'The song of the pen' : popular Romantic literature 1839-1889
Nineteenth-century entrepreneurial publishers exploited the opportunity presented by lower print production costs and higher rates of literacy to produce a proliferation of cheap romantic fiction in the form of penny-a-part novels, fiction-carrying penny periodicals and penny novelettes. Some of these had vast circulations, and it is possible that as many as half of all working-class women regularly read romance stories. The content of penny romance stories published between 1839 and 1889 has been little studied. Cultural historians have successfully used âqualityâ literature to understand the social, moral and intellectual attitudes of a given period or group, recognising that it can both reflect, as well as reinforce, a culture. This thesis takes the same approach with this popular literature. Nineteenth-century penny romantic stories are formulaic. They have common themes and plotlines: in a usual story the heroine becomes separated from her family or is orphaned and is without the âprotectionâ of a parent or older relative. She meets a hero, but she faces many trials and dilemmas before they can be united. Her most important role is to protect her virtue and reputation. Those who behave appropriately
Deedman, Cheryl
'The song of the pen' : popular Romantic literature 1839-1889. Nineteenth-century entrepreneurial publishers exploited the opportunity presented by lower print production costs and higher rates of literacy to produce a proliferation of cheap romantic fiction in the form of penny-a-part novels, fiction-carrying penny periodicals and penny novelettes. Some of these had vast circulations, and it is possible that as many as half of all working-class women regularly read romance stories. The content of penny romance stories published between 1839 and 1889 has been little studied. Cultural historians have successfully used âqualityâ literature to understand the social, moral and intellectual attitudes of a given period or group, recognising that it can both reflect, as well as reinforce, a culture. This thesis takes the same approach with this popular literature. Nineteenth-century penny romantic stories are formulaic. They have common themes and plotlines: in a usual story the heroine becomes separated from her family or is orphaned and is without the âprotectionâ of a parent or older relative. She meets a hero, but she faces many trials and dilemmas before they can be united. Her most important role is to protect her virtue and reputation. Those who behave appropriately
the song pen popular romantic literature nineteenth_century entrepreneurial publisher exploit opportunity_present low print production cost high_rate literacy produce proliferation cheap romantic fiction form part novel fiction periodical vast circulation possible working_class woman regularly read romance story content romance story publish little_studied cultural historian successfully use quality literature social moral intellectual attitude give period group recognise reflect well reinforce culture take popular literature romantic story formulaic common_theme usual story heroine become separate family without protection parent old relative meet hero face many trial dilemmas united important_role protect virtue reputation behave appropriately