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Inspired by the allure of Regency period fiction, and boosted by popular historical romance series such as “Bridgerton,” more folks are escaping into Regency-era romantic fiction novels, turning this well documented fascination into a trending topic, reports CNN.
Defining the ‘Regency era’
So when and where exactly are we talking about here? Strictly speaking, the Regency period spans under a decade, from 1811 to 1820, as Daily Jstor reports. This era launched when, due to mental and physical illness, Britain’s King George III was deemed unfit to rule, and his son, George IV, became the Regent, or proxy ruler. But according to sources such as Arapahoe Libraries, historians generally regard the years 1795-1837 as the Regency period, as those years were influenced by the role of the Prince Regent.
Typically, authors zoom in on English royalty, and the broader, privileged social circles of the period. Under the rule of the hedonistic though capable Prince Regent, the upper classes making up le bon ton (French for in fashionable mode) flourished, widening the gap between the elite and the commoners. Daily Jstor quotes from an 1841 novel, Cecil, which praises George IV’s reign as “holiday time for people intent upon promoting the greatest happiness of the smallest number.”
People who have read Jane Austin’s novels will be familiar with the “formula.” Recurring ingredients include an anachronistically-independent heroine who faces strict social rules, plenty of witty and sparkling dialogue, cutting gossip that spreads like wildfire, a Season filled to the brim with balls and dances, and a happily-ever-after with a reformed nobleman, as Daily Jstor details. And there are the aristocratic families resplendent in sumptuous clothing, the pastoral settings, and the walled gardens too.
More contemporary novels in this genre follow this recipe, though, as a sign of the times, usually include steamier scenes.
Different but relatable can explain the appeal
It’s hard to believe at first, but there may be more parallels between an articulate, goal-driven Jane Austin heroine strategizing to catch the eye of a man, and a social media-savvy next-gen gal using quaint in-words to set the scene for her Insta story, and follower-courting manoeuvres.
“Bridgerton” creator, Julian Quinn, offers her opinion as to why Regency era-set fiction books are trending to booklovers' site, Book Riot: “It’s far enough in the past that it’s imbued with a fairytale-like quality in ways that something set in the 20th or 21st centuries can’t be,” she says. “But it’s modern enough that I can make my characters think and act in ways that resonate with contemporary readers.”
Today’s Regency romance writers also exploit the sexual tension created by the numerous restrictions in place during this era; for many readers, the dance of romance is more compelling than the no rules scenarios of modern dating.
Speaking to CNN, co-host of the romance podcast, “Fated Mates,” Jennifer Prokup, believes that an axiom of the genre is the idea that all romance, no matter the time period, is actually a conversation about now.
Other commentators, discussed in Book Riot, point out how Regency novels can be a refreshing way of exploring new possibilities including feminist ideas including female agency and empowerment. This beats discussing them in a contemporary setting which can feel tired, and preachy.
Regency era writers and their successors
The original, quintessential Regency romance writer has to be novelist Jane Austin herself, whose books were all published during the Regency period. As CNN points out, this was when the romance novel became popular.
In the historical periods since, the interest in Regency romantic fiction has ebbed and flowed. The writings of Georgette Hayer, in the middle third of the twentieth century, are considered to be the roots of the modern Regency romance, according to Daily Jstor. Hayer wrote over 24 meticulously researched novels, all focused on the tiny London upper class in the Regency period. The Guardian considers Hayer’s work to be romantic but not sentimental.
Others point to the 1995 TV serialization of Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth. This has garnered a huge fan base, and is seen as kickstarting a wave of Regency romance novels in the mid-’90s, when publishers realized that readers were seeking more stories like that of Lizzy and Mr. Darcy.
In the current century, the traditional Regency romance has evolved into the Regency-set historical romance; typically bolder, sexier,and adventurous. New novels in this vein are also less likely to gloss over uncomfortable social, political and racial realities of the historical era, giving space to new voices. Today, according to Book Riot, in an article called “What is Regency Romance? Its Definition, History and More,” the Regency Romance is the most popular historical subcategory in the larger romance novel world.
Author Quinn, has immersed herself in Regency era romance, though, sources such as Book Riot, point out that her heroines possess more twentieth and twenty-first century sensibilities. Indeed, CNN observes that even in Netflix’s “Bridgerton”, based on Quinn’s book series with no clear racial diversity, Kate Sheffield becomes Kate Sharma, and her Indian ancestry now has historic roots.
When in December 2020, Netflix released “Bridgerton,” the book-to-screen adaptation of her popular romance novel, The Duke and I, few could anticipate that tens of millions of households would go on to enjoy this historical romance, as Daily Jstor reports.
Booklover's site, Book Riot, highlights the broad and growing list of romances set in the Regency era. This website even published an article entitled “What to Read After Watching (and loving) BRIDGERTON on Netflix.”
This website’s list of recommended books in its above-mentioned exploration of Regency romance reflects the greater diversity of current Regency fiction.
It takes in The Lady’s Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite, who has a romance column in the New York Times, It Takes Two Tumble by Cat Sebastian, which focuses on a LGBTQIA+ romance, following on from authors like KJ Charles who established Gay Regency as a subgenre, and A Duke, The Lady, and a Baby by Vanessa Riley. Riley’s book features an heirless heroine from the Caribbean. Other Regency books are also pushing the boundaries of romantic historical fiction, encompassing suspense, mental health issues, erotica, comedy, and crime.
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