BookPick: A Visitor’s Guide to Jane Austen’s England
Now that Thomas Kydd finds himself mingling at the highest levels in English society his horizons have changed immeasurably from those of the humble wig-maker who was press-ganged into the Royal Navy in 1793. Sue Wilke’s book is a very readable eye-witness guide to Kydd’s new world.
Packed with detail, and anecdotes, the book is an intimate exploration of how the middle and upper classes lived in the Georgian era. The author skilfully conjures up all aspects of daily life within the period, drawing on contemporary diaries, illustrations, letters, novels, travel literature and archives.
The book is divided into seven chapters – travelling, gracious living, the latest modes, money matters, shopping and leisure, the perfect partner and health concerns.
From the chapter on travelling: ‘All roads lead to London, the bustling centre of the nation’s trade and fashion. Unless you have your own carriage, you’ll travel by stagecoach or mail coach, post-chaise or hired horse, breaking your journey where necessary at an inn.
‘One of the best views of London is from Shooter’s Hill on the Dover Road. You’ll see the River Thames winding through rich green meadows against a backdrop of gently rolling downs: a bristling forest of ships’ masts…
Visitors coming from the opposite direction, that is from the west, enter the metropolis via the Great West Road at Hounslow. From Brentford you’ll find that it’s now almost one continuous street to London…’
An extensive bibliography is included as are a number of interesting black and white illustrations.
This book is a very readable and complementary addition to the rich body of reference works available on Georgian life ashore.
Julian Stockwin 
Dear Bosun, I’m on a weeks holiday in lovely Cornwall again. This time I have come down with Victory and Conquest for my reading matter ( for the EIGTH time of reading). I noticed in Victory that on page 325 Bowden made his way over to the larboard side to see Lt. Pascoe and notice Admiral Nelson alongside them. I always though that Nelson died on the starboard side of Victory. Could you please enlighten me, also I apologise if I’m wrong. Best wishes, MIKE Bigley.
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Hello, Michael – the Bosun has retired so I’m answering this for you. Nelson died on the larboard side, not the starboard side. Best wishes Julian