BRIDGERTON: THE DUKE AND I de Julia Quinn

Am citit o știre cum că NETFLIX va produce un film după cartea scrisă de Julia Quinn “The duke and I” și pentru că sunt impresionată de tot ce face NETFLIX, am decis să citesc romanul.

Nu mi-a părut rău.

Mi-a plăcut cum a început să scrie cărți Julia Quinn, o scriitoare despre care nu știam nimic. Standardele de lectură pentru Julia din partea tatălui ei, scriitor la rîndul lui, erau “Contele de Monte Cristo” respectiv “Crimă și Pedeapsă”. Însă Julia, la 14 ani descoperise seria Harlequins și era înnebunită după poveștile de dragoste pe care le citea.
Cînd tatăl ei o întreabă de ce citește astfel de romane, Julia îi motivează importanța cititului de plăcere. Însă tatăl ei insistă și îi cere un alt motiv. Drept pentru care Julia îi răspunde că cercetează concurența pentru romanele pe care plănuiește să le scrie.
Astfel a început Julia să scrie cărți. (Pentru a respecta crezurile tatălui ei, toate romanele Juliei sunt scrise cu un limbaj deosebit, intrigile sunt complexe iar personajele sunt credibile).

“The birth of Simon Arthur Henry Fitzranulph Basset, Earl Clyvedon, was met with great celebration. Church bells rang for hours, champagne flowed freely through the gargantuan castle that the newborn would call home, and the entire village of Clyvedon quit work to partake of the feast and holiday ordered by the young earl’s father.
For Simon Arthur Henry Fitzranulph Basset would not spend his life as Earl Clyvedon. That was a mere courtesy title. Simon Arthur Henry Fitzranulph Basset – the baby who possessed more names than any baby could possibly need – was the heir to one of England’s oldest and richest dukedoms. And his father, the ninth Duke of Hastings, had waited years for this moment.”

“- Why isn’t he talking?
– I don’t know, Nurse answered, wringing her hands.
– What have you done to him?
– I haven’t done anything.
– If you’d be doing your job correctly, he – the duke jabbed and angry finger in Simon’s direction – would be speaking. He’s four years old, God damn it, the duke roared. He should be able to speak.
– He can write, Nurse said quickly. Five children I’ve raised, and not a one of them took to letters the way Master Simon has.
– A fat lot of good writing is going to do him if he can’t talk.
Hastings turned to Simon, rage burning in his eyes.
– Talk to me, damn you!
– NO!
Simon’s fists balled at his sides, and his little chin jutted out as he said, – Don’t you h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-
The duke’s face turned deadly pale. – What is he saying?
Simon attempted the sentence again. – D-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-
– My God, the duke breathed, horrified. He’s a moron.
– He’s not a moron! Nurse cried out, throwing her arms around the boy.
– Hastings is going to go to a half-wit, the duke moaned. All those years of praying for an heir, and now it’s all for ruin. I should have let the title go to my cousin… I can’t even look at him, he gasped. – I can’t even bear to look at him.
And with that, the duke stalked out of the room.
Nurse hugged the boy close. – You’re not an idiot, she whispered fiercely. – You’re the smartest little boy I know. And if anyone can learn to talk properly, I know it’s you.
Simon turned into her warm embrace and sobbed.
– We’ll show him, Nurse vowed. He’ll eat his words if it’s the last thing I do.”

Kindle, 2020