After decades of feminism and deconstruction, romance remains firmly in place as a central preoccupation in the lives of most women. Divorce rates skyrocket, the traditional family is challenged from all sides, and yet romance seems indestructible. In terms of its cultural representation, the popularity of romance also appears unchallenged. Popular fiction, Hollywood cinema, television soap-operas, and the media in general all display a seemingly bottomless appetite for romantic subjects. The trappings of classic romance—white weddings, love songs, Valentine's Day--are as commercially viable as ever. In this anthology of original essays, romance is revisited from a wide spectrum of perspectives, not just in fiction and film but in a whole range of cultural phenomena. Essays range over such issues as Valentine's Day, interracial relationships, medieval erotic visions and modern romance fiction, the relationship between the lesbian poet H.D. and Bryher, the pervasive whiteness of romantic desire, lesbian erotica in the age of AIDS, and the public romance of Charles and Diana.

Romance Writing explores the changing nature of both the romance genre and the discourse of romantic love from the seventeenth century to the present day. Indeed, it is one of the first studies to approach romantic love as both genre and discourse in more than sixty years. Faced with the challenge of writing a cultural history for what is commonly understood to be one of lifes most universal, a-historical and cross-cultural phenomena, Lynne Pearce has invoked the concept of the gift to calculate loves added value at different cultural/historical moments. Building upon those philosophical traditions which have argued for the powerfully transformative nature of romantic love, Pearce shows how in the history of literature lovers have utilized its spark to change not only themselves, but also their worlds, through acts of creativity and heroism. The gift of love ranges from the simple gift of a name in the seventeenth century, through notions of immortality, self-sacrifice and selfhood in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, through to the liberating temporal and spatial dislocations of the postmodern age. The opening chapter, The Alchemy of Love, also undertakes an in-depth engagement of the changing nature, and meaning, of romantic love. Providing a judicious blend of close reading and cultural history, Romance Writing will be essential reading for undergraduate students as well as postgraduates and scholars working in the field, while also offering much of interest to the general reader.

Inspired by women's clothing, lingerie, and accessories from the 1900's to 1930's, A Handknit Romance offers designs that are intricate and exquisite. Step back in time with techniques including pin-tucks, picot trims, crochet edges, lace beading, and embroidery that convey modest and flirty classic fitted patterns using a range of lace, superfine, fine, and light yarn weights. Attention to detail is demonstrated throughout and the result is a collection of unique, precious garments that reflect today's vogue for vintage-inspired fashion. Rowan designer Jennie Atkinson offers beautiful projects that range from small accessories to full-size garments and suit beginner and seasoned knitters alike. Along with a fresh assortment of beautiful garments and accessories, you'll find advice on yarn substitutions as well as tips on how the patterns can be customized to fit all sizes. A Handknit Romance is the ideal design book for knitters who embrace creativity and the want to produce truly unique pieces

Rose Scarlet is your everyday girl just finishing college with her best friends Will & Aimee. But when she suddenly moves all the way across the country to a small town called Beacon Hill, normal was a thing of the past, for the city felt eerily familiar to her. How could she end up at the local park without directions when this was the first time she had step foot into town? How will she explain her irrational fears or feelings so strong for someone who is practically a stranger or is he? What was the story behind the burnt house? She felt like her heart wanted to cry every time she was near it. And who was Alexander Sinclair? She could see that he was disturbingly beautiful, but how did she know things he had revealed to no one? Why had she seen his face in her dreams before ever laying eyes on him? A thousand more questions haunted her as she found the answers to none. Not until charming and handsome Nathan Sinclair walks into her life, whom she hated on sight. Sometimes when something we love is so brutally taken away from us, our soul remembers what our mind is too afraid to.

Popular romance fiction constitutes the largest segment of the global book market. Bringing together an international group of scholars, The Routledge Research Companion to Popular Romance Fiction offers a ground-breaking exploration of this global genre and its remarkable readership. In recognition of the diversity of the form, the Companion provides a history of the genre, an overview of disciplinary approaches to studying romance fiction, and critical analyses of important subgenres, themes, and topics. It also highlights new and understudied avenues of inquiry for future research in this vibrant and still-emerging field. The first systematic, comprehensive resource on romance fiction, this Companion will be invaluable to students and scholars, and accessible to romance readers.

This unique, timely book of original essays sets the stage for a new materialist feminist debate on the analysis, ethics and politics of love. The contributors raise questions about social power and domination, situating their research in a materialist feminist perspective that investigates love historically, in order to understand changing ideologies, representations and practices. The essays range from studies of particular representations and examples of love - feminist translation, mass media images and internet love blogs - to feminist theories of love and marriage, to ethical and political theories describing, critiquing or advocating the use of love in groups as a radical force. They break new ground in bringing together questions of gendered interests in love, temporal dimensions of loving practices and the politics of love in radical transformations of society.

Are you an academic/career advisor, teacher, or subject librarian? You need to master yourself as to why study romance BEFORE you offer your advice to your students. It takes three minutes to read this book description. This will be the best three minutes you will spend reading anything today. It’s because... the information supplied in this peer-reviewed book is extremely powerful. This book, co-authored by over 20 top professors, gives you the ability and confidence to make an informed major/career choice. * So, you need to explain what your students can do with a major in Romance? * Your students don’t know what the research issues and scholarship opportunities are in Romance? * Your students are confused about the career options in Romance? Don’t worry. We know your students expect you to be interdisciplinary, but that’s why we have co-authored this book to help you.\ Save Your Student's Time and Their Parents’ Money in Extra Tuition How open-minded are you about receiving expert career advice consulting from the top Romance professors? Remember - for your students' career success, it doesn't matter what they study, it matters WHY they study. Make no mistake; this book is NOT about boring theories. We have introduced this book to change your students' superficial perceptions about Romance. Why get your students spend semesters after semester figuring it out when this detailed and helpful book can streamline the process for you in just a couple of hours? Save their time and their parents’ money in extra tuition. Who Says Romance Is Not for Your Students? It’s now time to hear what the top experts in Romance have to say. All you need to do is give this book a try, and see it yourself if provides in-depth knowledge as to why study Romance so you can confidently say Romance is for your students. We are sure your own perspectives about Romance will significantly change once you read our expert and honest advice. We Promise You Won’t Be Disappointed There are two types of people in this world: those who listen to all those dream-stealers and offer career/academic advice based on impulse and emotions, and those who are prepared to do their own research (and help make an informed career decision). The good news is we have done this research for you. So what is the harm in reading our expert advice & insights and confidently help the students choose Romance as their major/career path? If you decide to give this book a try, then we promise you won’t be disappointed. We repeat – this is the only career guide for the academic/career advisors, teachers, and subject librarians in Romance you will ever need. You Need Help to Help Your Students Make the Right Decision Take this book as an investment in your advising/counseling career. You need help to help your students make the right decision with complete confidence about their major/career which will impact the next 40 years of their life. Take charge of your career in Academic/Career Advising in Romance with just 1-Click at the top of this page.