Samuel Johnson’s 1755 dictionary defined a honeymoon as “the first month after marriage when there is nothing but tenderness and pleasure”. Viewers of Bridgerton may nod in recognition. This is not a show that shies away from sex — and so far the newlyweds Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and her husband, Simon, Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page) have been getting the most.
But how accurate a portrayal of the Georgian era is this? The show has just enough of a historical veneer to create a sense of authenticity, but not enough to be held accountable for accuracy. Fact and fiction become muddled together in a glorious tangle of corsets and courtiers. For instance, some of the characters are based on real people, King George III
