I just submitted Lady Katherine's Conundrum, the sequel to Lady Katherine's Comeuppance. Whew!
Whether spanking, erotic or even just a sweet romance, historical romance has always been popular. And, as an author who is soon to have her second historical romance on sale, I say Hooray! But, it still makes me wonder, why do we, as readers, tend to love historical romances?
Even within historical romances, we can divide into sub-genres like Regency, Victorian, American West or Medieval, but let's just talk generally about the whole category, whether spanking or not.
Maybe I shouldn't burst anyone's bubble, but as a practical matter, life in any of those times was rough.
Yet we still enjoy going off to those far away times when we read.
Why?
Is it because if you read for escape, then going to a completely different time in history adds to the escape aspects?
Is it the romanticized idea of wearing all those gowns and having servants to care for your needs?
Is it the language?
Is it the more traditional male/female roles and we are more accepting of them in the historical context than we are in a contemporary context?
What do you think? Are there other aspects that appeal to you? I'd love to hear what you think.
For me, it depends on the time period. It WAS hard back then. I notice no one ever writes a Regency romance about the lady's maid or the cook! Regency by the way, is my favorite period. I think I love the language, the pomp and circumstance, the simmering sexuality. The plot always seems to be one of two things: someone is looking to get married or someone is trying to avoid getting married. But I love Regency.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cara! Maybe I'll give some thought to a romance involving a lady's maid and the butler. I think shows like Downton Abbey have made a case for the fact that even the servants can be interesting, but who wants to write about all those chores?
DeleteI agree. I love Regency too.
For me it's absolutely the escape element. Like being a tourist in history. And when I studied history in school I always hated that it was mostly about military actions. I understand now that those are times of change and we need to understand those things...but it's the day to day life that captures my imagination. And that's what I get from a well-written historical.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kate. I agree about the escapism aspect. Even a super sexy contemporary book still contains enough things that are familiar in my world that it's not total escape, but it's fun to imagine having someone fuss over my clothes and hair before I go off to a ball to be swept off my feet by a handsome man.
DeleteThere's also something about the gloves, for me. So sexy.
I love it all...the escape, the clothes (especially the underthings...something about them feels naughty even though they are a lot more conservative than what we wear today), the traditional male/female roles. Regency is my favorite time period. Congrats on submitting your book...I can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI agree about the underthings, all those layers of lace. Plus, I think there's something about a woman being dressed by others that gives it sort of that dress up doll feel. Something I'd totally hate in real life, but I love to read about it.
DeleteIn the genre of spanking erotica/drama historical settings work well because absent is the sensitivity imposed by modern cultural norms, e,g., political correctness. Today, right out of the box, spanking is "abuse" whereas in earlier times it was normal in relations between parent and child, master and servant, man and wife. That makes the scenarios in which a spanking occurs much more plausible.
ReplyDeleteI like all the periods you mentioned and I've used them, except Regency. I just don't know enough about language, customs, clothing (you gotta know underwear to write a spanking scene), and culture to do it. I can fake the rest.
But I like reading everyone else's Regency and I want to read yours.
Thanks Rollin! I agree that historical settings eliminate the need for political correctness. I suppose it is part of the whole escape into another time and place.
DeleteI love it all, its the escape to a different time, its imagining the life I couldn't have because not in that time, And the hunks are just to die for :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Tiffany! Yes! the men with their fancy manners and formal attire and all the rules that can be broken. Swoon!
DeleteI've ALWAYS loved historicals-- I think it is primarily about getting to experience a different world (although I don't love sci-fi, so maybe it has to be a different, real world). I like to learn about that time period, feel like I was there.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's the fact that corporal punishment shows up more in historicals.
And yes, the traditional roles are a turn on to me, much as I appreciate that women are now considered equal. :)
I'm with you on the different world but not necessarily sci-fi. It is an interesting contrast between what we like to read and how we want to live, but then, that's why we love books. :)
DeleteI love, love, love Regency Historical. Something about that timeframe and the roles of men and women I truly enjoy! The society circles, clothing, language. Even with today's technology and medicine, to me it just seemed like a simpler time. The art of writing a letter. A lady's "accomplishments". Men on horseback. It's an escape from reality, from the day in and day out routines of my life.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz---you make some great points. What do you suppose a fine Regency lady would think of receiving a text message?
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