Georgian romance enchants writers

Georgian England is a fascinating time period for historical romance.

The name comes from the string of four kings who ascended the throne, starting in 1714 with a German-born George who didn't even speak English. Mad King George (III) was on the throne during the American Revolution, and Parliament made his eldest son the Prince Regent to rule in his place. This is where the term "regency" comes from.

It was in the mid- to late 18th century that human advancement took a sudden leap forward.

The Age of Enlightenment was in full swing. Mozart was born. James Cook journeyed to the South Seas. Edward Gibbon wrote "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." The Treaty of Paris recognized American independence. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin. Edward Jenner developed a vaccine for smallpox, and the Rosetta Stone was discovered.

During this exciting and tumultuous time, Lady Georgiana Spencer was born, an ancestor of Princess Diana and a woman who would become just as famous in her lifetime as Diana was in ours.

At 17, Georgiana married the Duke of Devonshire and quickly became the brightest light in fashionable society. She was friends with the Prince of Wales and Marie Antoinette, and her interest in politics soon had her acting as adviser to some of the most powerful men in Parliament. She was a patron of the arts and wrote fiction and poetry, some of which was even published.

Despite the glittering public persona, her personal life was a mess. She had a gambling addiction, a distant husband who was having an affair with her best friend and an out- of-wedlock child she was forced to give up along with the much younger man she loved.

And all this drama is now playing in theaters near you. Keira Knightley and Ralph Fiennes star in "The Duchess," an adaptation of Amanda Foreman's fantastic book, "Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire."

There's also plenty of fiction that perfectly captures the decadence and sophistication of Georgian society.

"Duchess by Night," the latest by Eloisa James, is about a disgruntled widow who attends a house party dressed as a young man and ends up with more adventure than she could have imagined.

Jane Feather's recent book, "To Wed a Wicked Prince," tells the story of a woman who attracts the attention of a Russian nobleman who may have vengeance on his mind.

In Jo Beverley's "A Lady's Secret," a nobleman thinks he's escorting a nun to safety, but the lady in question is desperate to get to England to find the one man who can protect her.

Two of my favorite Georgian-era romances are from Julia Ross. "The Seduction" and "The Wicked Lover" are beautifully written and really bring the 18th-century world to life.

They might be hard to track down, but I highly recommend them.

Reach Rebekah Bradford at rebekah.bradford@gmail.com.