The term ‘Romance’ was basically used to describe popular medieval literature in the vernacular languages like French, Spanish, English and German. The history of the romance genre is centuries old.

The beginning of the romance novels
Romance as a genre had its beginnings in the verse of performance ballads. The genre dealt generally with three traditional themes – King Arthur, Charlemagne and Roland, and the life of Alexander the Great. The depictions  of romance was usually depicted through magic, dragons, knights, quests, heroic deeds, spells, wizards, witches and many such characters.

The heroes were courteous, seeking adventure and fighting and killing various monsters to win their lady’s affections. Medieval romances were primarily tales of adventure. In medieval society the males were treated as superiors so these novels also had the male leadership.

However in the 17th century romance genre disappeared and people started writing about more realistic things like empirical thoughts, rationalism and theology.

Further development of romance
In the 18th century the romance genre again became famous. With urbanization, romance genre also started developing and blossoming. It also gained many new heights during this century. As the Romantic Period dawned, the focus was more on courtly love and on a relationship which ultimately ended in marriage. Many writers experimented with stories told from the heroine’s viewpoint.

One of the greatest writer of all times, Jane Austin stared writing about gentrified ladies and females of a lower class. She wrote “Pride and Prejudice” which is the best romantic novel ever. In all her works, the reader laments with the heroine as she struggles to reconcile her love with the demands society make upon her.

Victorian Adaptation of the Romance Genre
Outsiders were again utilized in romantic literature of the Victorian period. In a time of outwardly displayed moral values, double standards and writers’ preoccupation with the social condition of the lower classes, writers portrayed a deeper, darker side to love. The main writers of this period were Emily Bronte and Charlotte Bronte who wrote Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights respectively.

The Bronte’s romances, however, also suggests a female quest for freedom and independence, epitomized by the later suffragette movement. With the emancipation of women came the more liberated romance novels. Women were given more freedom and independence.

Division of romantic genre
In the 19th century the romantic genre was divided into two main parts. First was the Gothic romance which explored some of the mystical or mysterious anxieties of the human kind. This type of romance was full of symbolism which much liked by the people. Another part of this genre was the historical romance. In this genre the past was brought on the forefront to tell great tales of romance.

There is no other genre of writing that is able to provoke so much emotion other than romance. Romance writings are liked by numerous people all around the world. The romance genre has stood the test of time and, nothing can replace it. The books written in romance genre are the best way to influence people and provoke feelings and desires of love and even affection all around the world.

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