The Duke and I

novel by Quinn

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July 22, 2026

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The Duke and I is the first book in Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series, which inspired the popular Netflix drama. The novel, set in London during the Regency era (1811–1820), follows the eldest Bridgerton sibling, Daphne, and the Duke of Hastings, Simon Basset. They enter into a fake courtship to navigate high-society expectations. The story explores themes common in romance novels, such as "opposites attract" and "forbidden love," as their arrangement leads to genuine feelings. The series is known for its diverse casting and use of contemporary music in classical arrangements during its ballroom scenes.1

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Bridgerton
About the series
…first book in the series, The Duke and I (2000), and focuses on the eldest Bridgerton daughter, the kind and demure Daphne Bridgerton (played by Phoebe Dynevor), and the aloof and commitment-phobic duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page). The pair were praised for their romantic chemistry; however, one episode…
Read More
…first book in the series, The Duke and I (2000), and focuses on the eldest Bridgerton daughter, the kind and demure Daphne Bridgerton (played by Phoebe Dynevor), and the aloof and commitment-phobic duke of Hastings, Simon Basset (Regé-Jean Page). The pair were praised for their romantic chemistry; however, one episode…
Read More