English attitudes toward Americans in the late Regency. http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745 thecandiedmango The character I have in mind is a female born in America to English parents. The parents had moved to America shortly after marrying, though I haven't yet decided why. The mother and father are both from upper class families and, upon his death, conditions of his will state that his daughter is to be cared for by his wife's family rather than remain with his wife (because she's freaking crazy). This happens when the girl is 19/20 years of age and unmarried. -Were American-born people viewed differently by proper English gentry? I know that anyone of 'new money' was looked down on as being crude or vulgar in some way, especially as the Industrial Revolution rolled along, but I don't know how early those attitudes began or if that extended to anyone raised in American culture. -Would her new family be likely to keep her or would they try to foist her off as a governess somewhere? Money is not an issue for anyone involved. She has met her cousins before when the family traveled to England for an extended stay, so they're aware of her existence and can't claim she's an impostor or a fake. -How likely is it that the girl would be accepted in English culture? I'm assuming that manners in that era's wealthy Americans would be similar to those in England, and that the girl would have a slight American accent if cared for by an American nanny and servants. Are these assumptions incorrect? Would a well-off English family instead take English servants to America? Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:43:16 +0000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1105519 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1105519 Lady_Indis_Dress Don't forget that her parents were thoroughly English, so they may have raised her with the same standards of behavior she would have had to maintain in England. But there would be some adjustment regardless. The English relatives and people she meets will generally fall into two categories: those who make allowances for her because she was raised in America, and those who look down on her because she was raised in America. It's normal for people to be put off by anyone or anything different. While America was still a rather new country, and heavily influenced by England at the time, there was a new and separate cultural identity forming and doubtless the girl will be different from the average English young lady. Her dress may be less fashionable, trends from the continent having taken longer to cross the Atlantic than the Channel. Her vocabulary will be unique. She may not know the rules of society, and may blunder as things were probably somewhat more relaxed in America. She wouldn't necessarily stand out in a crowd as a definite outsider, but there would be small things that would probably bother the more snobbish individuals. If there was any scandal involved in her parents' decision to leave England, that could come back on her. Scandal might also have something to do with the question of whether or not they would have taken English servants with them. If they were in a hurry, or money was an issue, they might not have been able to take anyone else with them. If they were leaving for business, say the father was appointed to a post in "the colonies" by his company, and they had plenty of time to prepare, they could have taken some servants with them. Probably most of their domestic staff would have been hired in the States though. Depending on how they personally felt about American culture and ettiquette they might have hired a local girl for a governess, or they might have sent away to England or even another country. Accent is hard to say. She would have patterned her speech after those with whom she spent the most time, which would likely be the domestic staff. If those caring for her were from England, she would speak with that accent. As she grew up it would have diminished some, but she might never have lost it completely, and she certainly would have picked up words that would seem foreign to her English cousins, in the course of her girlhood. She probably would have been considered as having an accent both in America and in England. If her mother's family were fond of her (or fond of her mother), and there was no scandal in her parents' marriage and departure from England, they would be certain to take her in. The amount of their affection for her will vary with each member of the family. There should be one member of the family who likes her at least a little. Someone could love her dearly. Another might despise her, or just not take to her. And there's always a possibility of one or more family members not really caring either way as long as her being there doesn't inconvenience them. An important point to consider is who controls the girl's money. If she has control over it, she won't be at the mercy of her relatives. If a grandfather, grandmother, uncle, or aunt control the money then she has to bow to their wishes until she inherits the full amount (probably when she turns 21 or when she marries). A third option is that her father designated a lawyer in the states or solicitor in London to have charge of the money. That would keep her from blowing it, and her mother's family from stealing it or using it to coerce her into doing what they want. Other considerations. Power. Is her mother's family at all interested in politics or improving their connections in society? If they are, then she could be a real asset to them. If she makes a match with an influential or wealthy gentleman it will be to their advantage to be on good terms with her and her husband. What about the father's family? Why didn't he entrust his daughter to his own relatives? Did they disapprove of her mother? Are they all dead and gone? Did her father think or know that they couldn't be trusted? Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:58:09 +0000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1135033 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1135033 thecandiedmango Thank you for the thorough reply! Most of your questions are ones I haven't considered or decided on. I really appreciate the input because it's not exactly a common topic. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:57:01 +0000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1141678 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1141678 Lady_Indis_Dress You're very welcome. I'm no scholar but that's a time period I like to read about. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:16:54 +0000 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1147823 http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/forums/historical-fiction/threads/49745?page=1#forum_thread_comment_1147823