The Duke and I

The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After binge-watching the first series of Bridgerton on Netflix, I pulled out my copy of The Duke and I to re-read and see how much had been altered. The book was even more delightful than I remembered! Far fewer sub-plots than on Netflix, and far more witty dialogue. In large part that is because in the book, Daphne is not quite as young as she is portrayed in the show--she's at the end of her second season, so somewhere around 20 instead of around 18--and she's more comfortable around men--too comfortable, is really the problem, as they see her as a pal instead of a potential wife. Even Nigel Berbrooke isn't as heinous in the book, just dim-witted, desperate, and convinced he loves Daphne. Lord Featherington is already dead, so there is no gambling debt sub-plot. There is no opera singer mistress for Anthony, no boxer best friend for Simon, no Queen, no pregnant Featherington guest/relative, and Lady Danbury is important but not Simon's mother's best friend. The characters are all white, as they would have been in those societal positions at the time and not as Shonda Rhimes revised history. (The color-conscious casting is the tv series is WONDERFUL.)

In short, the book focuses far more on the relationship between Daphne and Simon, as well as the warm relationship between the Bridgerton family members. Violet is a whole lot more cunning, capable, and confident in the book. Anthony has already allowed Daphne to turn down several marriage proposals. And the banter is a balm to my soul, a needed antidote to the violence and chaos in the news.

For readers' advisors: character doorway is primary, setting secondary. There is a little violence (Daphne punching Nigel in the hallway is hysterical more than violent), a few swear words, and several medium-spicy sex scenes. There is WAY more nudity in the tv series, so this seems tame by comparison.

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