- "A romance novel or romantic novel generally refers to a type of genre fiction novel which places its primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people..."
This includes the recurring themes in Romance literature such as love, courtly love, chivalry, and honor.
Definition of Romance Literature: A broad genre of literature that is characterized by a focus on love, passion, and adventure.
History of Romance Literature: A brief overview of the evolution of the genre from its origins in medieval literature to its current form.
Characteristics of Romance Literature: The distinctive features that define romance literature, such as the emphasis on emotions, the use of archetypes, and the focus on the hero and the heroine.
Major Themes in Romance Literature: The central themes that appear in romance literature, including love, honor, courage, betrayal, and sacrifice.
Subgenres of Romance Literature: The different categories of romance literature, such as historical romance, paranormal romance, and contemporary romance.
The Romance Formula: The typical structure and conventions that are often present in romance literature, such as the meet-cute, the obstacles the couple faces, and the happy ending.
Archetypes in Romance Literature: The recurring character types that appear in romance literature, such as the hero, the heroine, the villain, and the sidekick.
Romance Tropes and Clichés: The common storylines, situations, and elements that are used in romance literature, such as love triangles, mistaken identities, and the fake relationship.
Role of Setting in Romance Literature: How the setting, such as time period and geographic location, is used to set the tone and establish the mood in romance literature.
Importance of Dialogue in Romance Literature: How the dialogue is used to reveal character, advance the plot, and create tension in romance literature.
Historical Romance: Set in a past time period, often featuring historical events, costumes, and customs.
Regency Romance: A subgenre of historical romance set during the Regency era (1811-1820) in England.
Western Romance: Typically set in the American West, featuring cowboys, ranchers, and other Western themes.
Christian Romance: Focuses on Christian themes, often featuring religious characters and communities.
Paranormal Romance: Includes supernatural elements such as vampires, werewolves, and witches.
Contemporary Romance: Set in the present time, featuring modern settings and issues.
Romantic Suspense: Combines romance with elements of suspense and mystery.
Fantasy Romance: Features fantastical elements such as magic, mythical creatures, and alternate worlds.
Multicultural Romance: Explores diverse cultures and explores themes related to cultural differences and interactions between different groups.
Erotic Romance: Features explicit sexuality and sexuality as a central theme.
LGBTQ+ Romance: Features LGBTQ+ characters and themes, often focusing on issues related to identity, acceptance, and discrimination.
Inspirational Romance: Focuses on spiritual and moral values, often with a religious or spiritual theme.
Young Adult Romance: Aimed at young adults, typically featuring characters in their late teens or early twenties.
Military Romance: Set in a military context, often featuring characters in the military.
Sports Romance: Features athletes or sports-related themes, often involving competitive or high-pressure situations.
- "Precursors include authors of literary fiction, such as Samuel Richardson, Jane Austen, and Charlotte Brontë."
- "There are many subgenres of the romance novel, including fantasy, gothic, contemporary, historical romance, paranormal fiction, and science fiction."
- "Although women are the main readers of romance novels, a growing number of men enjoy them as well."
- "The Romance Writers of America cite 16% of men read romance novels."
- "Instead of focusing on a love story, it idealizes values and principles that seem lost in today's world of technology and instant gratification."
- "Happy romantic movies and plays help people feel optimistic that someday they will also find true love."
- "However, there is some criticism that many modern romantic stories make people develop unrealistic views about real relationships, as they expect love to be like it is in the movies."
- "The term 'romance' is also applied to novels defined by Walter Scott as 'a fictitious narrative in prose or verse; the interest of which turns upon marvelous and uncommon incidents'."
- "Related to this type of romance novel are works that 'involves a mysterious, adventurous, or spiritual story line where the focus is on a quest that involves bravery and strong values, not always a love interest'."
- "Scott's novels are also frequently described as historical romances, and Northrop Frye suggested 'the general principle that most 'historical novels' are romances'."
- "The British company Mills & Boon began releasing romance novels for women in the 1930s."
- "Their books were sold in North America by Harlequin Enterprises Ltd, which began direct marketing to readers and allowing mass-market merchandisers to carry the books."
- "An early American example of a mass-market romance was Kathleen E. Woodiwiss' The Flame and the Flower (1972), published by Avon Books."
- "Nancy Coffey was the senior editor who negotiated a multi-book deal with Woodiwiss."
- "Strong sales of popular romance novels make this the largest segment of the global book market."
- "The genre boomed in the 1980s, with the addition of many different categories of romance and an increased number of single-title romances..."
- "...popular authors started pushing the boundaries of both the genre and plot..."
- "...as well as creating more contemporary characters."
- "...though in the UK the romance genre was long established through the works of Georgette Heyer, and from the 1950s Catherine Cookson, as well as others."