Today I'm kicking off a new interview series: “15 Minutes With…” that will introduce you to my favourite history bloggers and writers, all people who greatly inspire me. This series will give me and you a chance to get to know them a bit better.
It gives me great pleasure to start this series with a blogger whom I greatly admire: Rachel of Regency History. Her blog is a must read for all fans of the late Georgian and Regency periods, as she introduces her readers to their protagonists and their customs, fashions, and pasttimes. Rachel is also into Regency romances, especially those of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, and is even currently writing one herself! To find out more about Rachel, read on:
1. If you could live in any era, what would it be and why?
Unsurprisingly, the Georgian period is my favourite era, but I wouldn't really like to live in it. I like modern plumbing, heating and lighting too much! I also have the nasty suspicion that I would have been a servant rather than a member of quality. So actually, I would choose to live in the current time, with all the conveniences of modern life and, of course, the internet. Just visiting would be another matter...
2. If you could invite three people, dead or alive, to dinner, who would you invite, and why?
I think that I would invite Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, because I find her a fascinating person and I would love to ask her lots of questions about what life in aristocratic Georgian society was really like; Beau Brummell, to hear his witty conversation; and Sir Thomas Lawrence, so that he could paint my portrait after dinner!
3. Three books everyone should read?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – my favourite novel; Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë – another favourite; and the Bible, which contains amongst many other things one of my favourite love stories in the book of Ruth.
4. Who's your style icon?
My daughters! Not that I would wear what they wear, but they have the ability to carry off almost anything with style.
5. What are you watching on TV?
Lucy Worsley’s new series on BBC4 – “The First Georgians”.
6. What's the soundtrack of your life?
“You are my sunshine, my only sunshine” – it’s in one of my favourite films, “Penelope”, and sums up how I feel about my husband.
© Andrew Knowles
7. What's your favourite holiday destination, and why?
My favourite place is the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland – it’s where I stayed on my honeymoon and so will always be very special to me.
8. What inspires you?
My family are a great inspiration, always believing in me, rejoicing in my achievements and encouraging me to keep going when things are tough.
9. One thing on your bucket list?
I’d really like to visit Venice. Everyone seems to have gone there this spring except me!
10. Something about you that would surprise us?
I once danced in the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Thank you for chatting with us, Rachel!
You can check out Rachel's blog at Regency History, or catch up with her on Twitter, Facebook, and Google +.