“Has anyone else read what Lady Whistledown has written of late?” When I heard those words uttered by none other than the magnificent Julie Andrews, I was positively giddy.
It meant that the long awaited preview for Bridgerton, the new Netflix series by Chris Van Dusen of Shondaland and based on the beloved romances of Julia Quinn had arrived. Whispers had been swirling for a while it was coming down the pipeline with some new voices and from a powerhouse team, and from all signs the rumors were true, and we will not be disappointed.
A few seconds into the preview, and the screen was already a light with the bright, happy colors of Regency love and posh society set in same-as-it-never-was-but-it-would-have-been-nice England. Alive and intriguing with beautiful people in shades representative of modern America, I am excited to see the inspirational casting and balanced cultural and physical representation share in retelling the stories beloved by millions of readers. Check it out below.
As an unabashed romance lover that almost always has a book or two in her handbag, seeing this project come to life is such a treat. I love a good story. Romance has always been my weakness, and when they are well done, they cannot be beat. I remember sneaking vintage paperbacks from my grandmother’s bookshelf and finding myself a quiet spot to read, read and read some more. There is a certain magic to an imagination let loose in the car of a great story….now I know that those moments formed my love of a good story, my preference for an entertaining romance and my belief in the redemptive power of relationships.
My favorites have always been the stories woven around a good mystery and a tale led by relatable characters that had a bit of drive, snark and sass surrounded by lush landscapes that fed the wanderlust that had already taken hold. It is no wonder that I discovered Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series in college.
Julia Quinn
The series follows the 8 children of Viscount Bridgerton in early 1800s England. Through twists, turns, marriages and hijinks, Quinn takes readers on an entertaining journey that cements the truth that she discovered while writing… “— in some ways, portraying a healthy relationship in literature is the most revolutionary thing you can do. “
Here is the blurb from the team at Netflix and Shondaland:
From Shondaland and Creator Chris Van Dusen, Bridgerton follows Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor), the eldest daughter of the powerful Bridgerton family as she makes her debut onto Regency London’s competitive marriage market. Hoping to follow in her parent’s footsteps and find a match sparked by true love, Daphne’s prospects initially seem to be unrivaled. But as her older brother begins to rule out her potential suitors, the high society scandal sheet written by the mysterious Lady Whistledown casts aspersions on Daphne. Enter the highly desirable and rebellious Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page), committed bachelor and the catch of the season for the debutantes’ mamas. Despite proclaiming that they want nothing the other has to offer, their attraction is undeniable and sparks fly as they find themselves engaged in an increasing battle of wits while navigating society’s expectations for their future.
Want to get a taste of the story before the 25 December premiere? Snag your copy of the book that started it all, The Duke and I by Julia Quinn.
