Vintage Romance: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
“To say that men can be bullheaded would be insulting to the bull.”
The Basics
Title: The Duke and I (Bridgertons #1)
Author: Julia Quinn
Published: 2000
Publisher: Avon Books — HarperCollins
Pages: 371
Format: Paperback, mass market
Genres: Fiction — Historical fiction, Regency fiction, Romance, Historical romance, Regency romance, Vintage romance
This book is part of my Vintage Romance Series, in which I review romance books from the 1960s to early 2000s.
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Book Synopsis
London, 1813. Daphne Bridgerton is keen to marry and start a family, but to date, all of the men she has met have regarded her as a friend and no more. Simon Bassett, Duke of Hastings has quite the opposite problem: he is regarded as the most eligible bachelor but desires nothing more than to remain single and childless. When Simon meets Daphne and learns of her troubles, he devises a plan that he believes will suit them both: they will feign a courtship. For Simon, the fake relationship will keep his would-be brides away, and for Daphne, Simon’s perceived interest in her will hopefully spur the other men of London to pursue her. The trouble is, plans rarely go according to plan, and it does not take long before their sham relationship starts to feel altogether too real.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: Starts off strong but sinks in my estimation after some problematic content later in the book.
Warning: Spoilers ahead
I have mixed feelings about The Duke and I. I was wholeheartedly enjoying it up until chapter 18, at which point my opinion of the book soured. In that chapter, Daphne takes advantage of Simon while he is intoxicated: she arouses him, starts to have sex with him, and refuses to stop when he indicates that he wants her to do so. She rapes her husband, and when he subsequently leaves, she feels not remorse but rather indignation. Moreover, she suffers no real consequences for her actions. Simon forgives her, and in the end, she gets what she has always wanted: children. A character who does such a reprehensible thing should not be granted a happily-ever-after ending.
While Daphne is indisputably the more repugnant of the two, Simon is not without his faults. He seizes upon her naïveté to deceive her about his ability to have children. Rather than lie to Daphne, he should have been honest with her and admitted that he can have children but has chosen not to. Simon and Daphne may have complemented one another nicely as friends, but once they become a couple, their relationship turns toxic.
The good
As indicated at the beginning of this review, The Duke and I is enjoyable up through chapter 17. This portion of the book covers Simon and Daphne’s fake courtship, as well as the early days of their marriage. At this point, they have a wonderful dynamic. There is banter, chemistry, and sexual tension aplenty between them. Ignorant as to what would transpire between them in chapter 18, I found myself rooting for them as a couple while reading this part of the book.
This initial chunk of the story is also quite humorous, owing to not only Daphne and Simon’s sham relationship but also the antics of the Bridgerton family. Daphne’s eldest brother, Anthony, for instance, displays a level of overprotectiveness so great as to be comical. You cannot help but laugh at some of the things that he says and does in the name of protecting his sister. Then, there is the Bridgerton matriarch, Violet, who at times surreptitiously and other times not-so-subtly manages her children. With nothing more than words, she can bring her adult children to heel. Perhaps the greatest comic force of all, however, is Hyacinth, the youngest member of the Bridgerton clan. At only 10, she possesses levels of spunk and boldness that surpass those of women twice (and even thrice) her age. She, for instance, did not even bat any eyelash when asking Simon to wait for her, should things not work out between him and her sister.
Outside of the Bridgerton family, another noteworthy character is Lady Whistledown. Although we never meet her (her identity is shrouded in mystery), she is one of the most talked-about characters in the story due to her gossip-toting newspaper. Each chapter opens with a line from the day’s paper, and in addition to injecting humor into the narrative, the quote foreshadows what is to come in the chapter, assuredly piquing your interest and coaxing you to continue reading.
Further alluring you is the book’s setting, Regency England. Set against a backdrop of stately homes and extravagant balls, The Duke and I allows you to vicariously experience the lives of the English aristocracy during the early 19th century. Carriage rides, waltzes, lavish gowns, sumptuous dinners, and even a duel for good measure: all of these quintessential historical romance tropes make appearances throughout the story. It is an escapist delight (prior to chapter 18, that is).
Lastly, with regard to the writing, it is easy to understand and well-paced. The story never drags, owing not only to the fact that the characters seem to always be up to something but also that tiresome, flowery language is avoided. The book is written in the third-person, omniscient style, which allows us to gain entry into the thoughts of all of the major characters. The consequence of this unfettered access is that by the book’s end, we have a fairly thorough understanding of the characters; we know their backstories, as well as their personalities and psyches.
Overall
The Duke and I has a promising start; up until chapter 18, it is a true page turner replete with romance, witty banter, lush settings, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. The events of chapter 18, however, cast a large, impenetrable shadow over the book, all but obscuring its merits. I can only hope that the next book in the series, The Viscount who Loved Me, will be better (I have heard from other people that it is).
Have you read The Duke and I? If so, what did you think of it? As always, share your thoughts with me in the comments section below!
