Don't ignore the true Queen

The Bridgerton books are setting records in their streaming avatar. So, why hasn't anyone filmed Georgette Heyer's much better Regency romance novels yet?

- SEEMA GOSWAMI

Regency romances have always been my preferred comfort reads. But it wasn't until Bridgerton premiered on Netflix that I first heard of the woman who wrote the books that the series was based on. Delighted to stumble upon an undiscovered author of this period, I hastened to download my first ever Julia Quinn and settled down to devour her in one gulp.

Well, imagine my disappointment when I found the book very heavy going indeed. At this point, perhaps, I should mention that when it comes to Regency romances, my benchmark is the late, great Georgette Heyer. Her plots are ingenious, her characters are captivating, her dialogue positively sparkles, and she brings the historical milieu alive with the lightest of touches. Julia Quinn, not to put too fine a point on it, achieved none of the abovewell, in my opinion, at least.