Historical romance
Mass-market fiction focusing on romantic relationships in historical periods.
Historical romance is a broad category of mass-market fiction focusing on romantic relationships in historical periods, which Byron helped popularize in the early 19th century. The genre often takes the form of the novel. It encompasses numerous subgenres set in various time periods and locations, including Viking, Medieval, Tudor, Elizabethan, Stuart, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Pirate, Colonial United States, Civil War, Western, Native American, and Americana.
- field
- Mass-market fiction
- known_for
- Romantic relationships in historical periods
- popularized_by
- Byron
Lore & Background
Heyer's Regency novels were inspired by Jane Austen's novels of the late 18th and early 19th century. Heyer included authentic period detail for her readers to understand, and her characters often contained more modern-day sensibilities. The book was revolutionary as one of the first single-title romance novels published as an original paperback, distributed in drug stores and mass-market outlets. It sold 2.35 million copies. Avon followed with Woodiwiss's second novel and two novels by Rosemary Rogers; one of Rogers's novels sold two million copies in its first three months.
Reader's Guide
The success of these novels prompted a new style of writing, concentrating on historical fiction tracking the monogamous relationship between a helpless heroine and the hero who rescued her. The covers of these novels tended to feature scantily clad women being grabbed by the hero, leading to the term 'bodice-ripper,' now considered offensive by many in the romance industry. In this new style, heroines were independent and strong-willed, often paired with heroes who evolved into caring and compassionate men. The genre's subgenres, such as Viking, Medieval, and Regency, each have distinct conventions regarding setting, character types, and plot elements. The genre remains a staple of mass-market fiction, with readers often citing a desire to learn about historical beliefs and customs as a reason for reading.
Did You Know?
- Byron helped popularize historical romance in the early 19th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Historical romance as a genre?
Historical romance is a mass-market fiction category built around romantic relationships set in past eras. It most often takes the form of the novel and draws on a wide variety of time periods and cultural settings.
Who is credited with popularizing Historical romance?
Lord Byron is widely recognized for helping bring the genre into the public eye during the early 19th century. His work laid creative groundwork that later authors expanded into a full-fledged publishing category.
What subgenres fall under Historical romance?
The genre spans Viking, Medieval, Tudor, Elizabethan, Stuart, Georgian, Regency, Victorian, Pirate, and Colonial American settings, among others. It also includes Civil War, Western, Native American, and Americana backdrops, giving writers enormous temporal and geographic range.
More in Narrative Techniques & Genres 1-24
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