To research The Dancing Master, my husband and I went English country dancing several times at the Tapestry Folkdance Center in Minneapolis. We learned a lot and had a great time. I also attended dance classes during the Jane Austen Society of North America’s Annual General Meeting. What fun to dance with other Janeites, many of us in costume! I also read several books written by dancing masters, like A New Most Excellent Dancing Master: the Journal of Joseph Lowe (Joseph Lowe went on to become dancing master for Queen Victoria’s children), as well as visiting web sites like regencydances.org.
Fictional Buckleigh Manor was inspired by Buckland House, in the village of Buckland Filleigh, Devonshire. Many thanks to Madeline Jane Taylor for her helpful book about the area, Buckland Filleigh, A Continuous Thread.
Photos of Buckland House, church tower parapet, & dancing at JASNA
