I’m currently reading The Lady Risks All by Stephanie Laurens. It’s mentioned that the hero owns clubs, dens, and hells. My question is what is the differences between the three?
Excellent question!
A Club: A club was typically a specific location for the meeting of men where members paid a fee (or membership) to belong. Most familiar to readers will be the Tory club White’s, the Whig Club Brook’s (they were across the street) and Waiter’s (where a gentleman was said to get a good meal by an excellent chef). There were also other clubs without specific meeting spots, but generally Regency authors will be referring to a designated spot where gentleman of the Ton escaped from the women folk.
Dens: Usually refer to “dens of vice” or “dens of inquity” where thieves gather. Can be at a public house or other location. Might also mean a location where a gentleman visits for a variety of vice including gambling and prostitution.
A Hell: An exclusive spot for gaming. Dodgy or exclusive (usually depending on the amount of money changing hands), a hell’s only reason for existence was to feed on the enormous Regency addiction to gambling encouraged by the Prince Regent.
For more in depth info on clubs:
http://www.jasa.net.au/london/clubs.htm
http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/2011/11/gentlemens-clubs-in-regency-england.html
https://regrom.com/2012/04/16/regency-hot-spots-the-daffy-club/
For more info on hells:
https://regrom.com/2009/05/05/regency-hot-spots-hells-for-gaming-part-one/
For more information on Regency gambling:
http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2008/11/30/gambling-an-accepted-regency-pastime/
