We begin by acknowledging that this is the last podcast episode of the month, where we tend to become a bit zany and go off on tangents after recording multiple episodes. This leads us to reflect on the recent explosion of interest in historical fiction, particularly period romance and the Regency era, sparked by the immense popularity of the show Bridgerton.
NoteThe following is an editorialized transcript of our weekly literary podcast. If you would like to listen to the podcast, click the play button above orlisten on your favorite platform with the links below.
Romance at the Forefront of Historical Fiction
We discuss how Bridgerton has brought the Regency period into the mainstream, with its fantastical and pleasing aesthetics attracting audiences. The show has modernized the era in a way that contemporary viewers can still relate to, making it more accessible than earlier periods like medieval times. The Regency epoch strikes a balance – not too distant from modern sensibilities, yet still offering escapism into a different world and time.
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton
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Author:
Julia Quinn
Published:
07/01/2002
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Publisher:
Avon
Number of pages:
370
ISBN:
9780062424037
Show Details
This renewed interest has revived many existing Regency romance novels that had previously occupied a niche market. We reminisce about how such historical romances were once relegated to cheap racks at convenience stores, with campy cover art. Now, they have found a new appreciation and audience thanks to shows like Bridgerton.
We compare Bridgerton‘s light-hearted, escapist tone to the darker and grittier portrayal in Outlander, which takes place partially in the 18th-century Scottish Highlands. Outlander has more mature and triggering content, reflecting the harsher realities of that era, despite also incorporating a fantasy time-travel elemen...
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