly what they're supposed to say to each other—remarks about the rooms, the number of couples, and whether Catherine has been in Bath long. He's teasing, but he's also entirely accurate. That was the script.

But in Pride and Prejudice, while dancing with Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet does something rather radical—she asks questions, pushes back, even teases. Darcy is so unused to it that he doesn't quite know what to do with her. Their conversation crackles precisely because she refuses to be ornamental.

The Forbidden List

The forbidden list of conversational topics was just as clear, if never officially posted anywhere. Politics, religion, money, and anything that hinted at scandal were absolutely out. Even the war with Napoleon—which was very much ongoing and affecting nearly every family in England—was considered too grim, too masculine, and too real for polite mixed company. A young woman who voiced a strong opinion on the House of Lords risked being quietly labeled as odd, or worse, unfeminine.

Austen illustrates this perfectly with the Steele sisters in Sense and Sensibility. Anne can't stop chattering about "beaux”, speculating about which men might be interested in her, and going on and on about a doctor she's (supposedly) caught the eye of. It is a topic considered embarrassingly forward for a young woman of any refinement.

The Steeles share personal information too freely—for them there is no such thing as TMI. In a world where what you didn't say mattered as much as what you did, the Steeles said far too much.

Fashion plate of a Regency ball gown from Ackerman’s Repository, February 1809.

What Lissa Does Instead

Lissa Gardinier, the heroine of my novella Lissa and the Spy, is navigating exactly this needle-threading. Her mother has essentially given her a restricted vocabulary for the Season, and Lissa is ready to poke her eye out with a fork. It’s not that she doesn't understand the rules, but she understands them too well and finds them stifling:

She was not so obedient to her mother that she would subject herself to the torture of conversation topics such as the weather and the food at the ball, which she’d already discussed at length with her other dancing partners. So she asked a more unusual question. “Mr. Collingworth, shall you miss activities at your country estate while you are in town?”

His slack-jawed face abruptly became animated. “Yes indeed, Miss Gardinier. I breed hunting dogs, you see, and I’ve had particular luck this year with several pups …”

It's a small act of rebellion—asking about his life instead of praising the folds of his cravat—and it works beautifully.

Until it doesn't:

Last year during that first dance with Mr. Collingworth, upon seeing him excitedly discuss his dog breeding, she had been encouraged to also speak without restraint.

So she had voiced her exact thoughts rather than hiding behind a vapid facade. “Why in the world would you name a dog Lickspittle Furrybottom?”

At Mr. Collingworth’s startled look, Lissa realized that she’d said that out loud now, in this dance with him.

“… Not that it’s not a lovely name,” she added lamely.

Mr. Collingworth didn’t believe her, and his conversation faltered. She regretted that, for she hadn’t intended to be rude to him.

“Er … did I speak of Lickspittle Furrybottom?” he asked.

Lissa did a mental shriek at her mistake. “We spoke briefly about her last year. You were worried about her compatibility with Snout Droolalot.” To alleviate his embarrassment at not remembering her, she said, "I was relieved to hear that Lickspittle Furrybottom and Snout Droolalot had such a healthy litter. What are your plans for their puppies?” Talking about puppies was acceptable dance conversation, wasn’t it?

It pleased Mr. Collingworth to continue discussing puppies for the remainder of the dance.

Lissa’s desire to just say something real is the same one Austen's best heroines wrestle with. Alas, the ballroom rewarded performance and punished honesty.

And yet the characters we remember, the ones who feel truly alive on the page, are the ones who couldn't quite manage to perform perfectly.

Some things, it seems, never change.

About the Author

Camy Tang writes Christian historical and contemporary romance filled with intrigue, adventure, and faith. Under the pen name Camille Elliot, she writes the Christian Regency romantic suspense series Lady Wynwood’s Spies, set in 1811 London where secrets, espionage, and slow-burn romance unfold against the glittering backdrop of high society.

If you enjoy Regency romance with adventure and a dash of humor, you can receive her novella Lissa and the Spy free when you join her newsletter.

Lissa and the Spy

A Regency Romantic Suspense Novella

In her quest for a marriage of convenience, plain and unpopular Lissa finds herself entangled with the enigmatic Lord Jeremy Stoude, who has a secret mission for the Crown. As danger stalks them, they must navigate a labyrinth of society’s expectations and their own insecurities to find love.

Click here to get Lissa and the Spy

Navigating Disability in Regency England

by Edwina Kiernan

Regency England... the words conjure images of elegant ballrooms, sprawling estates, polite courtship, and a world in which societal norms and manners were meticulously respected. Yet, often overlooked in historical narratives, there existed a segment of the population whose lives looked very different from their peers: people with disabilities. While the Regency era is often romanticized for its opulence and refinement, the experiences of those with disabilities during this time were far more complex.

During the Regency era, disability was not a concept with a uniform understanding, as it is today. Instead, it encompassed a wide range of conditions, from physical impairments to mental health challenges—with varying degrees of social acceptance or stigma.

For individuals with disabilities in Regency England, life was fraught with numerous challenges. Access to education, employment, and healthcare was severely limited, exacerbating their marginalization within society. Physical disabilities, such as mobility impairments, often restricted individuals from participating in social activities and hindered their ability to navigate public spaces designed without consideration for accessibility.

Moreover, the lack of legislative protections meant that individuals with disabilities had little recourse against discrimination or exploitation. They were often relegated to the fringes of society, dependent on charity or familial support for survival. Additionally, prevailing attitudes towards disability perpetuated stereotypes and misconceptions, further isolating those affected and undermining their sense of self-worth.

An old wheelchair, made from wicker and wood.

Despite the prevalent challenges, individuals with disabilities in Regency England demonstrated remarkable resilience and agency in navigating their circumstances. Many found solace and camaraderie within supportive communities, whether through religious institutions, charitable organizations, or informal networks of peers facing similar challenges. These connections provided not only practical assistance but also emotional support and a sense of belonging.

Furthermore, some people with disabilities actively challenged societal norms and expectations, advocating for their rights and asserting their humanity. Writers, activists, and reformers emerged to challenge prevailing attitudes towards disability, advocating for greater inclusivity and recognition of the capabilities and contributions of disabled individuals.

In the face of adversity, those with disabilities in Regency England often demonstrated remarkable resilience and adaptability. Some developed innovative strategies to navigate their environments, whether through the use of assistive devices, leveraging personal networks, or cultivating specialized skills and talents. Despite societal barriers, many individuals with disabilities carved out meaningful lives for themselves, pursuing careers, engaging in creative pursuits, and forming meaningful relationships.

Moreover, the support of enlightened allies, including progressive thinkers, philanthropists, and advocates, played a crucial role in challenging societal prejudices and fostering greater acceptance and inclusion. Through their collective efforts, attitudes towards disability gradually began to slowly improve, laying the groundwork for future advancements in disability rights and accessibility.

The experiences of individuals with disabilities in Regency England offer valuable insights into the complexities of navigating disability in historical contexts. Their stories remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community in overcoming adversity. Moreover, they underscore the importance of recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of all individuals, regardless of their abilities or differences.

Did You Know?

My award-winning novel, Beryl's Blessing, has a heroine with a limp, who struggles with her disability (and its cause and effects) throughout the story. The hero, too, is affected by PTSD. Despite the two very different natures of their individual afflictions, their mutual struggles allow them to help one another deal with their pain and suffering. Until a long-hidden secret threatens to destroy all the progress they've made...

She's used to being alone... He can't get away from his guilty conscience...

Find out more here: EdwinaKiernan.com/beryl

About The Author:

Edwina Kiernan is an award-winning author of Christian Historical Romance. She lives in rainy Ireland with her husband and son, and uses her pen to point people to Jesus - the Living Word. She also drinks more types of tea than most people realize even exist. Find out more at EdwinaKiernan.com, and sign up for her weekly newsletter for lots of fun, fiction, freebies and faith.

Human Trafficking in Regency Era England

 by Edwina Kiernan

The Regency era in England (1811 - 1820), is often romanticized for its elegance and societal decorum. Yet, beneath the glamorous exterior lurked a shadowy world, where human trafficking cast a grim and surprisingly pervasive presence.

In Regency times, societal disparities were often pronounced, and a considerable number of people lived in abject poverty. The vulnerable and marginalized found themselves at the mercy of unscrupulous individuals who would exploit them in their desperation. Orphans, destitute women, and children from impoverished families were particularly susceptible to falling prey to human trafficking networks.

Some of the most notorious perpetrators were the press gangs. Though primarily known for forcibly recruiting men into the Navy, press gangs also engaged in the abduction and trafficking of women and children. Often prowling the docks and impoverished neighborhoods, these gangs operated with impunity, kidnapping unsuspecting victims to be sold into various forms of servitude.

Human trafficking during the Regency manifested in various forms, the most prevalent being indentured servitude and forced labor. Unscrupulous individuals, including criminals and opportunistic employers, preyed upon the desperate and destitute. Victims were often lured by promises of employment, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative situations with little hope of escape.

Women were particularly vulnerable. Kidnapped or coerced into a life of servitude, they faced harrowing conditions. Many found themselves in brothels, catering to the desires of the aristocracy and the burgeoning middle class. The lack of legal protections for these women meant that they were often at the mercy of their captors, enduring physical and emotional abuse with little recourse.

The trafficking of children was another grim reality. Orphanages and workhouses, intended to provide refuge for vulnerable children, became breeding grounds for exploitation. Perpetrators took advantage of these institutions, trafficking children into various forms of labor, including chimney sweeping, factory work, and domestic service. An innocent, carefree childhood was often sacrificed for economic gain.

The legal framework of the time was ill-equipped to combat the pervasive issue of human trafficking. While some laws existed to address specific aspects of the trade, enforcement was often lax, and legal loopholes allowed traffickers to operate without punishment. The lack of a centralized law enforcement agency and the absence of a comprehensive legal strategy to combat the crimes only exacerbated the problem.

Regency society, with its emphasis on class distinctions and an eagerness to maintain the status quo, also contributed to trafficking’s prevalence. On the rare occasion that the plight of the vulnerable was mentioned, it was often met with indifference, thus the suffering of those ensnared in the trade went unnoticed or deliberately ignored. 

The absence of a concerted effort to combat human trafficking allowed this nefarious trade to persist.

This uncomfortable chapter of history serves as a stark reminder that behind the veneer of elegance, a deeper, more unsettling narrative shaped the lives of the vulnerable in early 19th century England.

Did You Know?

My award-winning debut novel, Ruby’s Redemption, has as its main character a young woman who was trafficked, and her unlikely journey of rescue and redemption.

With no inappropriate language and no graphic depictions of depravity, Ruby’s Redemption is a powerful, uplifting and poignant story of God’s grace, healing and redemption that multiple readers have said they couldn’t put down! Find out more here: EdwinaKiernan.com/ruby

About The Author:

Edwina Kiernan is an award-winning author of Christian Historical Romance. She lives in rainy Ireland with her husband and son, and uses her pen to point people to Jesus - the Living Word. She also drinks more types of tea than most people realize even exist. Find out more at EdwinaKiernan.com, and sign up for her weekly newsletter for lots of fun, fiction, freebies and faith.

Visiting the Jane Austen Centre in Bath, England

As a longtime Jane Austen fan, absorbing the atmosphere of Bath, England, and it's unique Georgian architecture, I could feel the history surrounding me. Up until a few months ago I didn't know I would have the opportunity to visit this lovely little city. Walking five minutes in any direction will bring you to a site of historic significance. I didn't want to leave Bath without first having a chance to visit the Jane Austen Centre. 

This museum is located on Gay Street, on the same street, but not the same house in which Jane once lived for a time with her mother and sister after her father died. The buildings are very similar. 

A live "Mr. Bennet" happily greets visitors at the doorway, in Regency costume while a statue of Lizzie Bennet stands to the right as though waiting for someone on the street. Inside is the gift shop where you can buy tickets and wait for the tour while perusing a delightful array of Jane Austen souvenirs.

As the tour begins a guide shares the story of Austen's upbringing. It was fun learning a few things I didn't know about Jane and her family. She was quite close to her sister, Cassandra, who also never married, though she was secretly engaged for a time.

During the 1790s, Jane's family visited Bath on a few occasions. The tour guide noted that these were lighter and more carefree days, when she wrote Northanger Abbey. After her father retired from the pastorate they moved to Bath in 1801. This was not necessarily a happy time for Jane as in 1805 Mr. Austen passed away. It was after this they moved to Gay Street. These were less productive times of writing for Jane. Later she wrote her novel, Persuasion, with a darker view of Bath.

After a short introduction I was escorted down the hall where a gallery of pictures supposed to be Jane, a group of watercolors, prints, and sketches.

One of the sketches with Jane wearing a bonnet and looking away is a sketch done by her sister, Cassandra, as well as well-known pencil sketch also by Cassandra.

The Centre includes a short film narrated by Adrian Lukis, the actor who played the dastardly Mr. Wickham in the beloved 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. Actual period clothing is displayed as well as a table set for tea and various displays describing events in Jane's life and daily living during the Regency period in general. 

Did you know Jane did possibly experienced young love and at a different time was actually engaged for less than a day? The first, a nephew of neighbors in Steventon where she grew up, Tom Lefroy, visited several times. He and Jane enjoyed one another's company, but his parents had him intended for a wealthier match.

During her time in Bath, when she was late in her 20s, a younger brother of one of her friend's, Harris Bigg-Wither, offered a proposal of marriage, a surprise to Jane. At first, considering his inheritance and an opportunity to provide for her mother and sister, Jane accepted the proposal, but upon reflection overnight realized she didn't have the affection for Mr. Bigg-Wither which she believed would be important for a successful marriage. She declined the next day, to the embarrassment of both families. Yet Jane Austen's principles are evident again and again in her novels. The heroine holds out for marriage to a man she truly loves above other considerations.

Miss Austen's years post-Bath were spent in Chawton in a cottage her brother, Edward, provided for her, her mother, and her sister. Part of a large and close family, Cassandra and Jane helped their brother Edward with his family as well. Her brother, Henry, whom she was closest to, later advocated for her in having her works published. She ocntinued writing until her death at age 41 in 1817.

At the end of the museum you will find a full-size wax image, created by a forensic artist and said to be the most accurate depiction of Jane Austen. Visitors can also dress up in period clothing to have their picture taken. I opted to have my photo taken alongside "Jane" without a costume, but still it felt special.

The Jane Austen Centre in Bath is a testament to the fulfilling life that she lived though cut short by an unknown disease. She lives on in her books, in the imaginations of those who greatly admire her writing, and every young woman searching for her own Mr. Darcy! 

About Kathleen: Kathleen Rouser has loved making up stories since she was a little girl and wanted to be a writer before she could even read. She desires to create characters who resonate with readers and realize the need for a transforming Savior in their everyday lives. She is a long time member in good standing of ACFW and a former board member of its Great Lakes Chapter. Kathleen has been published in anthologies, including the Amazon bestseller, Christmas Treasures, as well as in both print and online magazines. Her debut full-length novel, Rumors and Promises, was recently published by Heritage Beacon Fiction in April, 2016.

Previously a home-school mom of three, she has more recently been a college student and a mild-mannered dental assistant. Along with her sassy tail-less cat, she lives in Michigan with her hero and husband of 34 years, who not only listens to her stories, but also cooks for her.

You can connect with me here: 

Website: kathleenrouser.com; 
Facebook: facebook.com/kathleenrouser/; 
Twitter: @KathleenRouser

Ten days to enter the Goodreads giveaway for
a chance to win one of two copies of Rumors and
Promises.  

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Rumors and Promises

by Kathleen Rouser

Giveaway ends July 31, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

How to Write Like Austen? (Maybe)

by Linore Rose Burkard

          Looking through some old newsletters from JASNA (The Jane Austen Society of North America), I came across something fun: An interesting link shared by author Carrie Bebris, a fellow regency novelist. She says she keeps her writing style in the vein of Austen's by using http://www.writelikeausten.com. 

If you type in a word, it will tell you if it appears in any of Austen's works--and how many times, too. It will also give you synonyms that Jane used--and point out a few she did NOT. There's more on the site that any respectable Janeite will enjoy, so I encourage you to take a look. But can it really help you write like Austen?

 
Just for fun, I entered a few words I used in my first regency, BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS.

"Prinny"--a caricature, by Gillray

I discovered that Jane never referred to the Prince Regent as "Prinny." (Though Mr. Mornay, the hero of BTSE, as well as the prince's inner circle of fashionable friends, did. Probably not to his face.)  


Neither did Jane once refer to the elite fashionable district of London (that regency writers today are so fond of), "Mayfair," by name. 


Interestingly, she used the word "Fortune" (ie., one's wealth) 222 times. (Hmmm.)
"Money-- 127
"Rich"--78
"Estate"--77 times.
"Marriage"--246
"Church"--53
"property"--55
"Jointure"--only 3 times (A jointure usually referred to a widow's income, sort of an annuity.)
"Wealth"--33 times.
 "Pounds"--95
"Wedding"--333

Going over that above list is like reviewing many of Austen's themes in brief, although her true themes cannot be reduced to single words. 

 For fun, I entered a few more words we all associate with Jane Austen, such as,

"Pride"--138 times
"Prejudice"--35
"Sense"--238--quite a lot 
"Sensibility"--69
"Gentlemanlike"--24 
"prodigiously"--5 (only! huh. And "prodigious"--only 9 times.)

Out of curiosity, I also tried the site's "Austen Writer," in which you can insert a paragraph of text and see how it compares to, in their words, "Austenicity." (Love that word! Austenicity.) 
So here's how the opening paragraph of my novel, above, made out.
I entered the following:

Something would have to be done about Ariana.

All winter Miss Ariana Forsythe, aged nineteen, had been going about the house sighing.  "Mr. Hathaway is my lot in life!"  She spoke as if the prospect of that life was a great burden to bear, but one to which she had properly reconciled herself. When her declarations met with exasperation or reproach from her family--for no one else was convinced that Mr. Hathaway, the rector, was her lot--she usually responded in a perplexed manner. Hadn't they understood that her calling was to wed a man of the cloth? Was there another man of God, other than their rector, available to her? No. It only stood to reason, therefore, that Mr. Hathaway was her lot in life.Their cold reception to the thought of the marriage was unfathomable.

How did it do? Except for the proper nouns, ONLY the following words from this excerpt were never used by Austen

exasperation, responded, hadn't, wed, available. 

I could take that to mean the writing has significant "Austenicity," right? But wait, maybe not. 

To compare, I took a paragraph from my contemporary novel, FALLING IN, and entered it into the site. 

Here's what I entered:

      ...Pat felt in his pocket, and that's when he pulled out a small felt-covered box, the kind that held rings. He was grinning.

        Oh, my gosh! He's going to propose! Sharona was shocked. Not happily shocked. It was an unwelcome idea, that of getting married. They'd only been dating for five months!  Sharona's heart constricted. Pat was cupping the box reverently in one hand, waiting for her to take it. She reached for it woodenly, her mind a jumble of thoughts.  It was true Pat had given warnings, saying things like, "Junior partners don't become senior partners in my firm without a wife; preferably a couple kids, too." Pat's superiors were mostly old-school, white-haired men, and they liked things traditional. But Pat had always followed such statements with a laugh, so Sharona never took his words as a hint of something coming. She hadn't dreamed he'd been serious.

In this case, the app again flagged personal pronouns, but also every single compound word and contraction; as well as "constricted," "cupping," "reverently," "woodenly," "preferably," and "dreamed." Jane Austen did not, apparently, use many adverbs or modifiers. (Perhaps we can learn something here!) Most words, however, were not flagged.  

This tells me two things:
1. You cannot use this little tool to write like Austen, although it will tell you if a word was never used by her.
2.  Jane used quite a few words in her writing that we still use today. And that's it! 

Still, it was a fun exercise. 
If I could find an app to do the same for writing like Dickens, now, wouldn't that be fun?

Do you read Jane Austen? Or regencies? What is a favorite word of yours from the period?




Linore Rose Burkard  is best known for her Inspirational Regency Romance Series, which whisks readers back in time to early 19th century England. Authenticity and heart-warming adventure are par for the course in her books. Fans of romance in the tradition of Austen and Heyer (such as Pride & Prejudice, Cotillion, and even My Fair Lady), enjoy meeting Linore's feisty heroines and dashing heros.
   
All excerpts above, copyright 2015 Linore Rose Burkard