Sophia`s Letter by Elizabeth Donnehttps://bit.ly/3DkxjKS
In my sweet Regency novel, "Sophia`s Letter," the written correspondence between the hero and heroine plays a central role in the plot. You can read the first three chapters in the Amazon sample here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKG71KFK
In Regency times, without landlines, emails, or text messaging, letters were the go-to method for communication between businesses and households. In literature of that era, letters carried critical news of an inheritance or, perhaps, the longing sighs of parted lovers.
Letters can make for interesting plot-points. Whose handwriting is that? Why is this person suddenly writing to her if she hardly knows him?
We might assume then that envelopes might also hold promising mysteries in Regency literature, right? Oddly enough, the answer is, mostly, "no." Envelopes really only came into regular use in Victorian times.
This is what Wikipedia has to say on the matter:
"In Western history, from the time flexible writing material became more readily available in the 13th century until the mid-19th century, correspondence was typically secured by a process of letter folding and sealing which sometimes employed elaborate letterlocking techniques to indicate tampering or prove authenticity. Some of these techniques, which could involve stitching or wax seals, were also employed to secure hand-made envelopes."
- (2021, March 12). Envelope. Wikipedia. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Envelope
Shannon Donnelly explains further:
"The letter itself differed from its modern form. The letter usually comprised a single sheet (sometimes folded once in the middle to make a booklet-like page). This was folded in thirds, then the ends were folded together, with one end tucked inside another. Hot wax dripped onto the joining ends sealed the letter.
- Shannon Donnelly. (2010, May 29). The Regency Post — A Pity We`ve Lost Letters. Shannon Donnelly`s Fresh Ink. Retrieved April 12, 2021, from https://shannondonnelly.com/2010/05/
We can see that it would be unusual for a Regency author to write a scene in which the heroine eagerly rips open an envelope. More li...
