Many people dismiss contemporary romance authors as light-weight hacks, churning out unoriginal novels that conform to a prescribed format and sell to bored housewives.
These variations on the 'boy meets girl' theme have been around seemingly forever, or at least since the novel became a popular format. They have been disparagingly called 'bodice rippers', and the movies made from them dismissed as 'chick flicks'. It is a fact, however, that the best of this type of book and film gross millions, which makes the criticism sound a lot like sour grapes.
The theme isn't new, either. Adam was fascinated with Eve from the first time he laid eyes on her and eventually made a life-changing, earth-shaking decision in her favor. Shakespeare raised the plot to everlasting fame in 'Romeo and Juliet' and celebrated it in comedy as well. Today the same old story involves vampires, witches and wizards, or space rovers. It fills the news, too. Where would Jackie O' have been without her men, or the pulp magazines without the loves and losses of the stars?
It isn't essentially myth and fiction, of course. History tells us that men have desired women above fortune and reason throughout the centuries. Think of the magnificent and terrifying King Henry VII, who fell for girl after girl and never flinched from murder, law-breaking, excommunication, or immorality.
Helen of Troy, Delilah, Bathsheeba, and Wallas Windsor epitomize the consequences of unbridled passion. Think what these famous sirens cost their lovers in terms of war, faith, kingdoms, and invulnerability. The women are famous but so are the men, who loved enough to risk anything to possess the object of their desire. Who is to say that the force of the passion that animates heroes of romantic fiction is too strong to be believable? Ancient tales and the annals of history tell us otherwise.
Hacks there may be in this industry, but many fine writers and scholars have penned romantic tales, often under a pseudonym. The millions of fans that take the best of this genre to the top of the best-seller lists and eagerly await new volumes from their favorite writers don't like the love scenes enough to put up with bad writing. Dorothy Sayers was known for her ability with prose as much as for the charm of her famous dilettante detective, Lord Peter Whimsey. Whimsey has his own romance, by the way, falling for a woman on trial for murder.
If one of the qualifications for a classic is to endure, the genre can hold its own there, too. Jane Austen still could be called contemporary, even though her last novel was published in 1817. 'Jane Eyre' is almost as ubiquitous as 'Pride and Prejudice', as is 'Wuhering Heights'. Who knows which of today's novels will see its popularity endure past its own generation?
It is true that there is little fundamental originality in many of the romantic novels. However, just when you think that nothing else can be done with this genre, you get a surprise. Contemporary romance authors may not just get your attention and your money; they may become enshrined in your heart and your memory as well. Go ahead and try a romance novel. You just might like it.
These variations on the 'boy meets girl' theme have been around seemingly forever, or at least since the novel became a popular format. They have been disparagingly called 'bodice rippers', and the movies made from them dismissed as 'chick flicks'. It is a fact, however, that the best of this type of book and film gross millions, which makes the criticism sound a lot like sour grapes.
The theme isn't new, either. Adam was fascinated with Eve from the first time he laid eyes on her and eventually made a life-changing, earth-shaking decision in her favor. Shakespeare raised the plot to everlasting fame in 'Romeo and Juliet' and celebrated it in comedy as well. Today the same old story involves vampires, witches and wizards, or space rovers. It fills the news, too. Where would Jackie O' have been without her men, or the pulp magazines without the loves and losses of the stars?
It isn't essentially myth and fiction, of course. History tells us that men have desired women above fortune and reason throughout the centuries. Think of the magnificent and terrifying King Henry VII, who fell for girl after girl and never flinched from murder, law-breaking, excommunication, or immorality.
Helen of Troy, Delilah, Bathsheeba, and Wallas Windsor epitomize the consequences of unbridled passion. Think what these famous sirens cost their lovers in terms of war, faith, kingdoms, and invulnerability. The women are famous but so are the men, who loved enough to risk anything to possess the object of their desire. Who is to say that the force of the passion that animates heroes of romantic fiction is too strong to be believable? Ancient tales and the annals of history tell us otherwise.
Hacks there may be in this industry, but many fine writers and scholars have penned romantic tales, often under a pseudonym. The millions of fans that take the best of this genre to the top of the best-seller lists and eagerly await new volumes from their favorite writers don't like the love scenes enough to put up with bad writing. Dorothy Sayers was known for her ability with prose as much as for the charm of her famous dilettante detective, Lord Peter Whimsey. Whimsey has his own romance, by the way, falling for a woman on trial for murder.
If one of the qualifications for a classic is to endure, the genre can hold its own there, too. Jane Austen still could be called contemporary, even though her last novel was published in 1817. 'Jane Eyre' is almost as ubiquitous as 'Pride and Prejudice', as is 'Wuhering Heights'. Who knows which of today's novels will see its popularity endure past its own generation?
It is true that there is little fundamental originality in many of the romantic novels. However, just when you think that nothing else can be done with this genre, you get a surprise. Contemporary romance authors may not just get your attention and your money; they may become enshrined in your heart and your memory as well. Go ahead and try a romance novel. You just might like it.
About the Author:
If you would like to read more from contemporary romance authors click this link to www.laceydancerauthor.com. For the latest works from author Lacey Dancer, visit her home page at http://www.laceydancerauthor.com today.
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