{"id":36044,"date":"2024-05-16T09:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-05-16T07:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.historyextra.com\/?p=267224"},"modified":"2024-05-16T10:32:57","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T08:32:57","slug":"was-there-a-real-lady-whistledown-the-true-stories-of-mrs-crackenthorpe-bridgertons-scandal-sheets-and-the-golden-age-of-gossip","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbchistory\/rss_feed\/was-there-a-real-lady-whistledown-the-true-stories-of-mrs-crackenthorpe-bridgertons-scandal-sheets-and-the-golden-age-of-gossip\/","title":{"rendered":"Was there a real Lady Whistledown? The true stories of Mrs Crackenthorpe, Bridgerton\u2019s scandal sheets and the golden age of gossip"},"content":{"rendered":"

As we get ready to throw ourselves back into the lavish world of Bridgerton\u2019s Ton and the scandalous commentary of a certain Lady Whistledown, one question lingers: was there a real-life version of the gossiping writer to skewer Regency high society? <\/p>

By Lauren Good\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 16 May 2024 at 07:00 AM<\/p>

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The name Lady Whistledown is well known to fans of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton<\/em><\/a>. It is the one chosen by the anonymous author of the scandal sheets that weave through the period drama, unfurling the latest whispers and intrigues of the Ton in the knowing tones of Julie Andrews.<\/p>\n

Since the finale of the first season \u2013 beware, this is spoiler territory for those who have yet to watch it \u2013 we have known that the identity of Lady Whistledown is Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan).<\/p>\n

Often overlooked on London\u2019s social scene, Penelope\u2019s vantage point offers her a unique lens through which to dissect the life and loves of the season\u2019s debutantes<\/a>. It is this quick-witted commentary that captivates the masses, and even ensnares the attention of Queen Charlotte<\/a> (Golda Rosheuvel), wife to the reigning king George III<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Were there actually scandal sheets in Regency Britain?<\/h2>\n
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Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) holding a copy of the latest Lady Whistledown<\/em> instalment, in Bridgerton<\/em>. (Picture by Liam Daniel\/Netflix \u00a9 2022)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

In short, yes. Scandalous revelations and insights were published in print, but mostly in the form of magazine or newspaper columns rather than standalone sheets.<\/p>\n

Those hungry for such news turned to publications such as The Town and Country<\/em> magazine, explains Hannah Greig, historical advisor on Bridgerton<\/em>, on a new episode of the HistoryExtra<\/em> podcast.<\/p>\n

The lapse of the 1662 Licensing Act in 1695, which limited the amount of printing presses that could exist, had heralded a new era of unrestricted press where news flourished. Alongside the advancement of printing technology, this fuelled the spread of gossip-based publications.<\/p>\n

In the columns that appeared, writers commented on the comings and goings of high society, says Greig: \u201cThere was a satirical culture where people\u2019s identities or their lives were pilloried in other sorts of either print or visual form.\u201d<\/p>\n

These texts, however, didn\u2019t name and shame people with quite the abandon that Lady Whistledown does. This wasn\u2019t to protect the subject, but the writer. \u201cNames were usually disguised,\u201d explains Greig, \u201ceither using pseudonyms that would be easily recognisable to people in the know or just by giving initials of people to protect the authors from libel laws.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mrs Crackenthorpe: the real Lady Whistledown?<\/h2>\n
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A copy of The Female Tatler<\/em>, written under the nom de plume of Mrs Crackenthorpe. (Picture by the Internet Archive)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Lady Whistledown might be entirely fictional, but the character may have had a real-life inspiration in the form of Mrs Crackenthorpe, who was writing in the early 18th century \u2013 around 100 years before the Regency era.<\/p>\n

Like her Bridgerton<\/em>-based counterpart, Crackenthorpe was a nom de plume created to conceal the author\u2019s true identity \u2013 one that has never been confirmed. Instead, she uses the descriptor of \u201ca Lady that knows every thing\u201d (sic).<\/p>\n

This all-knowing lady was behind the creation of The Female Tatler<\/em>, a sheet that arose in 1709 and, despite being in circulation for just a year, managed over 100 editions. Published three times a week, specifically on the days its rival The Tatler<\/em> wasn\u2019t released, the first 51 editions were written by Mrs Crackenthorpe, before being taken over by \u201ca society of ladies\u201d for the next 58.<\/p>\n

The Regency | A short course from HistoryExtra<\/em> Academy<\/h4>\n

Member exclusive |<\/strong> Join Dr Lizzie Rodgers for our four-week course on Regency England \u2013 from the Georgian kings and Napoleonic Wars to the marriage market and the works of Jane Austen.<\/p>\n

Explore the course now<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p><\/div>

\"Start<\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

The title suggests it was aimed towards women of the higher classes and, although not solely focused on the gossip of the Ton, Mrs Crackenthorpe did provide sharp observations on characters in society who were \u201cnotable for scandal and scurrility\u201d amongst other critiques.<\/p>\n

Much of the criticism contained ideas on how the upper classes should behave. This followed the belief that the lower classes imitated the higher echelons of society, so the wealthier classes should, in essence, set the example.<\/p>\n