The Other Austen

Guaranteed to Bring Out the Bitch In You

  • 15th May
    2013
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  • 4th May
    2013
  • 04
theoddmentemporium: Dance Cards Originating in the 18th century, but growing in popularity throughout the 19th century, dance cards were small, decorative notebooks used by women to record the names of the men who had promised them a dance at a ball. As can be seen in the fan-shaped example above, the names of each dance that will be played at the event are noted already on the blue “Dances” sections, whilst the “Engagements”, or the names of the men with whom the woman intends to dance, are marked in ink beside them. Apparently the men would just have to remember by heart with whom they had promised the dance. The dance cards came in particularly handy at the massive 19th century balls of Vienna, especially those during Fasching, just before Lent. Most dance cards incorporated a pencil and a cord to attach to the woman’s wrist, however, more elaborate dance cards of the elite were sometimes decorated with precious metals or jewels.

theoddmentemporium:

Dance Cards

Originating in the 18th century, but growing in popularity throughout the 19th century, dance cards were small, decorative notebooks used by women to record the names of the men who had promised them a dance at a ball.

As can be seen in the fan-shaped example above, the names of each dance that will be played at the event are noted already on the blue “Dances” sections, whilst the “Engagements”, or the names of the men with whom the woman intends to dance, are marked in ink beside them. Apparently the men would just have to remember by heart with whom they had promised the dance.

The dance cards came in particularly handy at the massive 19th century balls of Vienna, especially those during Fasching, just before Lent. Most dance cards incorporated a pencil and a cord to attach to the woman’s wrist, however, more elaborate dance cards of the elite were sometimes decorated with precious metals or jewels.

(via ravengoodwoman)

  • 2nd May
    2013
  • 02

19adg91:

The Real Anne Lister
Director: Matthew Hill
UK | 2010 | 60 min

Traveller, socialite, mountaineer, geologist, landowner and lesbian - Anne Lister may have lived in the buttoned-up Victorian era but she was one thoroughly modern lady.
The recent discovery and decoding of a remarkable four million word diary by an upper-class Englishwoman by the name of Anne Lister has turned the presumptions of a genteel world of fan-wielding women on its head.
Anne wrote in detail about her love affairs with other women. Her descriptions of society life, detailing the shortcomings of the local dignitaries, the loaded conversations of tea parties and the remarkable fact that aspirational parents would throw their daughters Anne’s way so they could climb the social ladder.
Television presenter and comedian Sue Perkins is fascinated by Anne’s story. With a passion for history, and as a lesbian herself, she understands the significance of these journals and is uniquely placed to empathise with Anne.
This documentary sees Sue take a very personal journey to bring Anne Lister’s diary to life as she looks at the pros and cons of a lesbian life lived two hundred years ago.

(via thecontradictionsofmymind)

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kitbuckle:

This is what I’m doing tonight before Supernatural. Love my English peeps.

oh you know you’ve made it when your memes make it onto college flyers

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