Luke Newton as Colin Bridgerton and Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
An estimated fifth of Londoners suffered from syphilis in the late 18th century and, behind closed doors, Regency Britons were engaged in extra martial affairs and even polyamory.
Penelope Featherington contemplates life without a loving partner.
Netflix
Bridgerton explores relatable experiences that resonate with its audience despite its historical setting.
Louisa Harland as Nell Jackson in Renegade Nell.
Robert Viglasky/Disney
The Disney series is a magical mega-mix of Sally Wainwright’s greatest hits.
India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest as Queen Charlotte and King George.
Courtesy of Netflix
There are many areas in the show where historical fact is sacrificed on the altar of artistic license, but glimmers of the real Queen Charlotte shine through.
Nick Wall/Netflix
Slated by critics, Netflix’s Persuasion isn’t as bad as it’s been made out to be.
Princess Diana’s 80s fashion was faithfully recreated in season four of The Crown.
Des Willie/Netflix
The costumes in period dramas are opulent and highly memorable, shaping how we think of the royal family beyond the screen.
Alex Bailey/Netflix
Writers did it themselves back in the 19th-century so modern period dramas should be cut some slack for trying to prioritise modern aesthetic tastes over historical accuracy.
Mammoth screen/ITV
JG Farell’s novel mocks the delusions and vanity of imperial attitudes that persisted even as the empire collapsed.
Olivia Cooke as Becky Sharpe in ITV’s Vanity Fair.
Mammoth Screen for ITV
Many viewers think that the recent adaptation of Vanity Fair plays fast and loose with Thackeray’s novel. But the writer was surprisingly modern.
Emily Brontë published Wuthering Heights in 1847, at a time when writing was largely the preserve of men.
BBC/PBS
Cast as some unworldly young woman who wrote a 19th-century romance, Emily Brontë is more powerful and relevant than she is given credit for.
Netflix
True crime drama focuses on the inequality and degradation of working-class women in service in the 19th century.