Moniker/Name
JT from Laguna
Source of Question
Research
Your Question
Working on a novel set during the Regency Era and wanted a British officer to be seen reading a book/paper/magazine that would reflect his obsession with making money. Sort of “Investments for the Financially Ambitious Officer.” I am always looking for opportunities to insert actual items from the era. Any suggestions?
Additional comments
Love your sight. Great for finding bits and pieces that give my work authenticity.
Thanks for your question, JT, and for being a Regency Reader!
I have compiled a list of era publications that your ambitious officer might have read (and some that you can read on Google Books):
(1816) The Art of Stock-Jobbing Explained Exposing the Secret Maneuvers, Tricks, and Contrivances, Delusion of the Monied Interest and General Peculation,,,
(1806) The Pleasant Art of Money-Catching … To which is added, The Way how to turn a penny: or, the Art of Thriving (originally published in the early 1700s).
Carey, G. (1820). Every Man His Own Stock-Broker.
Coffin, G.M. (1806). Handbook for Bank Officers. (Had many editions into the late Victorian era).
Fortune, T. (1810). An Epithome of the Stocks and Public Funds.
Mortimer, T. (1761). Every Man His Own Broker: Or, A Guide to Exchange Alley.
Peacham, H. (1813) The Worth of a Penny, Or A Caution to Keep Money.
Sidney, J. A. (1801) A Scheme, for Improving Small Sums of Money
Williamson, J. (1804) A treatise on military finance. (This is one edition, there seemed to be one every few years starting in the late 1790s)
Preda (2001) shares a comprehensive analysis of early Victorian popularization of investing, which would not have been common or possible for most in the Regency era. The mid 1840s is where we see a significant increase in guidebooks for investment, in keeping with Preda’s premise. However, the above would have likely been Georgian and Regency era favorites of the aspiring investor.
Not exactly as spot on as your Investments for the Financially Ambitious Officer, but if you are truly looking for authenticity one of the above titles would fit. As always, imagination and fictional license can always be amended with an author’s note that will appease the highest historical stickler.
Hope this helps!
Preda, A. (2001). The Rise of the Popular Investor: Financial Knowledge and Investing in England and France, 1840-1880. The Sociological Quarterly, 42(2), 205–232. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4120747
