As a historical fiction author, I have researched for years on legal issues my characters have encountered in their stories. In talking to readers of historical fiction, particularly regency romance, I’ve learned that many people have questions about some of the issues addressed in novels, as well as misunderstandings about inheritance and marriage laws (yes, women could inherit property, but they seldom did). But despite all my research, I’ve never been able to find a comprehensive treatment of the legal structure of certain historical periods, so I decided to create one, starting with the Regency era.  

This class is designed to answer many of the questions you may have had either reading historical works or writing your own historical fiction. We’ll explore some of the common legal issues of the day, and provide resources for finding more information.  

What we’ll cover: 

1. What is Common Law?: A quick and dirty summary of English Common Law and the political structure in place at the start of the Regency period. We’ll also talk about some of the events that shaped the era.  
2. The Peerage: What are the ranks of the British peerage? Which titles could be passed down? What happened to titles that died out?  
3. The “Silly Willy-nilliness” of Inheritance and Property Laws: What are fee tails and entails, and why did they matter so much? What is primogeniture? Could women inherit property? 
4. Sex, Marriage, and Divorce: What were the laws regarding engagements, marriage, adultery, and divorce? Why did couples have to run off to Gretna Green? Could a woman divorce her husband?  
5. In loco parentis: Ever wonder why so many aristocrats in romance novels had young wards? And what it really meant for a gorgeous rake to be a bastard? We’ll talk about guardianship, adoption, illegitimacy, and orphanages. 
6. Crime and Punishment: What were common crimes of the period, and what were the penalties? How was someone accused of a crime—were they arrested and read their Miranda rights? (Spoiler alert: no!) Were there medical examiners? How important was evidence? 
7. The Court System: How did trials work? Were there juries? Why did (do) judges and lawyers wear wigs? And what the heck is the difference between a barrister and a solicitor, anyway?  
8. Wrap-up: Assuming I can figure out the technology, I’m hoping to do an online chat or video where we can talk about lingering questions, quote Jane Austen, or just have a nice conversation over cups of tea or glasses of sherry.  

Teacher

A lawyer by day, Marin McGinnis feeds the more creative part of her soul by writing romance and mystery. She's spent more than half her life in a tree-lined, unabashedly liberal suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. She lives with her husband and two standard poodles.

Marin has dabbled in writing since she was in her 20s, but she didn’t finish anything until she hit her 40s. While her very first completed manuscript will forever languish under the bed, Marin subsequently published four Victorian-era romances. She is currently working on a stand-alone historical romance, a historical mystery series set in the English Lake District, and a contemporary cozy mystery series (because why write one thing when you can write three at once?). 

When she’s not writing, editing, teaching, networking, or lawyering, she’s cooking for family and friends, learning how (and how not) to bake bread, and spending far too much time watching superhero movies.

Social media links:

• Website:           https://marinmcginnis.com
• Facebook:        https://www.facebook.com/MarinMcG/
• Twitter:            https://twitter.com/MarinMcGinnis
• Goodreads:       https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12256384.Marin_McGinnis
• Amazon:          https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00S03YY60

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Reviews

Excellent Class!

Rated 5 out of 5

August 3, 2022

This course is brilliant! The lessons are well-designed, with a depth of research and explanation that make what could have been a dry topic into something interesting, engaging, and useful.

If Marin ever decides to tackle another topic to research and teach, I'd take that class, too. Even if the topic isn't of immediate interest to me, I trust her to find all the neat hooks that make my brain light up.

Elizabeth

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