Seattle author Julia Quinn has written close to 30 books, 19 of which have been consecutive New York Times bestsellers. In the U.S., her books have sold over 20 million copies, and have been translated into 43 languages, the most recent of which is Mongolian. Arguably her most famous is the \u201cBridgerton\u201d series, which Netflix adapted as a TV show that premiered on Christmas Day 2020. Five years later, Season 1 still ranks globally as the seventh-most watched Netflix show of all time.<\/p>\n
With Part 2 of Season 4 premiering Thursday, The Seattle Times sat down with Quinn to learn about adapting her books into a TV series, what her journey has been like since the series first aired, what has made the \u201cBridgerton\u201d romances such a success and what she is looking forward to.<\/p>\n
On \u2018Bridgerton\u2019s\u2019 growth since Season 1<\/h2>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s crazy to think that my work has entered the international zeitgeist in the way it has,\u201d Quinn said, referring to the newly ubiquitous phrase \u201cdearest gentle reader.\u201d She notes she didn\u2019t invent the phrase but that it\u2019s now used as far afield as government agencies in India in their campaigns for public safety, as well as closer to home, where the Washington State Department of Transportation used the phrase \u201cdearest gentle commuter\u201d in a public advisory about upcoming bridge work.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Adapting a book to the screen<\/h2>\n
\u201cThere are some things television can bring to life,\u201d Quinn said, noting that having a visual shifts the experience. \u201cIn books, you are really immersed in the character. In TV, you can be immersed in the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She points to how Season 4 opens on a masquerade ball: \u201cIt is a feast for the senses.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the adaptation process is difficult,\u201d she added. \u201c(In addition to the visual choices), you have to pick which dialogue to bring over.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMost readers like the adaptation,” Quinn said, also noting that some loyal readers wanted the series to be exactly how the books are. In a big upcoming shift, for example, the gender of one of the main characters is changing in a future season. She says some of the backlash is clearly homophobic, but some is because readers \u201creally loved the book and wanted that specific story.\u201d<\/p>\n