Pursuing Happiness: Reading American Romance as Political Fiction

by Laura Vivanco

The dominance of popular romance in the United States fiction market suggests that its trends and themes may reflect the politics of a significant proportion of the population. Pursuing Happiness explores some of the choices, beliefs and assumptions which shape the politics of American Romance novels. In particular, it focuses on what romances reveal about American attitudes towards work, the West, race, gender, community cohesion, ancestral “roots” and a historical connection (or lack of it) to the land.

"Pursuing Happiness explores the ways that popular American romance novels engage such matters as US gender roles, attitudes toward disability, the myth of the frontier, individualism and community, and racial violence and discrimination. A thoughtful study with a refreshingly topical focus.” — Prof. William Gleason, Princeton University, co-editor of Romance Fiction and American Culture: Love as the Practice of Freedom?

“Pursuing Happiness is an insightful and entertaining look at the inherent, often invisible, politics that underlie America’s most popular genre of fiction.”— Isobel Carr, romance writer.

Genres: Nonfiction

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2016

Reviews

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- In her typical style, Laura Vivanco provides strong close readings of popular romances to support her over arching insight. In this case, that insight is how the core values of romance align with core tenants of American cultural identity. I think this book worked best for me when I had read the work being used to illustrate the point (for instance, I really enjoyed the chapter on American idealization of work in men that used SIMPLE JESS), but overall this provided many moments of deeper insight into how popular romances work on a literary theoretical level

[Chrissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides New Perspectives on Familiar Books

Enjoyed the writing, the way referenced ideas were developed, and the way the author gave me additional aspects to consider when reading. Would recommend.

[Clara Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Added half the bibliography to the bottom of my to-read pile.