Warning: Long and Boring Post Ahead

One of the things I do during vacation is read, not just in a leisurely fashion, but really spending a lot of time reading, making up for the rest of the year. I've been known to read two books a day. This last week I achieved a personal best by finishing three books in one day. They're not short books, I read mostly old Traditional Regency Romances, and usually nothing over 400 pages.

If there was a single element that bothered me with the content of these 20 year old stories, it was the use of peer titles. I know with the advent of Internet the solution to this problem is easily accessible. However some readers and some writers who have read Regency novels from way back might be confused when addressing their betters.

My rant: The novel, publisher, and author which has pushed me to my limit shall all remain anonymous. I merely note the discrepancies.

1) The heroine, Sarah Smith, who is the daughter of an earl, is called "Miss Smith"throughout the book. She is sometimes referred to “my lady." Her correct title: Lady Sarah.

2) The heroine’s cousin, Mary Brown, who is the wife of a baronet, is called "LadyMary," sometimes, and plain "Mary" at other times. Her correct title: Lady Brown.

3) The hero, who is a duke, is throughout the novel called: “My lord.” His correct title: Your Grace.

Grr. The rant is over.

We The list that follows is a simplified guide to addressing one's betters with the exclusion of royals. We begin with titled peers, their wives, and children. Let us start where the titles are simplest, shall we?

Knight: The position is held for one’s lifetime and is not passed on to family members. We would refer to him as “Sir John” or “Sir John Mighty” if we were to introduce him.

The wife of a knight is “Lady.” We address her as “Lady Mighty.”* We introduce them as: “Sir John and Lady Mighty.”

Children of a knight do not have any special titles.

Baronet: A hereditary title which is accorded the prefix of “Sir” and the suffix of “Baronet.” Sir Paul Uppercrust, Baronet. He is referred to as “Sir Paul” or “Sir Paul Uppercrust” if we were to introduce him.

The wife of a baronet is “Lady.” We address her as “Lady Uppercrust.”* We introduce them as” “Sir Paul and Lady Uppercrust.”

Children of a Baronet do not have any special titles.

Baron: Barons are always referred to, written and verbal, as "Lord" as in "Lord Erstwhile" rather than "Baron Erstwhile." The title baron is never used, except in formal or legal documents.

The wife of a baron is a baroness and addressed as “Lady Erstwhile.” They are introduced as: “Lord and Lady Erstwhile.”

Children of barons:

All sons have the courtesy title of “The Honorable” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Mr. Erstwhile.”

All daughters have the courtesy title of “The Honorable” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Miss Erstwhile.” **

Viscount: In conversation, referred to as "Lord Pishtosh" rather than "The Viscount Pishtosh."

The wife of a viscount is a viscountess and is known as “Lady Pishtosh.” They are introduced as: “Lord and Lady Pishtosh.”

Children of viscounts:

All sons have the courtesy title of “The Honorable” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Mr. Pishtosh.”

All daughters have the courtesy title of “The Honorable” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Miss Pishtosh.”

Earl: Thomas Noble, in conversation, referred to as "Lord Tenpins" rather than "The Earl of Tenpins." Some of the titles are Earls “of” Somewhere, some are not, e.g., Earl Spencer.

The wife of an earl is a countess and is known as “Lady Tenpins.” They are introduced as: “Lord and Lady Tenpins.”

Children of earls:

The eldest son of an earl will use a peerage title by courtesy of a rank junior to his father: "Viscount Lackluster." He is addressed as "Lord Lackluster."

Younger sons have the courtesy title of “The Honorable” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Mr. Noble.”

All daughters have the courtesy title of “Lady” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Lady Alice Spitpolish,” and she is addressed as “Lady Alice.” If she marries a title lower than her father’s she can: a) use the title of her husband, Mr. Steven Lowerdown, or b) continue her own style followed by her courtesy title/name: "Lady Alice Lowerdown." **

Marquess: Robert Gallant, a marquess, in conversation is referred to as "Lord Thensome" rather than "Marquess of Thensome."

The wife of a marquess is a marchoness and is known as “Lady Thensome.” They are introduced as: “Lord and Lady Thensome.”

Children of a marquess:

The eldest son of a marquess will use a peerage title by courtesy of a rank junior to his father: "Earl of Highborn." He is addressed as Lord Highborn.

Younger sons have the courtesy title of “Lord” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Lord Allen Thensome” and he is referred to as “Lord Allen.”

Here’s where it becomes a bit tricky:

Wives of younger sons’ have the courtesy title of “Lady” followed by her husband’s first name and last name. Thus Lord Allen’s wife would be called “Lady Allen" or "Lady Allen Thensome."

All daughters have the courtesy title of “Lady” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Lady Catherine Thensome,” and she is addressed as “Lady Catherine.” If she marries a title lower than her father’s she can: a) use the title of her husband, Mr. Thomas Monroe, or b) continue her own style followed by her courtesy title/name: "Lady Catherine Monroe."

Duke: William Ultimate, the Duke, is introduced as "the Duke of Toplofty."

The wife of a duke is a duchess and is known as “the Duchess” or “the Duchess of Toplofty.”

Children of a duke:

The eldest son of a duke will use a peerage title by courtesy of a rank junior to his father: "Marquess of Upthere" and is addressed and Lord Upthere.

Younger sons have the courtesy title of “Lord” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Lord Marvin Ultimate” or in conversation, “Lord Marvin.”

Here’s where it becomes a bit tricky:

Wives of younger sons’ have the courtesy title of “Lady” followed by her husband’s first name and last name.* Thus Lord Marvin’s wife would be called “Lady Marvin.”

All daughters have the courtesy title of “Lady” before their first and last names. The correct style is “Lady Rose Ultimate,” and she is addressed as “Lady Rose.” If she marries a Mr. Terrance Common she can: a) use the title of her husband, Mr. Robert Common, or b) continue her own style followed by her courtesy title/name:" Lady Rose Common."

** Some baronies and earldoms can be inherited in the female line and she can be a baroness or countess in her own right.

I'm sorry if I've put some of you to sleep. I just had to have my say. Next month I'll return to the regularly scheduled program . . . er, topics.

Congratulations! if you made it all the way through this post.