It’s been over a year since Netflix period drama Bridgerton came into our lives, with the period romance series smashing records for the streaming service when it was originally released at Christmas 2020.
So understandably anticipation is high for the new series, which is released on to Netflix on March 25, and which this time around focuses on Anthony Bridgerton (Jonathan Bailey)’s quest for a wife.
Brought to the screen by Shonda Rhimes’ production company Shondaland, the period comedy-drama is like a horny Gossip Girl – with the mysterious Lady Whistledown filling everyone in on the exploits of high society.
But where exactly did the story come from? Are there books for us to digest soon after the episodes are over?
Here’s what you need to know…
Is Bridgerton based on a book?
Yup! It’s actually based on a series of novels by Julia Quinn – and there’s eight in total.
The first season of the show is based on The Duke And I, the first in the collection.
Here’s the order in which to read them, if you’re interested:
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- The Duke and I
- The Viscount Who Loved Me
- An Officer From A Gentleman
- Romancing Mr Bridgerton
- To Sir Phillip, With Love
- When He Was Wicked
- It’s In His Kiss
- On The Way To The Wedding
On top of this, there’s The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After – a collection of epilogues about what happened once the main stories were over.
There’s also two novellas based on the mysterious Lady Whitledown – The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown and Lady Whistledown Strikes Back.
Basically, there’s a lot for you to get cracking on if you’re interested.
Is Bridgerton based on a real family?
Sadly not. Though we’re sure that there was some upper class scandal back in the day, as there is now, the Bridgerton and Featherington families, and the world they inhabit, is sadly just a figment of writer Quinn’s imagination.
Speaking ahead of the launch of the first series in 2020, creator Chris Van Dusen said: ‘Bridgerton – it’s not a history lesson, it’s not a documentary. There were not actually any real Bridgertons in 1813 Regency London as far as I know.
‘We honoured the history, of course, but we’re not beholden to it. It’s a reimagined world and what we’re really doing is marrying history and fantasy in what I think is a really exciting way.’
Bridgerton season 2 is released on Netflix on March 25.
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