Romance books first came onto the scene as literature written during the medieval period, published in common languages such as German, English, French, and Spanish. The history of romance books went through three big periods before it came to be the kind of romance today that we know and love. If you are a romance book reader, it can be eye-opening and enlightening to have a better understanding of the genre, including the many transformations it has experienced over time. It will not only make you more informed as a fan, but also give you more context and thoughts when you read romance books.
Here is a short history of books in the romance genre:
Adventure
Romance books began as a genre comprised of themes about chivalrous love interests and tales of adventure. Many of the stories were written about male characters that were held in high esteem in society, including historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, King Arthur, and many others. All of these men were seen as heroic symbols at the time. Male characters in romance books were portrayed to be in that same way. Men in these books acted in a chivalrous manner and seemed undaunted by any danger or challenges that they may encounter during their journeys. These books were all about the adventurous journey and overcoming difficult odds. Chivalry and patriarchal social structures were regular themes in these first romance books.
The Romantics
As decades passed, the emphasis of romance books changed. These novels were frequently written from a firsthand point of view, usually from the protagonist of the story, the hero or heroine that is featured. The stories often depicted love, romance, courtship, and challenges, but there were always happy endings. In typical fashion, these stories had themes of lost and rekindled love, and the difficulties that women had to undergo to balance their lives between their innate desires and societal dictates. Often, poor, unsophisticated, lower class women were portrayed as ordinary people that readers could sympathize with on their journey to find and keep the flame of true love alive.
Victorian Age
In this period, romance books regarding love and romance remained frequent themes, but the idea of ethical mores, especially those about marriage, were widely written about. Usually, women had to choose between love and the moral codes that come with marriage. In these books, women were challenged with breaking the rules of society, such as bigamy, to be with their true love. Books during this time also focused strongly on a woman’s journey towards achieving freedom, especially from the female viewpoint. Books such as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights are perfect examples of the romance book genre in this period. The genre moved away from chivalry and adventure, and emphasized themes surrounding love, passion, and the true meaning and pursuit of them in the context of society.
Modern Romance
The romance and erotic books we read these days most often reflect the latest evolution of the romance novel. When we think of the romance novel we think about passion, romance, lust, breaking morals to be with the one true love. These are the struggles of love that women face today. Because there is such a large body of work when it comes to the romance genre, romance authors frequently try to break the mold by exploring unconventional themes such as bondage and domination in the Fifty Shades series of erotic novels by E. L. James.
What do you think about the romance genre? Share in the comments below!
