I know this has been said before and it will be said again and probably things won’t change much. But I really miss the variety of settings I used to find in romance novels. Am I alone here? Perhaps I am!
I don’t subscribe to the conspiracy theory that publishers for their own nefarious reasons only like Regency England even though the punters are screaming for that fabulous romance set in 9th century Albania or amongst the whaling crews on South Georgia in 1912. Actually, perhaps they could pass that one off as a pseudo Regency by mentioning the Prince of Whales (sorry!).
Hey, I love the Regency! I hope to keep writing books set then and I’ll certainly read them so this is in no way a “Never darken my door with witty story featuring dukes in cravats and high boots” whine. But for the last month or so, I’ve been blogging all over the universe and inevitably I’ve been talking about the books I loved when I was younger and it made me realize how narrow the scope of historical romance has become.
Two absolute classics I read when I was at university (unfortunately, not as part of the syllabus or I would have blitzed those literature classes!) were by a writer called Teresa Denys. One was set in renaissance Italy and one was set in 17th century Spain and those books were utterly compelling, partly because she used the places and the times to build a really convincing world that formed a vital part of the story. I doubt those books would find a publisher today.
Recently I read a Harlequin Historical by Nicola Cornick called Lord Greville’s Captive which was set during the English Civil War. It was a wonderful story that completely integrated the political conflict into the personal conflict between the characters. It was also breathtakingly romantic. I finished it and wondered why more romances weren’t set in that period. It’s not as if it doesn’t provide a dramatic background!
So am I Robinson Crusoe here? Are there settings you’d like to see more of? Sybil, I know you’re a Western fan! Why do you think readers have turned off anything that hints at the exotic? Is it because the Regency is just so comfortable, like an old pair of slippers waiting at home after wearing the Manolos all day at work (snort – last time I wore heels, Victoria was on the throne)?
Anna, I’ve got to say that I’ve thought about this myself. I do love Regencies, but I miss the books I read set in Medieval Scotland, or the Elizabethan Era, or a good story from the American Civil War. I devoured romances that took on epic proportions and incorporated the historical period into the character’s lives.
But I love historicals, basically because I have my degree in History. I’m an Iberiophile, I love Spain, and I would love to see a romance set in Spain sometime. However, history is so packed with wonderful, interesting eras that would make great settings. Wouldn’t it be fascinating to see something in Ming or Qing China, Tokugawa Japan, the ancient Roman Empire, Germany or Russia, somewhere in the British Empire other than India? Even WWI would grab my attention.
It is something that bears discussion, I think, for the historiography purposes. In the US at least I’ve noticed people like their history sugar coated and glorified. We praise the citizen soldiers of WWII but forget about those that served in WWI. Vietnam is seen through the eyes of the turbulent sixties and so many are struggling with the current state of the world, terrorism and fighting in the Middle East that an idealized past is something people want to make themselves feel easier about what history is being made today.
Oops. . .ok off the soapbox now. 🙂
I have no answers, but have those questions, too. I would *love* to see more novels set during the English Civil War, like Nicola Cornick’s. Or during the Restoration. There are so many wonderful possibilities out there, from ancient Egypt to the recent past, that not every setting needs to be in Regency England. I’ll never get tired of well done novels set during that time period, but I sure am sick of the bad ones.
However, it seems to me that Harlequin Historicals, in particular, have been branching out into some of these different time frames. Sybil just posted about a trilogy set in Ireland in the 1100’s, I think. Then there is Nicola Cornick’s book, and several that have been set in ancient Rome. There certainly aren’t a lot of them, and from what I can see they’re limited to that one (print) publisher, but they do exist. And amongst ebooks there are even more. Does that portend a trend? I certainly hope so. I’d so be there!
Actually, Lawson, soap box is fine by me! When I wrote that blog, I kept having to tone down my urge to sound like a nag. And I didn’t want it to sound like old days = good, today = bad, which is so untrue. There are wonderful books being published today. But I don’t like it when people start barricading off paths of exploration and telling everybody this is the only way you can go (and no, I’m not buying into the CTC debate about what you can and can’t put in a romance!). It seems to make the world a poorer place. And the problem is that if there’s only one sort of romance available, that’s what people will buy and therefore it looks like that’s all they will buy so the road just gets narrower and narrower.
I’ve got a friend who writes fantastic stories set in Ancient Rome. She’s heard so often that her books are brilliant but uncommercial because of the setting. But if I want to read a book set in Ancient Rome (and believe me, I’d buy these), I can’t find one so I buy a Regency instead. Is this sending an accurate message about my buying preferences? No.
By the way, that Teresa Denys set in 17th century Spain is called The Flesh and the Devil. It’s old, it’s sure a bodice ripper but it’s one of the most compelling books I’ve ever read and I still re-read it now for the passion and the characters and yes, the epic story, which as you say is something a lot of those older books had in spades. It’s long out of print but if you’re a Spanish nut, I think you’d love it.
Jane, I see I’m not Robinson Crusoe with my questions on this! I agree with you about Harlequin taking some risks with settings – they’ve done a World War II story in recent years too. The Gladiator’s Honour by Michelle Styles was nominated for an award as one of the best romance novels last year in the UK so clearly there are readers out there who like Ancient Rome. Actually, Nicola’s book was nominated for the same award. When I started reading this big fat historical romances (still my favourite genre!), it wasn’t unusual to see books set in the US, Russia, France, Australia (although I never find our history particularly romantic!), Italy, the Middle-East, Ancient Egypt, you name it.
Anna, I’m torn. I love romances set in the regency period and the ones I’ve read in Victorian times, so I’d hate to see them fall by the wayside. However, I’ve read some fantastic books set in other times and places, including Russia under the Tsars, Germany in the 19th century, England during the civil war. I love reading about a different place and time and it can make a story so intriguing. It would be nice to think that historical romances could be set anywhere, any time, so long as they’re a darned good read!
Annie
Ok Anna, I’m intrigued about The Flesh and the Devil, but used copies are going on Amazon for $42. . .Craziness!
Annie, I’m not suggesting that Victorians and Regencies should be banned from bookshops. Heaven forbid! I’m just nostalgic for those books that investigated more far-flung fields. You know, it’s like when you go to a seafood buffet and you want oysters as well as lobster thermidor (mmm, anyone want to ask me to a seafood buffet?). It’s all delicious!
Lawson!!! $42??!!! US??!!! Ack!
Re: Spain–Jane Feather wrote a delicious romance set in 16th C Spain entitled “The Eagle and the Dove”–if you haven’t heard of it.
After the Victorian era, my heart rests in Civil War/Restoration era England(& popping over to Tulip-mania Holland and The Sun King’s France), and outside of Lauren Royal’s six books(too bad she Regencied! *g*), and a few I’ve found here and there, I’ve turned to historical fiction and non-fiction as a cure for my Stuart England blues.
What I find ironic is that prior to the erotic romance trend, old-school erotic authors(and even many non-erotic) like Susan Johnson, Heather Graham and Iris Johanssen wrote breathtaking and emotional historicals in a variety of settings. Now, even old-school erotic romance authors stick to the tried and true Regency setting!
You know what Anna…I think I believe in the conspiracy now. *GGG*
Anna, I have read Nicola Cornick, not all hers, but yes I found her stories to be great. For me with Regencies, I love the beauty of the culture. But too I love those very sensual historicals as well so I’m all over the board with the settings I read and really miss Medievals and Westerns and so glad for some westerns in ebooks recently but otherwise don’t see those much anymore. I’m not a historical bluff tho, so I don’t know the accuracy and really don’t care if its in the book or not because I’m reading fiction and love the creativeness of the authors. I started to read some historical fictions so I could get a feel of some accuracy of the historicals just to understand. I just love to read! And historicals have always been a great comfort read for me, a great way to escape.
I just passed over the Cornick at my last library visit. Shall pick it up next week.
I’d love to see more romances set in ancient times, set in 19th c. Australia or Ireland, Medieval Ireland, American Revolutionary/Colonial America, Turn of the Century America…okay I’ll stop now.
Camilla, is the Jane Feather the one about the fall of Granada? If so, that was a great read. Alison Stuart, another friend of mine who writes in unfashionable periods, has been e-published with her Civil War stories. Might be worth checking her out if you don’t know her. One of the sad things about the setting limits is that wonderful writers who are passionate about the times they’re describing are getting locked out of the mainstream. Hmm, still not sold on the conspiracy!
Cathie, absolutely I LOVE a good Regency. And I agree with you about a good historical just sweeping you away to another world in a way I don’t think any other genre quite matches (but then, I’m a historical nut, much as I love romances in any genre). Just occasionally I’d like to be swept away to 12th century Jerusalem or Moghul India or Tsarist Russia. A bit like Devon’s list!
Devon, give Nicola’s book a go. I like her voice and she does really nice heroes. I’m really looking forward to reading Michelle Willingham’s Irish books – medieval Ireland is a setting I haven’t seen for a long time!
Hi Anna,
I’d enjoy seeing more varied settings in historical romance. I love reading and writing Regency historicals and I think perhaps readers like the familiar–they know all the rules of conduct, etc and they don’t have to work too hard to orient themselves, they just concentrate on the romance as it unfolds. But I think with Harlequin’s foray into other eras as well as your book and the comeback of the BIG historical, we will be seeing more varied settings. Hey, maybe goulash guy can come out of exile under your bed!
Jumping in here a bit late.
I can confirm that Harlequin Historicals most definitely publishes unusal settings (generally about one slot per month), including Ancient Rome. My next Roman set historical,The Roman’s Virigin Mistress will be released in July 07 in both the North American and the UK markets. My first one, The Gladiator’s Honour was a finalist for the Romantic Novelist Association Romance Prize, along with Nicola’s Lord Greville’s Captive. The RNA is the British equivalent of the RWA and the Romance Prize, the equivalent of the Rita for series romance and the RNA only gives one prize for series romance. This year it was by a contemporary novel.
Other upcoming unusual historical time periods include Amanda McCabe’s trilogy set in Venice.
The thing about unusual time periods is that publishers will only publish them IF the readers actually go out and buy the books. There is a core readership that is devoted to Georgian/Regency/Victorian in historical romances.
FWIW
Michelle Styles
The Roman’s Virgin Mistress (HH and M&B H July 07)
Sold and Seduced (M&B Historicals April 07)
A Noble Captive (M&B Historicals Jan 07, Australia Harlequin Quills May 07)
The Gladiator’s Honour (HH 2006)