Historical Novel Settings

19th Century Literature Eras

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The 19th century is one of the most exciting periods in English history. This era gave birth to modern democracy, new forms of art and literature, and a period of unprecedented industrialization that would change society forever. It also gave us some incredible books and characters! The writing opportunities about this time period abound.

When you’re writing about 19th-century historical elements, it helps to know exactly when your book takes place. In this article, we’ll go over the different eras that existed during this period and what types of books are popular to write for each era.

What Time Period Is Regency?

Regency is the period between 1811 and 1820. It’s known for the popularity of Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, and Anne Stuart, who took on the Regency genre uniquely by blending it with other genres like mystery and sci-fi.

Travel in this time was by horse or carriage, although if you were wealthy enough, you could afford a coach that had steps down from its door like a modern SUV. Balls and teas were popular social activities where people could mingle with their peers — but if you wanted to heavy avoid crowds, card parties were your best bet! However, the goal of a Regency-era lady of the ton was to see and be seen.

George, Prince of Wales, also referred to as Prinny, was the oldest son of King George the Third. When King George was too mentally ill to rule, the Prince became Prince Regent from 1811-1820. His regency gave way to the Regency era. Do you want a taste of the regency era? Then check out the first few chapters of How to Live Happily Ever After by Bree Wolf free, a fantastic Regency romance author.

What Time Period Is Georgian?

The Georgian era is the time period between the death of Queen Anne in 1714 and the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. It was a time of rapid social change and development, with a strong sense of patriotism. The regency era is nestled right in the middle of the Georgian Era, and the two are often used interchangeably in historical romance literature.

There were also significant scientific advances, including novel methods of exploration. This era saw many greater freedoms for women and men who had previously been subject to laws that restricted their activities because they were not part of nobility or royalty.

Queen Anne died without naming an heir, so her cousin George I became king at age 60. His son George II succeeded him upon his death in 1727, followed by his grandson George III in 1760. William IV ruled from 1830 until his death from kidney disease at Windsor Castle on June 20th, 1837, after which Edward VII acceded to the throne upon reaching a majority age of 21 years old.

What Time Period Is Victorian?

The Victorian era was between 1837 and 1901, during which Queen Victoria was on the throne. It’s named after her because she held power during this time. Queen Victoria was often referred to as “the grand old lady” because she lived so long—she reigned for 63 years and became Britain’s longest-reigning monarch when she died at age 81. Until Queen Elizabeth, she held the longest reigning record.

Queen Victoria’s reign was marked by significant economic prosperity, which resulted in increased leisure time for many people; this led to a rise in the modern-day production of romance novels set in wealthy households with servants. These sorts of novels also feature industry as the main method of supporting estates instead of tenant farming. Do you want a taste of the Victorian Era? Then check out the first few chapters of Bewitched by the Bluestocking by Jillian Eaton for free, a great author who writes about the Victorian Era.

What Time Period Is Edwardian?

Edwardian is a period of British history that covers 1901-1914. It is also known as the Edwardian Age or Edwardian Period and was named after King Edward VII of England, who ruled during this time. The degradation of morals occurred in this era, where elegance and luxury among the rich and powerful were at their highest levels. This is the time period leading up to World War 1. However, the degradation of morals is seen in modern-day historical romance novels set in the Victorian period too.

Popular 19TH Century Historical Romance Categories

In the 19th century, there were many different types of historical romance. These included Regency, Victorian and Georgian period romances. In addition to these, there are Edwardian, Renaissance, and Medieval historical romance stories that are popular with readers who enjoy historical romances.

Now that you know about the different eras of literature, it’s time to start reading (or writing)! A great place to start would be with one of our recommended books, which you can find in the book reviews section.


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19th century literature eras

Lyrica Lovell is a regency and historical romance author. She loves to pen historical romance novels hailing from England and Scotland in the early 1800s. Lyrica fell in love with the genre when she was 16 and has read over 400 books within the regency romance sphere. Not only does she love to write the genre, but she loves to read just about everything in it. Stick around for fantastic book reviews, short stories, and more.