On the period of transition from 18th century decadence to 19th century publishers in England. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Tying in with the 8-part prime time Channel 4 series, REGENCY HOUSE PARTY will follow 5 men and 5 women as they meet, flirt and court within the same strict protocols as Jane Austen's heroes and heroines, e.g. all women must be chaperoned, a woman should never encourage a man, a man should never touch a young lady, etc. Each participant will be designated a role and an income, which will dictate their social standing - although at any point this could change and one of the poorer guests could inherit a fortune, or a rich one suffer a crippling debt - and each chapter of the book will focus on a particular character or couple. The houseguests will take part in popular pastimes of the era: attending a public dissection, amateur dramatics, fencing and, of course, dressing up and attending balls. They will also hopefully manage to find a suitable marriage partner, whose wealth and social standing will enhance their own. There is a website at: www.regencyparty.co.uk

Emma Arlen has spent a decade as a member of the duke's family, in the position of companion to his daughter and ward to the duke himself. She would do anything to show her support to the ducal family for their love and kindness. When Lady Elinor begs Emma to distract a most determined Sicilian suitor, she agrees at once. How hard can it be to keep one man entertained for a few weeks?Luca, the Conte di Atella, left his home in the newly formed Kingdom of the Two Sicilies under the direct orders of King Ferdinand I. Luca's duty as ambassador to England includes everything from negotiating better trade agreements to strengthening the bonds between the two nations. If possible, by marrying a lady of high birth. When he optimistically sets his sights on Lady Elinor, Miss Arlen consistently disrupts his plans. The more time that passes, the more he realizes he does not mind at all.Continually in the conte's company, Emma recognizes in him a spirit of adventure and nobility like she has never witnessed before. When the time comes for him to go, will she be able to part with him and keep her heart intact?

In her lifetime Jane Austen achieved no more than minor literary success, and her fame grew only slowly in the 19th century. Was there anything remarkable about that lady, Sir? a verger at Winchester Cathedral enquired of a Victorian visitor seeking her tomb. Only, so many people ask for her. Today in the English language, only Shakespeare and Dickens are bestsellers in her league, and in the 21st century her appeal seems set to grow further, especially when more television and film adaptations follow the hugely successful Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion and Sense and Sensibility of recent years. Josephine Ross explores the literary world at the turn of the 19th century: the books considered classics then, the horrid novels and romances of the time, the lending libraries and grasping publishers. She looks at the architecture and decor which then made up the profusion and elegance of modern taste: Nash houses for instance, Chippendale furniture, picturesque scenery. She shows us the fashions of the time, and the subtle ways Jane Austen used clothes to express character. Courtship, marriage, adultery, questions of class and rank, the ordinary life of mealtimes, travel, doctors and dentists, work, responsibility and amusement all appear, as does the wider political and military world - especially the Navy, in which her brothers served. This book should add depth to the enjoyment of all readers of Jane Austen, whether confirmed devotees or enthralled newcomers.

The Dickens Companions provide the most comprehensive annotation of the works of Charles Dickens ever undertaken. The factual annotation supplies information on the historical, literary and topical allusions which inform Dickens’s works, thus establishing sound foundations for further critical enquiry. For the scholar, they are invaluable research and reference tools. For the student and serious general reader, they are the essential authority on Dickens’s novels.