So, this ‘romance’ thing

August 31, 2012 by Elin Gregory

I think any discussion of Romance has to begin with some kind of definition and where better than that font of all knowledge Wikipedia?

Romantic love is a relative term, but generally accepted as a definition that distinguishes moments and situations within interpersonal relationships to an individual as contributing to a significant relationship connection.

So far so good. Ah but it’s a term that has a considerable historical pedigree and as a historical writer that has to be taken into consideration.

Historians believe that the actual English word “romance” developed from a vernacular dialect within the French language meaning “verse narrative”—referring to the style of speech, writing, and artistic talents within elite classes. The word was originally an adverb of the Latin origin “Romanicus,” meaning “of the Roman style.” The connecting notion is that European medieval vernacular tales were usually about chivalric adventure, not combining the idea of love until late into the seventeenth century.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci – she teases but won’t put out

So until the 1600s ‘romance’ had nothing to do with love but had everything to do with adventure? But where does that leave the concepts of courtly love as laid down in the 12th century in De Arte Honeste Amandi by Andreas Capellanus. The idea of courtly love – that of a true knight for a lady immeasurably his superior – was been taken as a blueprint for how a loving relationship should be initiated, conducted and consummated, along in Capellanus’ work consummation was never the aim.

The most ennobling love is generally secret (i.e., not public), extremely difficult to obtain and unconsummated, serving as a means for inspiring men to great deeds.

It seemed to work at the time but it’s not particularly satisfying by modern standards. I need a modern definition so for that I suppose I’d best go to the well-head again – the Romance Writers of America [there’s a UK branch but one might as well deal with head office]. Here is what they have to say about it:

Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally-satisfying and optimistic ending.
A Central Love Story: The main plot centers around individuals falling in love and struggling to make the relationship work. A writer can include as many subplots as he/she wants as long as the love story is the main focus of the novel.
An Emotionally-Satisfying and Optimistic Ending: In a romance, the lovers who risk and struggle for each other and their relationship are rewarded with emotional justice and unconditional love.

Ah. Okay then. I don’t write romance novels. My heroes always have other things on their minds and fit in love if they can. Also blind and unconditional love seems much less satisfying to me than love bestowed in the full knowledge that the loved one has many flaws and needs a firm hand to keep them in check.

The Game of Kings – where it starts.

However I do love a massive series of stories that manage to combine the essence of both the classic ideal of courtly love at least part of the RWAs guidelines.

The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett combine high romance with deliciously detailed historical settings, action sequences, humour, pathos, atrocity and a slow build love story [the heroine is 10 when the tale begins] that is heart in mouth angsty by the final volume.

It’s not at all your usual eyes meet across a crowded room to wedding bells in 150 pages type of story but ticks every possible box for me.

Who could forget the delicious Mikal, the Geomancer, in his purple silk ‘garment’. Or Jerrott Blythe. Or smart mouthed Danny Hislop. Or Turkey Matt.

Then there’s Ivan the Terrible. Mary Tudor. Suleiman the Magnificent. Nostradamus. John Dee. All the great personalities of the 16th century.

If you like your romance to arrive on horseback, cap a pied, sword in hand with a rapier wit and a devastating intellect, Francis Crawford of Lymond is the hero for you.

A blog hop wouldn’t be a blog hop without a giveaway and boy, oh boy, does Carrie Ann have a giveaway for you.

THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 100 times!

Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!

Anyhow, click on the picture at the top or the picture of the swag to get to Carrie Ann’s blog where all the action is or comment below and I’ll do a draw – the winner to recieve a copy of Alike As Two Bees, which is at least a little romantic even if it doesn’t entirely follow the RWA’s rules. Please note: the relationship is m/m and it’s not erotic.

To find more blogs to hop to click here.

Posted in Uncategorized | 40 Comments

40 Responses

on August 31, 2012 at 12:57 pm | Reply laurie g

wow…i learned something today! great blog..you really did your homework:)

parisfan_ca@yahoo.com
on August 31, 2012 at 3:25 pm | Reply Paula Martin

Interesting post, Elin. I think the best romances aren’t ‘blind and unconditional love’ but the development of a loving relationship between two people whio know and accept each other’s flaws and weaknesses, as well as each other’s strengths.
on August 31, 2012 at 9:42 pm | Reply Jbst

I have to admit that I like HEA endings. Thanks for a chance to win your book.
on August 31, 2012 at 9:43 pm | Reply Jbst

Sorry forgot my email…. strive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com.
on August 31, 2012 at 10:36 pm | Reply Delphina

What a fun hop! delphinareadstoomuch at yahoo

I hope I win. My mom mentioned wanting Alike as Bees the other day when we were talking books.
on August 31, 2012 at 10:40 pm | Reply Shannon

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter

fencingromein at hotmail dot com
on September 1, 2012 at 8:13 am | Reply Stevie Carroll

I much prefer your definition there, and it’s a lot closer to what I write too.
on September 1, 2012 at 12:29 pm | Reply Sharon Clare

The more conflicts between a hero and heroine the better in my opinion. I like wondering how these two will ever overcome their problems to be together.

sclare(at)sharonclare(dot)com
on September 1, 2012 at 2:46 pm | Reply Liv Rancourt

I think the stereotype of a romance novel is closer to the ideas that were behind courtly love (helpless damsel awaiting rescue by brave knight), but the actuality if much more varied. Thanks for the thought-provoking post.
livrancourt (at)yahoo(dot)com
on September 1, 2012 at 4:22 pm | Reply gaele

I don’t think that Anne of Green Gables or Laura Ingalls Wilder were particularly “romantic” but both had their romance elements … that’s what makes it fun

Thanks for sharing and hosting

glhince@gmail.com
on September 1, 2012 at 10:09 pm | Reply JeanMP

A very interesting post. I enjoy reading books where the characters stumble into love, kind of work it in around everything else in their life. Makes for a different type of story.
skpetal at hotmail dot com
on September 1, 2012 at 10:47 pm | Reply KittyB78

Thanks for participating in the hop and giving us all a chance to win.
bidelia78@yahoo.com
on September 1, 2012 at 11:49 pm | Reply JanD

I think all works have romance in them but it may not meet the RWA
definition. The modern romance novels are just being specific in their approach which is why it’s my go to fiction.

bituin76 AT hotmail DOT com
on September 2, 2012 at 1:56 am | Reply Jesse Kimmel-Freeman

I love the picture you use, the beautiful woman without merci… LOL. So true in dealing with romance.
Jesse
jesse.kimmelfreeman@gmail.com
on September 2, 2012 at 2:17 am | Reply Foretta Byles

Great post!!! I love romance books but they must have HEA’s! My favorite are series because I love seeing the characters again in other books!!

thanks for the contest!!
forettarose@yahoo.com
on September 2, 2012 at 4:33 am | Reply Teresa Cypher

Great post, Elin. I was surprised by this: “An Emotionally-Satisfying and Optimistic Ending:” Yegads… I don’t write romances either. Unless I can use that archaic definition about adventure 😉
on September 2, 2012 at 5:25 pm | Reply Cassandra

Thanks for the awesome and amazing giveaway! cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com
on September 2, 2012 at 5:50 pm | Reply Lisa Walker

Thanks so much for the great post! I love the happy endings in romance!
sqwalker2@hotmail.com
on September 2, 2012 at 7:24 pm | Reply Veronika

Love your blog! Thanks for participating in the giveaway hop!
verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com
on September 2, 2012 at 7:33 pm | Reply Crystal Craig

Thanks for the lesson on Romance, haha. I’d never really thought about the history of it that much, but I do like historical romances anyway. It’s neat to think that romance had nothing to do with love at first. 🙂 Thank you for the giveaway and for the awesome post!

craigcrystal(at)ymail(dot)com
on September 2, 2012 at 7:48 pm | Reply kaylynd

Great post. Rules are made to be broken. Thank you for the giveaway.
kaylyndavis1986@yahoo.com
on September 2, 2012 at 10:56 pm | Reply Kelly R

Thank you so much for your post…And thank you for the chance to win..

ronnkelly3@aol.com
on September 2, 2012 at 11:03 pm | Reply Patti C

Thanks for participating! Really like the hop so far!! I love reading, especially romance. I love reading contemporary, historical and erotic romance. I love the happy ending that is garenteed at the end. My favorite book is Lover Mine by JR Ward! I love John Matthew and Xhex. My favorite romantic moment was when my fiancé asked me to marry him! We meant two years ago right around when summer was ending when my friend and I went out for our last big night out before classes started again. I think it is romantic when he brings me flowers because no one else has ever done it! Thanks so much! Hope everyone else is having a great long weekend!!

prettyunicorn78@yahoo.com
on September 3, 2012 at 12:11 am | Reply tanna4abak

What a great hop! Grand prizes, old friends to visit and new ones to meet… and chances to win at each stop too. I’m in Blog heaven! :-}

I’m a sucker for the HEA. All my favorite authors give me a great story line, characters I can identify with, HOT love scenes and a perfect HEA!

Thanks for being part of the hop and for the chance to win.
reneebennett35(at)yahoo(dot)com
on September 3, 2012 at 12:16 am | Reply Shadow

Thanks for the awesome hop and giveaways! This is so much fun! Thank you! My favorite thing about romance is the romance. lol I love the characters, the plots, the HEA’s, the love. I love it all!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
on September 3, 2012 at 12:42 am | Reply Krystal Shannan (@KrystalShannan)

Thanks for sharing. Love the blog, great hop!
krystalshannan@yahoo(dot)com
on September 3, 2012 at 3:19 am | Reply Elizabeth Haney

Love to read romance books because I like to know that at least someone is getting an HEA, even if the characters are only fiction! Thanks for joining the hop and the awesome giveaway!
ehaney578 at aol dot com
on September 3, 2012 at 4:09 am | Reply bn100

Nice post.
Thanks for the giveaway.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
on September 3, 2012 at 4:14 am | Reply Kim D

Thanks tons for the hop! I only read romance. My fav is Lora Leigh! Going to parade Monday with brothers and sisters! Should be FUN!
swkimbell@yahoo.com
on September 3, 2012 at 4:47 am | Reply donnas1

Thanks for being in the hop!

bacchus76 at myself dot com
on September 3, 2012 at 7:08 am | Reply Qwillia

For me, romance is all about the trust and respect built between the characters. Since I write BDSM, these elements are very important.
Thank you for participating in the blog hop!
qwilliarain(at)gmail(dot)com
on September 3, 2012 at 12:43 pm | Reply Tracey D

I love the chase and the HEA.

I have added your book to my must have list; I can’t wait to read it.

Thanks,
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
on September 3, 2012 at 4:31 pm | Reply Melissa Bourn (@MelCamino5)

I love romance because I get to fall in love over and over. Just such a wonderful feeling.
Mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
on September 3, 2012 at 5:24 pm | Reply Michelle Bledsoe

I think romance is defined differently by different people. I like all the definitions though.
It’s knowing that there will be a happy ending that keeps me reading romance book.
Thanks for joining the hop.

koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
on September 3, 2012 at 8:34 pm | Reply Yazmin Rangel

I love the HEA.
Thank you for being part of the blog hop. 🙂

yazmin.z.rangel(at)gmail(dot)com
on September 3, 2012 at 9:29 pm | Reply latishajean

Thank you for the great giveaway and fun blog hop!
tishajean@ charter.net
on September 3, 2012 at 10:17 pm | Reply Sherry S.

I have to have either a HEA or a HFN ending. Thanks for the giveaway.
sstrode at scrtc dot com
on September 4, 2012 at 1:51 am | Reply Monica

I’m enjoying the hop and being introduced to authors I’m unfamiliar with. And also the prizes are great!
mcv111 at hotmail dot com
on September 4, 2012 at 3:00 am | Reply Sarah Kalaitzidis

Thanks for the great giveaway!!
red_tigergirl2(at)hotmail(dot)com
on September 4, 2012 at 4:40 am | Reply Jessica B

Thanks for being a part of the hop. I hope that you had a great Labor day weekend!
jessangil at gmail dot com