I see lots of posts where people answer this question with recommendations for classic historical romance authors like Georgette Heyer or more modern bodice-rippers like Julia Quinn or Tessa Dare. But to me that’s never quite the appropriate answer. Sure, if what you want is romance with country dancing and breeches, that’s fine, but surely if you want to read more things similar to Jane Austen, the best way to do that is to delve into her lesser known contemporaries. People Austen admired and people who admired her. People writing on similar themes and using similar language.
So this is my list of 10 novels from the 18th and early 19th century that you might like to try if you’ve read Austen and want to branch out more. These are just personal recommendations and based off what I’ve read; I’m very happy to hear other suggestions!
Worth noting as well that all of these are available online or free for kindle download. :)
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sansa with littlefinger / jon with daenerys | [insp post]
After half-an-hour the Duke came forth and was accompanied to the Queen’s Chamber, where were also the Princess Mary and many attendants.The Queen (Catherine Parr) danced first with her brother very gracefully; and then the Princess Mary, the Princess of Scotland (Margaret Douglas) danced with other gentlemen and many other ladies also danced. A Venetian of the King’s household danced some gallards with extraordinary agility. After dancing had lasted several hours the Queen returned to her chamber, first causing one of the noblemen who spoke Spanish to offer some presents to the Duke, who kissed her hand. He would have likewise kissed the Princess Mary’s hand, but she offered her lips; and so he saluted her and all the other ladies. The King is said to be a man of great authority and beauty. The Queen has a lively and pleasing appearance and is praised as a virtuous woman. Describes her dress and that of the Princess Mary, who has a pleasing countenance and person and who knows how to conceal her acquirements. She is adored throughout the kingdom.
The Duke of Nagera’s Visit to England, 17th February 1544 (via queenmarytudor)
“He would have likewise kissed the Princess Mary’s hand, but she offered her lips; and so he saluted her and all the other ladies.”
Princess Mary, hoping for some action!
Also, it's really funny how some people gush over Rhaenyra calling her brothers 'half brothers' but Helaena 'sweet sister' and say that it's sweet. I mean, I guess it is sweet. She knows her brothers want to challenge her right to the throne, but Helaena is sweet and wouldnt want that.
Yet, when Sansa refers to Jon as 'half-brother' it's horrible and disrespectful and even abusive?
Historically, in the asoiaf universe, children of another woman have wanted to usurp and challenge the heirship of rightful heirs. Catelyn has no reason to believe that Jon wouldn't turn out the same at some point and Sansa who is closest to her mother must have absorbed some of that beliefs.
I guess it's only girlboss to put a possible usurper in their place when it's a fan favorite.
WE NEED SEASON 2
The face of a man who let a million people burn so he could be king
Bran knew that he would be picked to be king.
So when Bran spent the end of season 7 and the first part of season 8 constantly saying how important it was for Jon to know who his parents are… it was so Jon would break up with Daenerys, she would go mad, burn a million people, and Jon would kill her; leaving the throne open for… Bran.
I mean if the show had made Bran an intentional villain or morally grey; acknowledge that he knew a city would be destroyed, and didn’t do anything to stop it, rather did his part to set up the pieces to make it happen, that would be a great twist. But the writers don’t seem to be aware of the implications of Brans psychic abilities and the choices he made ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I get the feeling D&D really didn’t want Bran to be king, but did so because it was in George’s outline. Seeing how little Bran has done to be king (or deserve being king), they made Sansa Queen of the North because that at least makes more sense than King Bran.
Northern independence, and the people who keep defending it as an outcome on the show, continues to bother me. I like the idea of the breakup of the kingdoms in theory, but it should be a full dissolution. There is no point to the north becoming independent alone. If being part of a united realm is such horrible evil tyranny, then why isn't it horrible and evil for the remaining kingdoms? Why is it okay for them to be forced to kneel not only to a king but a Northern, and therefore foreign, monarch? Especially since at least two of them have a history of rejecting foreign rule.
And if things in the Six Kingdoms are actually going to be good and just and all that, then why is it necessary for the North to secede? They could just stay and be ruled over by the legal heir to House Stark and continue to reap the benefits of easy trade with the more winter-resistant kingdoms. The happiest years of Sansa's life were spent in a united realm, so what does she think this is going to give her? I'm pretty sure King Bran is how the books are supposed to end per GRRM, and my suspicion is that the showrunners wanted to upgrade Warden of the North Sansa to Queen Sansa in an attempt to dodge the accusations of misogyny naturally arising from the treatment of other female characters who aspired to rulership. This is empty pandering if I'm right, and I don't care for it.
But you see it’s not me, It’s not my family In your head, in your head they are fighting With their tanks and their bombs And their bombs and their guns In your head In your head they are cryin’ In your head
- The Cranberries
Her life story is very interesting--both of Henry’s sisters are just as fascinating and entertaining as he is! I know Philippa Gregory wrote a book on Margaret (Three Sisters, Three Queens), but I’ve heard it’s not as good as her other ones. Plus she hasn’t written a book about Mary, though she appears in The Other Boleyn Girl.
I know some of y’all are literally on D & D’s necks half the time because you are dissatisfied with how they are adapting the story from the books, but for this episode, especially with Arya’s arc, y’all got to give credit where credit is due! Never in my life would I have guessed that Arya would end up killing the Night King, but they have literally been subtlety planting the seeds for this for awhile now and we all completely missed it until it all suddenly came together tonight! That’s pretty incredible in my book!