re: #15 researchok

Have you ever noticed that almost everyone who recalls a ‘past life’ was an Egyptian Princess or Alexander the Great?

There must have been a boatload of princesses and conquerors out there.

Just once I’d like to hear, ‘Yeah, in my past life I worked in a Chinese laundry’ or ‘I worked for cesspool contractor’.

That’s the thing about Jane Austen, and the other “romantic” books. As much as I like them, I am reminded that my own personal ancestors weren’t even at the level of bringing in Elizabeth Bennett Darcy’s tea. They were mining coal and farming. Most people’s ancestors were the lower 95% of society, obviously, but somehow when we think of regency England, we think of the 5% who left behind portraits and books.