In this episode, Katie is bewitched with the debutantes of the London social season.
Since the late 1700s, Britain's most eligible young ladies have been presented to society during London's social season. Providing the framework for our favorite novels like Pride and Prejudice, debutante society hides a deeply problematic world of sexism, racism, classism, and more. In this deep-dive into the beginnings and evolution of this bizarre ritual, we explore the realm of the ultra-exclusive debutante social scene.
For more information, and a list of all our sources, visit our website.
Titles recommended in this episode:
The Season: A Social History of the Debutante by Kristen Richardson
The Husband Hunters: Social Climbing in London and New York by Anne de Courcy and Clare Corbett
Women of Means: The Fascinating Biographies of Royals, Heiresses, Eccentrics, and Other Poor Little Rich Girls by Margaret Wagman-Gellar
The Bridgertons Series by Julia Quinn
Belgravia by Julian Fellowes
The American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin
The Debutantes series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
If you're interested in purchasing the books mentioned in this episode, visit our bookshop.org affiliate shop
Links:
The 10 Dos and Don’ts of Etiquette to Become a Lady in Regency England
Debutante balls and the persistent obsession with the purity of young women
Queer in the Regency: a Slice of Once-Hidden LGBT History
Gender roles in the 19th century
Love and Courtship in Regency England
The Curious Plight of the Modern Debutante
The History of British Slave Ownership Has Been Buried
'Princess Seraphina' Steps Out at Vauxhill Gardens
