A Companion to Romance: From Classical to Contemporary (Blackwell Companions to Literature and Culture)

Romance is a varied and fluid literary genre, notoriously difficult to define. This groundbreaking __Companion__ surveys the many permutations of romance throughout the ages. * Considers the literary and historical development of the romance genre from its classical origins to the present day * Incorporates discussion of the changing readership of romance and of romance’s special relation to women readers * Comprises 30 essays written by leading authorities on different periods and sub-genres * Challenges the idea that the appeal of romance is exclusively escapist * Draws on a wide range of specific and influential literary examples Content: Chapter 1 Ancient Romance (pages 10–25): Elizabeth ArchibaldChapter 2 Insular Beginnings: Anglo?Norman Romance (pages 26–44): Judith WeissChapter 3 The Popular English Metrical Romances (pages 45–62): Derek BrewerChapter 4 Arthurian Romance (pages 65–83): W. R. J. BarronChapter 5 Chaucer's Romances (pages 85–103): Corinne SaundersChapter 6 Malory and the Early Prose Romances (pages 104–120): Helen CooperChapter 7 Gendering Prose Romance in Renaissance England (pages 121–139): Lori Humphrey NewcombChapter 8 Sidney and Spenser (pages 140–158): Andrew KingChapter 9 Shakespeare's Romances (pages 160–176): David FullerChapter 10 Chapbooks and Penny Histories (pages 177–196): John SimonsChapter 11 Nietzsche and Cosmology (pages 189–207): John SimonsChapter 12 “Gothic” Romance: Its Origins and Cultural Functions (pages 216–232): Jerrold E. HogleChapter 13 Women's Gothic Romance: Writers, Readers, and the Pleasures of the Form (pages 233–250): Lisa VargoChapter 14 Paradise and Cotton?mill: Rereading Eighteenth?century Romance (pages 251–268): Clive ProbynChapter 15 “Inconsistent Rhapsodies”: Samuel Richardson and the Politics of Romance (pages 269–286): Fiona PriceChapter 16 Romance and the Romantic Novel: Sir Walter Scott (pages 287–304): Fiona RobertsonChapter 17 Poetry of the Romantic Period: Coleridge and Keats (pages 305–320): Michael O'NeillChapter 18 Victorian Romance: Tennyson (pages 321–340): Leonee OrmondChapter 19 Victorian Romance: Medievalism (pages 341–359): Richard CroninChapter 20 Romance and Victorian Autobiography: Margaret Oliphant, Edmund Gosse, and John Ruskin's “needle to the north” (pages 360–374): Francis O'GormanChapter 21 Victorian Romance: Romance and Mystery (pages 375–388): Andrew SandersChapter 22 Nineteenth?century Adventure and Fantasy: James Morier, George Meredith, Lewis Carroll, and Robert Louis Stevenson (pages 389–405): Robert FraserChapter 23 Into the Twentieth Century: Imperial Romance from Haggard to Buchan (pages 406–423): Susan JonesChapter 24 America and Romance (pages 424–436): Ulrika MaudeChapter 25 Myth, Legend, and Romance in Yeats, Pound, and Eliot (pages 438–453): Edward LarrissyChapter 26 Twentieth?century Arthurian Romance (pages 454–471): Raymond H. ThompsonChapter 27 Romance in Fantasy through the Twentieth Century (pages 472–487): Richard MathewsChapter 28 Quest Romance in Science Fiction (pages 488–501): Kathryn HumeChapter 29 Between Worlds: Iris Murdoch, A. S. Byatt, and Romance (pages 502–520): Clare MorganChapter 30 Popular Romance and its Readers (pages 521–538): Lynne Pearce This Companion Surveys The Many Permutations Of Romance Throughout The Ages. Comprising 30 Essays Written By Leading Authorities In The Field, It Considers The Historical And Literary Development Of The Genre From Its Classical Origins To The Present Day. The Focus Is On English Literature, Although This Is Placed Within The Larger Context Of Perceptions Of Romance. The Book Incorporates Discussion Of The Changing Readership Of Romance, Particularly Romance's Special Relation To Women Readers. It Challenges The Idea That The Appeal Of Romance Is Exclusively Escapist, Drawing On A Wide Range Of Specific And Influential Literary Examples. The Companion Is Suitable For General Readers And For Those Beginning Their Study Of Literature, As Well As For Readers Seeking More Specialized Information On The Issue Of Romance Or On The Individual Types Of Writing, Writers, And Works Considered.--jacket. Ancient Romance / Elizabeth Archibald -- Insular Beginnings : Anglo-norman Romance / Judith Weiss -- The Popular English Metrical Romances / Derek Brewer -- Arthurian Romance / W.r.j. Barron -- Chaucer's Romances / Corinne Saunders -- Malory And The Early Prose Romances / Helen Cooper -- Gendering Prose Romance In Renaissance England / Lori Humphrey-newcomb -- Sidney And Spenser / Andrew King -- Shakespeare's Romances / David Fuller -- Chapbooks And Penny Histories / John Simons -- The Faerie Queene And Eighteenth-century Spenserianism / David Fairer -- 'gothic' Romance : Its Origins And Cultural Functions / Jerrold E. Hogle -- Women's Gothic Romance : Writers, Readers, And The Pleasures Of The Form / Lisa Vargo -- Paradise And Cotton-mill : Re-reading Eighteenth-century Romance / Clive Probyn -- Inconsistent Rhapsodies : Samuel Richardson And The Politics Of Romance / Fiona Price -- Romance And The Romantic Novel : Sir Walter Scott / Fiona Robertson -- Poetry Of The Romantic Period : Coleridge And Keats -- Michael O'neill -- Victorian Romance : Tennyson / Leonée Ormond -- Victorian Romance / Richard Cronin -- Romance And Victorian Autobiography : Magaret Oliphant, Edmund Grosse And John Ruskin's 'needle To The North' / Francis O'gorman -- Victorian Romance : Romance And Mystery / Andrew Sanders -- Nineteenth-century Adventure And Fantasy : James Morier, George Meredith, Lewis Carroll And Robert Louis Stevenson / Robert Fraser -- Into The Twentieth-century : Imperial Romance From Haggard To Buchan / Susan Jones -- America And Romance / Ulrika Maude -- Myth, Legend And Romance In Yeats, Pound, And Eliot / Edward Larrissy -- Twentieth-century Arthurian Romance / Raymond H. Thompson -- Romance In Fantasy Through The Twentieth Century / Richard Mathews -- Quest Romance In Science Fiction / Kathryn Hume -- Between Worlds : Iris Murdoch, A.s. Byatt And Romance / Clare Morgan -- Popular Romance And Its Readers / Lynne Pearce. Edited By Corinne J. Saunders. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Romance is a varied and fluid literary genre, notoriously difficult to define. This groundbreaking Companion surveys the many permutations of romance throughout the ages. Comprising 30 essays written by leading authorities in the field, it considers the historical and literary development of the genre from its classical origins to the present day. The focus is on English literature, although this is placed within the larger context of perceptions of romance. The book incorporates discussion of the changing readership of romance, particularly romance's special relation to women readers. It challenges the idea that the appeal of romance is exclusively escapist, drawing on a wide range of specific and influential literary examples.The Companion is suitable for general readers and for those beginning their study of literature, as well as for readers seeking more specialized information on the issue of romance or on the individual types of writing, writers, and works considered. "This Companion surveys the many permutations of romance throughout the ages. Comprising 30 essays written by leading authorities in the field, it considers the historical and literary development of the genre from its classical origins to the present day. The focus is on English literature, although this is placed within the larger context of perceptions of romance. The book incorporates discussion of the changing readership of romance, particularly romance's special relation to women readers. It challenges the idea that the appeal of romance is exclusively escapist, drawing on a wide range of specific and influential literary examples." "The Companion is suitable for general readers and for those beginning their study of literature, as well as for readers seeking more specialized information on the issue of romance or on the individual types of writing, writers, and works considered."--Résumé de l'éditeur

Romance is a varied and fluid literary genre, notoriously difficult to define. This groundbreaking Companion surveys the many permutations of romance throughout the ages.

• Considers the literary and historical development of the romance genre from its classical origins to the present day
  
• Incorporates discussion of the changing readership of romance and of romance's special relation to women readers
  
• Comprises 30 essays written by leading authorities on different periods and sub-genres
  
• Challenges the idea that the appeal of romance is exclusively escapist
  
• Draws on a wide range of specific and influential literary examples

romance Is A Varied And Fluid Literary Genre, Notoriously Difficult To Define. This Groundbreaking companion Surveys The Many Permutations Of Romance Throughout The Ages.

• considers The Literary And Historical Development Of The Romance Genre From Its Classical Origins To The Present Day
  
• incorporates Discussion Of The Changing Readership Of Romance And Of Romance’s Special Relation To Women Readers
  
• comprises 30 Essays Written By Leading Authorities On Different Periods And Sub-genres
  
• challenges The Idea That The Appeal Of Romance Is Exclusively Escapist
  
• draws On A Wide Range Of Specific And Influential Literary Examples

In the case of ancient romance, the usual difficulties of defining and discussing the literary genre are compounded by the fact that there is no word for it in either Greek or Latin in the classical period (in Byzantine Greek, interestingly, the word for prose fiction was drama).