Quarter Days
I’m back with another Quarter Days’ post about Michaelmas
True Janeites (fans of Jane Austen) might be interested in a fun website I stumbled across while researching a story I have in the works.
The “Chronology of Pride and Prejudice, according to MacKinnon and Chapman” takes us through the detailed timeline of P&P’s events. (Oh, to be such a renowned author that fans prepare a chronology for your novel.) I don’t know about my fellow A Slice of Orange authors, but I always have to check and double-check that I have the story days correct.
Mr. Bingley moves in
Pride and Prejudice begins when Mr. Bingley takes the lease to Netherfield Manor and moves in.
As I’ve mentioned in earlier posts, Quarter Days might be occasions for feasting and parties, but they also had a commercial significance. Contracts were entered into or terminated, property was leased, and rents and wages were paid. Thus, as the story begins, a wealthy bachelor in need of a wife kicks off the story by becoming a neighbor of Mr. Bennet, a man with five unmarried daughters.
And Mr. Bingley has been kind enough to bring along an even richer bachelor friend! Well of course; late summer/early autumn was also the start of hunting season, when a man might welcome parties of friends to tramp through his fields and shoot birds. Mr. Bingley would want to show off his new domain to his influential friend, Mr. Darcy.
The Glorious Twelfth
Hunting season started on the Glorious Twelfth of August, after the social and parliamentary season ended. Presumably farmers had finished the harvest, so the crops were safe from hordes of hunters.
Bird season began a bit later, in September running through October. Hunting in Britain was very much dominated by the elites, even during periods of economic downturn and food scarcity. Ownership of weapons and even dogs was restricted, and penalties for poaching might include transportation. (See my post about this topic.)
Autumn was prime house party season also because families
had shipped off their young males to boarding school in time for the Michaelmas term. No
young boys would be running about distracting the shooters or worse,
accidentally shooting themselves in the foot. They’d be back home though for
the next Quarter Day, Christmas, which is when I’ll return to A Slice of
Orange. See you then!
For more about Michaelmas, take a look at my earlier posts: Michaelmas
Goose, and A
Michaelmas Menu.
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Quarter Days I’m back with another Quarter Days’ post about Michaelmas True Janeites (fans of Jane Austen) might be interested in a fun website I stumbled across while researching a story I have in the works. The “Chronology of Pride and Prejudice, according to MacKinnon and Chapman” takes us through the detailed timeline of P&P’s […]
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Award-winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but her true passion is the much happier world of romance fiction.
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Award-winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but her true passion is the much happier world of romance fiction.
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Quarter Days I’m back with another Quarter Days’ post about Michaelmas True Janeites (fans of Jane Austen) might be interested in a fun website I stumbled across while researching a story I have in the works. The “Chronology of Pride and Prejudice, according to MacKinnon and Chapman” takes us through the detailed timeline of P&P’s […]
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Quarter Days I’m back with another Quarter Days’ post about Michaelmas True Janeites (fans of Jane Austen) might be interested in a fun website I stumbled across while researching a story I have in the works. The “Chronology of Pride and Prejudice, according to MacKinnon and Chapman” takes us through the detailed timeline of P&P’s […]
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Love these literary and historical info! Looking forward to the next one.
When I saw the timeline for P&P I was surprised at how the story stretched out over time. She managed to keep the story moving! Thanks for stopping by, Veronica.
Very interesting post, Alina. You really know your subject matter.
The more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know much, lol!
Hmm, sounds interesting. Although, I must confess, I have never read a Jane Austen novel nor watched a Jane Austen movie. I keep saying I will…. Anyway, great post!
Old Jane is not for everyone, Alicia! I know other romance authors who haven’t read her/don’t care for her.
I always learn so much from you. Didn’t know that August 12th was such a special day!
I didn’t know that about August 12th either. Thanks for stopping by, Kara!