What Matters in Bridgerton? One of our favorite English Professors advises!

Rachel with John Mullan at the Jane Austen festival. Mullan is a consultant to Bridgerton.

 

This week, the second half of Bridgerton Season Three aired and we couldn't wait to see the resolution of the Colin and Penelope (aka "Polin") romance drama. Set in England's Regency period, the story of Polin is Cinderella-like with a few twists:  at the core, an overlooked young woman who dares to dream of attracting one of the most eligible men in town.  However, in place of soot-covered rags, Penelope's true identity is hidden under garish orange-hued dresses, chosen by her mother, that compliment neither her figure or coloring. Further, her salvation is not a fairy godmother, but her own self-discovery as a fashion forward female and very clever writer.  After years of blending in, Penelope's emerging talents catch the appreciative eye of Colin and marriage is soon proposed.

While Bridgerton story lines are a bit of fun fantasy, one may wonder how true the series is to the real Regency era?  Aside from the obvious features that employ an artistic license such as the convenient climate conditions where little rain falls in a normally soggy London as well as the reimagined high society where the "ton" is comprised of a diverse population, there are many credited fact-checkers employed by Bridgerton producers to bring authenticity to the show. Among the many consultants is an old acquaintance of Barb's Tea Service, author and professor, John Mullan.

 

"What Matters in Jane Austen?' by John Mullan pairs nicely with Bridgerton tea time.

We met John Mullan at the 7th Annual Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. Pre quarantine times, my daughter and BTS co-owner, Rachel and I made a yearly trek to this grand event hosted by the local chapter of JASNA (Jane Austen Society, North America) and this particular festival was one of the best.  It featured two English professors from England:  John Mullan and Jo Baker. The former is the author of one of our favorite JA books, "What Matters in Austen?"  The answer to that question is (*not so much spoiler alert*). . . everything!

Mullan presenting, both animated and engaging.

As we described Mullan back in 2014, he was both "animated and engaging. . .   [as he]  rattles off Austen character names (major and minor), destinations they have visited (specified or inferred) and weather conditions of the day, like a favorite uncle who can recite details of the family's history and connections - from first cousins to fifth - all from memory."

So, it was not a big surprise to read an article this week in the New York Times that John Mullan, of the University College London, is a dialogue consultant for Bridgerton. Per the NYT, Mullan reviews each script and makes suggestions, to "Regency-ify" the speech. 

Most of his notes are accepted, except, as showrunner Jess Brownwell explains, ". . .when it would take 10 Regency words to replace one modern one. . . it's just not worth it."

Bridgerton producers also employ historians from Mullan's university:  in the past, Hannah Grieg and, currently, Amanda Vickery. They, too, understand the assignment. Bridgerton is not a documentary, but as Vickery points out, it's "a fantasy that's grounded in an understanding of the period."  They advise on  anachronisms (say, for example, inserting a bit of technology that had yet to be discovered in Regency-times) and serve, per Grieg, as the "on-call geek". Both historians agree that armed with all this information, Bridgerton "makes choices, not mistakes".

We love a happy ending!

What, then, matters in Bridgerton? The fun, the fashion, the fantasy, the unmistakable choices and, most assuredly, dear readers, a happy ending! 💖💖