End of the Season and Start of Summer – From Regency Britain to Romantic Italy
with Dr Alessandra PinoRegistration ends August 11, 2025!
Class Description
This two-week course explores the cultural transition from the end of the social season in Regency Britain to the beginning of summer, examining travel to Italy, a central destination for the Romantic movement. Learners will explore Italy as it was perceived during the Regency era through art, food, travel, and leisure activities, focusing on how these cultural elements influenced both British society and Romantic writers like Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Week 1
The End of the Season in Regency Britain and the Start of Summer
Day 1: Understanding the Regency Social Calendar
• The Social Season in Regency Britain: Explore the events that made up the London Season, from balls and theatre performances to operas and exhibitions. Discuss the purpose of the season in terms of socializing, marriage, and social status.
• The End of the Season: What it meant for the aristocracy and upper classes when the social season came to an end. Focus on traditions, gatherings, and the transition from formal socializing to more private activities in the countryside or coastal retreats.
Day 2: Social Etiquette, Fashion, and Leisure at the End of the Season
• Fashion at the End of the Season: Discuss the evolution of Regency fashion as the season wound down. How did people transition from the formality of the city to the more relaxed style of summer leisure? Explore the types of clothing associated with rural retreats or seaside holidays.
• Leisure Activities in the Countryside: Learn about the activities that became popular in the countryside and at coastal resorts: country sports like hunting, boating, and picnics. Discuss the role of health retreats and spa towns, and how these became fashionable places to visit at the end of the season.
Day 3: Travel and Transition to Summer
• Traveling Beyond London: Focus on the practicalities of travel in the Regency period. How did the aristocracy travel from London to the countryside or to resorts like Bath or Brighton? Explore transportation methods such as carriages and the emerging railway system.
• Summer as a Time for Relaxation and Reflection: Explore how social structures relaxed in the summer months and what activities people engaged in when the pressure of social season events was over. Focus on the leisurely pursuits that marked the start of summer.
Day 4: The Role of Food and Games in Regency Summer Traditions
• Food in Regency Summer: Explore how food practices changed in the summer, especially in rural and seaside retreats. Discuss seasonal ingredients, such as fresh fruits, fish, and light desserts, and how picnics and outdoor feasts played into the relaxation of summer.
• Games and Leisure Activities: Discuss popular Regency-era games such as whist, chess, and card games played at country houses. Explore how leisure activities were structured around food and entertainment and how these contributed to the atmosphere of a Regency summer.
Week 2
Italy as a Holiday Destination – The Romantic Movement and the Influence of Italy on British Writers
Day 1: Italy and the Romantic Imagination
• Italy as the Ideal Destination: Discuss the fascination with Italy during the Regency period, particularly as it became a popular destination for British aristocracy and intellectuals. Explore Italy’s status as a symbol of classical beauty, freedom, and inspiration.
• Art and Italy: Explore how Italy was depicted in Regency and Romantic art. Focus on the works of British artists like Joseph Mallord William Turner and how their Italian travels influenced their depiction of landscapes. Discuss how Italy’s ancient ruins, cities, and countryside inspired the British Romantic imagination.
Day 2: Shelley in Italy – A Literary Exploration
• Shelley’s Time in Italy: Focus on Percy Bysshe Shelley’s travels to Italy and how the country became both a physical and emotional escape for him. Discuss key works he wrote while in Italy, such as Prometheus Unbound and Ozymandias.
• Italy’s Influence on Shelley’s Work: Analyze specific poems where Italy serves as a backdrop for Shelley’s themes of nature, freedom, and transcendence. Learners will explore how the Italian landscape provided a powerful setting for exploring deeper philosophical and poetic themes.
Day 3: The Romantic Legacy and Lord Byron in Italy
• Lord Byron’s Influence in Italy: Discuss how Lord Byron, another key Romantic figure, was drawn to Italy’s political atmosphere and its aesthetic beauty. Examine works such as Don Juan and the impact of Byron’s involvement in Italian politics and his engagement with the local culture.
• The Italian Connection: Discuss the broader cultural legacy of Italy during this period. How did Italy become a symbol of rebellion, intellectual freedom, and artistic renewal for poets and artists like Keats, Wordsworth, and Byron?
Day 4: The Italian Influence on Food, Travel, and Leisure in the Regency Era
• Italian Food and Its Influence on Regency Britain: Explore how Italian food, such as pasta, wine, and fresh vegetables, began to filter into British cuisine during the Regency period. Discuss the role of Italian dining in influencing the more sophisticated culinary tastes of the aristocracy.
• Travel to Italy: Social and Leisure Context: How did travel to Italy become a status symbol for British aristocrats? What experiences were considered “must-sees” for travelers visiting Italy, such as tours of Rome, Florence, Venice, and the Bay of Naples? Learners will look at the leisure activities associated with these places, including sightseeing, art viewing, and social engagements.
About the Instructor
Dr Alessandra Pino is an expert on intersections of the Gothic, food, and cultural memory.
Alessandra was born in Hampstead, London, to an Italian mother and Venezuelan father, and she grew up in several different countries.
She holds a BA in English Literature from Naples ‘L’Orientale’. Dr Pino received her MA in Translation Studies and a PhD in Food, Cultural Memory and the Gothic from the University of Westminster. She worked with a Michelin-starred chef for nearly ten years before entering the world of academia.
Dr Pino is co-author of A Gothic Cookbook, which digs into food themes and motifs in a series of classic and contemporary novels from the 19th century to the present day. She is also the co-host of Fear Feasts a podcast which analyses the horror genre through the lens of food and the A is for Apple Podcast, an encyclopedia of food and drink. She is a lecturer at RomancingtheGothic.com. In 2024, Dr Pino was inducted into The Guild of Food Writers in the UK.
Her website: www.alessandrapino.com
Class Delivery
Class Format
2-WEEK COURSE
Written Lectures: Yes
Pictures: Yes
Class Fees
$20 for RFW members
$35 for non-members
Registration ends August 11, 2025!
Scholarships are available for members