The TV series “Bridgerton” is set during the time period known as the Regency (specifically 1811-1820) but it is part of a larger time frame that we will explore, called Georgian England which encompasses 1714-1830 (the period takes its name from the four monarchs named George who ruled in succession). The Georgian era marked a time of extraordinary change:  Great Britain, arguably the most powerful nation in the world by 1800, gained an empire in the new world that it then lost with the American Revolution; cities (especially London) grew explosively, the Industrial Revolution began, with its progress and ensuing horrors;  the novel as a literary genre was born; women and the working classes began to assert their rights; and the Enlightenment fueled an intellectual and political battle over human rights and slavery. This 4-week course will explore some of the most important political, historical, sexual, and literary facets of the period.  Lastly, we will use 21st century period dramas like Bridgerton to address why this period in British history continues to fascinate us and how nostalgia is itself a potent industry that sheds light on current issues in Modern Britain.