Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page inBridgerton.Photo: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
What does the immense success of both the show and the books mean for fans of the romance genre? Readers can expect more “dazzling” adaptations to come.
“These books have been beloved since their original publication, and we expected there would be renewed interest in them, but I don’t think anyone anticipated this level of response,” Quinn’s editor Lyssa Keusch, executive editor at Avon Books, tells PEOPLE. “We’re all absolutely thrilled to reacquaint loyal fans with the Bridgerton family and to introduce a whole new audience to this unforgettable world!”
Avon
The novels follow the eight Bridgerton siblings as they find love in Regency England. The first season of the Netflix show explores the burgeoning connection between Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page), whose inheritance of a dukedom can’t protect him from his dark past. Add in some meddlesome mothers and a narrator, Lady Whistledown (Julie Andrews), who is an expert in sniffing out scandal, and you’ve got a period drama unlike any other.
“Sales of all eight books in the series have increased exponentially since the premiere of the show,” a spokeswoman from the publisher Avon tells PEOPLE, “propelling the first book,The Duke and I, to number one on theNYTbestsellers list andThe Viscount Who Loved MeandRomancing Mr. Bridgertononto the list as well — the first time any of the original series books have hit the list at the same time.”
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Rhimes is known for her propulsive plots and inclusive casting. The same formula was applied toBridgerton, with Chris Van Dusen serving as show creator. His decision to cast people of color was a distinct change from the book series, which, like many historical romance novels, features all-white characters.
“Period shows tend to be a little conservative and a little traditional,” Van Dusen, who ensuredBridgertonfeatures strong heroines and addresses issues of race and class,toldThe Hollywood Reporterlast October. “We’re not making your grandmother’s period show.”
In December,Quinn spoke to PEOPLEabout how excited she was to see show creators commit to “color-conscious casting” and include a new character, Queen Charlotte,whom historians believe was the first-ever biracial royal.
Golda Rosheuvel as Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton.LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX
“The idea was, ‘What if [Queen Charlotte] had used her position to elevate people of color to positions of power? What would society look like then?” Quinn said at the time. “It was a reimagining. You see it and you think, boy, that’s how society should be.”
While the show doesn’t adapt the books “word for word,” Quinn said it has captured the essence of the characters and storyline.
“The fashions of the Regency era were not as bold and colorful and sparkly as we’re getting inBridgerton,” the author explained. “They are making everything just a little bit more exciting and lush and colorful and vibrant. They’ve created a very, very vibrant world.”
Adds Keusch, Quinn’s editor: “I think the teams at Netflix and Shondaland have created a series that captures all of the wit, charm, emotion, tension, chemistry and romance at the heart of Julia Quinn’sBridgertonnovels; infused it with a modern sensibility in terms of inclusivity, sensuality, feminism; and wrapped it in a rich, dazzling, opulent visual package. It’s brilliant.”
“I’m thrilled to see the way these adaptations have introduced viewers to the universal storytelling might of romance writers, who have long been overlooked,” Keusch says. “The stories they tell are for everyone; at the core, they reveal what it means to be connected, to be human.”
source: people.com
