Romance

by Barbara Fuchs

Often derided as an inferior form of literature, 'romance' as a literary mode or genre defies satisfactory definition, dividing critics, scholars and readers alike. This useful guidebook traces the myriad transformations of 'romance' from medieval courtly love to Mills and Boon, and claims that its elusive and complex nature serves as a touchstone for larger questions of literary and cultural theory, such The case for 'romance' as a concept is presented clearly and imaginatively, arguing that its usefulness to contemporary critics can be maintained if it is regarded as a literary strategy rather than a fixed genre. In encouraging the reader to consider the fluidity of literature, Romance will be of equal value to all students of historical and comparative literatures and of modern literary forms.

Genres: Nonfiction, Romance

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Barbara Fuchs is Professor of Spanish and Portuguese and Professor of English at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her Exotic Nation: Maurophilia and the Construction of Early Modern Spain is also available from the University of Pennsylvania Press.

Reviews

[Nafisa Choudhury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, informed and fascinating - it presents a more or less in-depth history of romance as a genre as well as its place in literary discourse. It refers to several romance texts that one can read to get first-hand familiarity with the genre as well. I'm excited for the other books in this series.