The Real Bridgerton by Catherine Curzon takes a look at the real life scandals and intrigues of Georgian Britain. The title is pretty apt as a lot of the stories in this book would make Bridgerton seem like a chaste regency romance. It is pretty extraordinary what people got up to: incest and masturbation admitted as evidence in court are just a couple of the incidents that come to mind.

The mix of single paragraph incidents and longer stories give it a coffee table feel and I liked dipping in and out of it., very much like sticking my hand into the biscuit jar and pulling out a sordid bit of gossip.

What I found most interesting was the source material; the book is filled with quotations from scandal sheets, court transcripts, newspapers and memoirs from the time. Its such a fascinating way to see these stories and shows that gossip and scandal are not modern concepts at all.

At the heart of this gossip and intrigue are real people with real issues and problems, not dissimilar to the struggles that people have today and they are not lost here. You are left thinking about people like Caroline Lamb and Anne Lister: people attempting to live life on their own terms with any failure ridiculed in the penny sheets.

This ARC was supplied by netgalley and all thoughts are entirely my own.

This isn't the first Curzon book I've read and it won't be the last. Curzon is a genius for how she brings the Georgian period alive. This would be a great starting place for people obsessed with the Bridgerton series who want the real scandal of the time. Easy to read in small bits if you're new to nonfiction. Even if you're well versed in the era there's stuff here to enjoy.

This was a quick and interesting read - I always enjoy learning more about the georgian era and learning about some of the big scandals of the time was definitely interesting!

Thanks for the chance to read early!

'This is a romp through more than a century of scandal, told through twenty-five tales that all have one thing in common: though they might sometimes seem stranger than fiction, they are entirely true.'

Hot off the heels of the popular Netflix series, 'Bridgerton', Catherine Curzon delivers us a compendium of scintillating and salacious vignettes of Georgian scandal. Running the gamut of adultery, polyamory, marrying out of rank, and divorce, there are scandalous examples. Some tales end happily ever after, some of the scorned seek revenge and some, mostly women, end up shunned. To help the reader fully digest and comprehend her work, Curzon includes a timeline of pertinent events, a glossary of terms as well pictures, and class definitions.

You might think Georgians to be as closed off and uptight as their corsets, however, the saying, 'the devil makes work for idle hands', never seems more apt for these outrageous escapades. And, not one character ever seemed particularly remorseful for the indignation they caused. When Lady Caroline was obstructed from joining the famed Almack's, due to her questionable behaviour, she simply created a counter group, The New Female Coterie, which held their meetings in a brothel and welcomed, 'a host of scandalous and fallen gentlewoman.'

'The Real Bridgerton' is a short, sub-200-page, easy-to-read taste of Georgian gossip. It's a great read for anyone interested in that era, whether it be historical fiction or nonfiction. Simply eye-popping behaviour.

A delightful romp through all the aristocratic scandals of the Georgian era. It actually goes a long way to explain the conservatism of the Victorians, showing how reactionary it was to the previous era's seemingly unending scandals. Dukes, duchess, earls, countess, lords and ladies - for all their nose in the air attitude we see here just how often they got down and dirty - both in the sheets and in the courts.

The Real Bridgerton by Catherine Curzon provides readers with vignettes into some of the real-life scandals that ran through the gossip mill during the Georgian period in United Kingdom. Gossip could be found in documents such as magazines like Country Magazine or in caricatures. In Curzon's words, "This is a romp through more than a century of scandal told through twenty-five tales that all have one thing in common: though they might sometimes seem stranger than fiction, they are entirely true." While the book does not sport a strong central argument, the author does a great job at highlighting the difference between how men and women were treated during scandals. For those who are not familiar with the Georgian period, Curzon includes a timeline, glossary, short introduction to social classes, and a cast of characters. While I appreciate these resources, I wish there was a little more information about the time period with an introduction to some of the themes the author talked about - gender, sexuality, corruption, etc. This was an easy, and quick read that feels more like a gossip column that a history of a particular time period.

If you think the tv series Bridgerton is scandalous, you underestimate the upper classes of the eighteenth century. Catherine Curzon has taken the most outrageous happenings and placed them in a collection, each verified by historical evidence, it is a well-written account of the era.

However, I found the repetitive nature of the scandals wearying. It gives little away to say the vast majority involve a powerful (through wealth or status) man having sex with one (or multiple) other than his wife mostly because he wants to (it’s rarely an affair of love). The damage done through his behaviour is borne, predominantly, by the females (mistress and wife alike) involved. He usually gets off with little more than rapped knuckles and a fine. The more I read the more frustrating it became, the women were constantly taken advantage of, consistently treated like property, consistently overlooked by the courts, and undervalued or abused by their peers.

The few exceptions stand out for creating a way around the system which required they sell themselves to build up the social currency to be financially secure. It is a stark reminder of how far women’s rights had to come, and how far we still have to go.

Those who were homosexual couldn’t identify as such and bore far more outrage and punishment for genuinely loving their partners than their philandering heterosexual counterparts. In the back cover copy, the book refers to it as a “tumultuous, unforgiving era” and this can’t be denied. Ostraciousing, public humiliation, and shaming were everyday tools, reputation once lost was nearly impossible to restore. One can’t help but feel sad for the women who endured this culture, they had so few choices in their lives and so little protection from those who wielded control.

Enjoy feels like the wrong word for this book, it was interesting and easy to read because it’s carefully crafted by the author. It sheds a different light on a time in history more often associated with prim and proper than salacious scandal. If history interests you…or tv series like Bridgerton (though this had none of the light, fluffy humour), this one is for you. It’s a four out of five.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Pen & Sword through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in these reviews are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this text, especially as someone who had some annoyance with the show for going so far beyond what the historical Regency period in England was like (though the show is still fun). This text balanced information and historical knowledge with communicating it in a way accessible to many readers, not only those already familiar with the period. There were a few places I'd have liked more detail, but that may just have ben a personal preference. Overall, I'll suggest this book to interested students and colleagues who enjoy the regency/regency history/regency romance, Jane Austen/etc!

A fun, scandalous romp through le bon ton! Curzon uses her witty style to regale you with all the bad behavior of upper crust society. Extremely entertaining!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book!
Nice little book that gives an overview of some of the fascinating scandals of upper British society from the 18th and 19th centuries. I liked the overview of each story and how Curzon weaved the web of how all these people are interconnected to one another. It was a very fast read and because the vignettes are shorter, it was easy to read them in smaller sections over the course of a few days.

Prior to reading this book I was excited, however by the end of chapter 2 I was so confused by the number of names being mentioned I had no idea who anybody was and therefore none of the characters were of interest to me. I could not invest in the details of the book or the story for that matter. This wasn't for me but may be for others.

I have never watched Bridgerton, but I absolutely love history books, so I had no hesitation requesting this from NetGalley. And I'm so grateful to them and Pen Sword Books for the opportunity to read it in exchange for honest feedback.

I am extremely impressed by the depth of Curzon's research and her ability to tell the stories of the members of European high society in such a compelling and riveting manner. While this book certainly focuses on the salacious drama of the times, it goes much deeper than that. Curzon consistently offers meaningful and insightful commentary on the impact of patriarchal society, unfair gender norms, and discusses the intersection of sexuality, gender, and socioeconomic status in historical context.

I thoroughly enjoy regency history as I find it utterly fascinating, this book opens up a different side to the era and the indiscretions of the aristocracy in full. The sheer amount of names alone is mind boggling and the intertwining of the elite and their extra marital affairs could be read like pages from a novel. It's a C18 version of the tabloids and the public's insatiable hunger for the celebrity sex scandal. Many will fall and get shamed, yet some will rise and use it to their advantage. It's brilliantly researched and as a reader you will end up down an internet rabbit hole trying to see the paintings of who is described. If you like bridgerton and anything to do with the regency period, read this as you won't be disappointed.

Review is thanks to an ARC from Net Galley.

A bit stodgy in parts, but if you enjoy the Regency Era you will love this book. The stories within flesh out the juicy details of scandals that rocked the 'ton, and even includes a helpful glossary of terms to help the modern reader with comprehension. Unofficial but an excellent read in the Bridgerton fan universe, or just a great read for a history lover.

I had a lot of fun in reading this anthology of Regency scandals. An interesting list of cases that shows how the past was exactly like the present and there's nothing new under the sund.
The author is a good storyteller and there's a lot of humour.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

A great introduction to the world of Bridgerton, Georgette Heyer, and Jane Austen. Not for those already familiar with the Regency Era in more depth.