In honor of 9/11, I am posting but a single pic in the gallery, revealing a fact I don't recall hearing about before, despite it being an evacuation larger than Dunkirk.
After numerous revisions by me and input from a number of authors on the Regency Fiction Writers loop, the list below is the best we could manage. Only two sub-genres have been added—Mystery (because I must have had a brain-freeze not to include it the first time around) and Pastoral, which is a new designation to me. The rest of the changes are to the descriptions of each sub-genre.
Why spend so much blog time on the Regency? Because this has been my primary writing genre for more than a quarter century. Yes, it's a niche market. Sadly, this intriguing period during the Napoleonic Wars is not well known to most people in modern times. Say, "Medieval, Victorian, Contemporary"—people's eyes light up. When I say, "Regency," all I get is a blank stare. But when I add, "The Napoleonic Era," recognition kicks in. Sigh.
Do I wish there were more readers aware of this intriguing time when women could still shine, even though they had no legal rights? Oh, yeah! Before women were stultified, reduced to little more than puppets by the strict mores of the Victorian Era? I weep. (In case you haven't guessed, I am NOT a fan of Victorian-era novels—except the rebellious ones!) My own early life was influenced by grandmothers and great-grandmothers born into that era, and by a mother they raised. Example: There was an exciting story told to me about an ancestor of mine, but I was nearly forty years old before I tumbled to the fact the story had been carefully edited to obscure the fact that ancestor was—hush, hush—a bastard.)
The Regency Era sparkled with wit, humor, and intelligence, a burgeoning interest in science, the rise of industry and the middle class, canals for transport, people thirsting for knowledge. Much of which, particularly humor, went down the drain during the Victorian Era. So, yes, I love the Regency (Georgian) Era and hope to convince non-believers to give it a try.
Below, the list as posted to Regency Fiction Writers.
LIST OF REGENCY SUB-GENRES - 2025
Creating a list of Regency Sub-genres has been more of a challenge than anticipated, adding up to a startling amount of time compiling it. (My thanks to those who contributed information and advice!) I hope the list will be helpful to newbie authors who are looking for their proper niche in the Regency genre and for more experienced Regency authors interested in "breaking out" into a new twist on writing Regency—as well as for those who are simply curious about how far our favorite period can be stretched!
Note 1: Sub-genres are frequently combined. Ex: Gothic/Paranormal
Note 2: Many of the Sub-genres can also be written as Alternate History or Regency Re-imagined. Or transformed from one to the other. Ex: the Bridgerton novels are Regency Historical Romance. The Bridgerton TV series is Regency Alternate History or Regency Re-imagined.
1. Regency Romance - Traditional
Light stories of Romance with emphasis on family, social life. Features sparkling characters, clever dialogue, quiet humor. Settings—primarily London, an English country house, and/or English village. Squeaky clean. Generally shorter than Regency Historical Romance.
2. Regency Romance - Trad/Comedy
Same as the above, but with more emphasis on humor, both in plot situations and dialogue.
3. Regency Historical Romance - Adventure/Suspense
Longer and more serious than Trad Regencies, world-wide settings; plots include dramatic situations, frequently featuring the long war with Napoleon. Sex ranges from behind-the-bedroom door to hot.
4. Regency Historical Romance - Gothic
Gothic novels have a few special rules: the heroine needs to be isolated, to be threatened or think she is threatened. For that reason, many Gothics are written in First Person so readers see the story only through the heroine's eyes. Among other common Gothic nuances: heroine fears the threat comes from her husband; a young child is involved. Sex levels the same as Adventure/Suspense.
5. Regency Historical Romance - Mystery
Regency setting, but with romance almost always secondary to solving the mystery. Romance level varies from Squeaky Clean to series that keep the relationship teetering book after book to mysteries being solved by couples in an intimate relationship.
6. Regency Historical Romance - Pastoral
Country setting, featuring ordinary people instead of high society. Length varies. Sex level low to moderate.
6. Regency Historical Romance - Paranormal
My personal take on Regency Paranormal—this sub-genre includes ghosts, witches, and werewolves, and is frequently combined with Gothic or Adventure/Suspense.
7. Regency Historical Romance - Inspirational
Emphasis on family, the challenges of life, service to others, religion. Squeaky clean to sex behind-closed doors. Length varies.
8. Regency Historical Romance - Fantasy
Add fairies, elves, leprechauns, and other magical creatures to the Regency, and you have Regency Fantasy. Sex level from Squeaky Clean to Hot.
9. Regency Historical Romance - Time-travel
We all understand the concept of Time-travel. I would only point out that for a Time-travel to be a Regency, the traveler needs to be dropped into the Regency world from another time. A person from the Regency Era traveling to, say, modern-day NYC, would qualify as Time-travel but NOT a Regency.
10. Regency Historical Romance - Darkside
This Sub-genre defies many of the basic precepts of the Regency Romance novel, its main characters taken from London's underbelly or from the lives of ordinary young women who did not get that precious Season in London, suffering forced marriages, abuse, etc.
11. Regency Historical Romance - Steampunk
Yes, it's possible to write a Regency featuring the very early days of Steampunk. (I only wrote one, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing it.) Research is required to make certain you don't put full-blown Victorian Steampunk into a Regency. (Yes, I know it's Alt History, but . . .)
Blair Bancroft, September 2025
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This Week's Featured Book:
I've always said that my favorite book is the one I'm working on at the moment, but looking back, I admit to having a fondness for some books more than others. One, most certainly, the Gothic novel listed below.
