CHANGES IN HISTORICAL ROMANCE, 1890S TO THE 1980S: THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENRE FROM STANLEY WEYMAN TO GEORGETTE HEYER AND HER SUCCESSORS

By the end of the nineteenth century a sub-genre of historical fiction which may be termed historical romance was established, characterized by a union of romantic plots of love and adventure with a historical setting. The wide popularity of this genre, and the changes in readership and focus which occurred during the twentieth century make it of particular interest to students of popular fiction, since it demonstrates well some of the ways in which such fiction relates to its audience.

The form of the books has changed since the beginning of the century from more complex structures containing some original material to simpler, "lisible" texts made up almost entirely of the stereotyped situations of historical romance and inviting easy reader identification. The situations themselves have been characteristic of the genre throughout the period. Changes include a swing from adventurous missions to stories of personal dangers and revenges and, as the readership became increasingly a female one, to matters of specifically feminine interest. Following this change, the readership also changed from middle- or lower middle-class to predominantly working class.

Such changes raise the question of whether historical romance has changed in function. Analysis of texts by a range of authors from the beginning of the century to the nineteen-eighties shows the following points. First, the genre has reflected changes in interest and attitude in the groups from which the readership has been drawn which can be identified through other sources. Secondly, explicitly political models of society gave place to escapist fantasy which, however, remained "utopian" in function, as a symbolic presentation of the hopes and fears of the readers. Finally, all the books contain contradictions which highlight their ideological nature; whatever ideal society the books may propose, the stories celebrate an individualistic, competitive society, which alone can provide the rewards which fuel the reader's vicarious pleasure.