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Overview
Traditionally, romance novels have a reputation as being no more than trashy, sex-filled fantasy escapes for frustrated housewives. But books in this genre account for nearly half of the paperbacks published. Contributors examine the patterns used by the romance authors to tell their stories.
Synopsis
Traditionally, romance novels have a reputation as being no more than trashy, sex-filled fantasy escapes for frustrated housewives. But books in this genre account for nearly half of the paperbacks published. Contributors examine the patterns used by the romance authors to tell their stories.
Library Journal
The latest in the steadily growing body of scholarly works on the romance fiction genre, this interesting and potentially important collection of 11 essays by nine academics, several of whom are also published romance writers, takes a closer look at the various literary conventions within the genre. The articles, grouped into three sections, "Archetypes and Stereotypes," "Conventions of Time and Place," and "Language and Love," address such diverse topics as the "good-provider hero," witchcraft, and the Fabio phenemenon. The style and quality of the articles vary widely, but despite the occasional marginal offering, most are useful and well done--and the few insightful gems that are both readable and scholarly are well worth the price of the book. Although Kaler (The Picara: From Hera to Fantasy Heroine, Bowling Green State Univ. Popular Pr., 1991) targets a largely academic audience, the popular success of Jayne Anne Krentz's Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women (Univ. of Pennsylvania, 1992) indicates a broader appeal; many public libraries may want to consider acquiring this.--Kristin Ramsdell, California State Univ., Hayward