Mad and Bad

Regency England, immortalized by Austen and Byron, is often portrayed through romance novels focusing on wealthy, white, Christian upper classes. However, numerous remarkable women defy these narrow historical perceptions. Like Dido Elizabeth Belle, raised in England despite her mother being a slave, or Caroline Herschel, who discovered comets while assisting her brother, and Anne Lister, who lived openly with her partner. Bea Koch, co-owner of The Ripped Bodice, explores these untold stories, challenging popular Regency narratives. In 'Mad and Bad', she delves into the lives of independent women, LGBTQ and Jewish communities, women of color, and barrier-breaking figures in fields like astronomy, revealing a more diverse and captivating Regency history.