European Historicals V American Historicals… What’s Your Preference?
Monday, February 26, 2007Posted in: Westerns Rule
As a Brit, I’m not too keen on reading romance novels based in England, Scotland, or God forbid, Wales, but I do have a few authors who I make an exception for.
I only really started reading hystericals a couple of years ago, but I knew right off that anything based in England would usually end up with me gagging in disgust. Most of time anyway.
I love Lisa Kleypas’ books, but she writes hot, and I’m all about those hot books. One of my guilty pleasures, are the seriously one-dimensional Cheryl Holt books, but that’s because she uses rude words in her stories, and I like her slutty slappers heroines.
I like Julie Garwood because she’s a damn fine writer, period, Kinsale isn’t too bad either, although I have to say, her books usually take more concentration than I like to expend, whilst reading.
Judith Ivory’s Beast, was an amazing book, but let’s face it, any story where the hero is as imperfect as Charles Harcourt was, is bound to be an attention grabber. I like romance books that dare to be different, Skeeving me out with dragon sex doesn’t count, and Beast was certainly different.
I’ve got another of Ivory’s books on my TBR, fuck knows when I’ll get round to reading it, but Sleeping Beauty, seemed like a good read, so I’m sure I’ll read it at some point this year.
I can take or leave Gaelen Foley’s books, but I have to say, I do love her heroines. It’s a shame she’s such a hit and miss author for me.
I hear that Eloisa James is a pretty good writer, but I’ve never read any of her blurbs that inspired me to buy yet. The same goes with Teresa Medeiros.
I’m told that I’m missing out on loads of other good authors who write European historicals, but I’m not convinced about that. I don’t mind reading books about virgins, but I certainly don’t want a steady diet of them, and I know that historicals by their very nature will have a virgin heroine, more often than not.
I just can’t bear the weak-assed, lily-livered heroines that authors such as Catherine Coulter insist on writing about. Blech.
On the other hand, I find that I’m quite partial to western historicals. I realise that in recent years, they seem to have been going the way of regencies, but quite honestly, I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve read.
Authors like Catherine Anderson have made westerns a joy for me to read, and of course I can’t mention westerns without pimping my main biatch Sarah McCarty.
I enjoyed Maureen Mckade’s A Reason To Live, although I must admit, it took me longer than usual to read it.
I think the reason I prefer American historicals over European historicals is because as a ‘European’ I’m not interested in reading the English language of old, get horribly mangled by authors who haven’t done their research properly, and litter their books with stereotypical Anglo Saxon or Gaelic phrases, which a lot of the time, bare no resemblance to the original language.
The other reason that I prefer American historicals, is because, it’s so far removed to anything I’ve ever experienced. Quite frankly, I find the civil war period a lot more interesting than anything that happened during the Tudor era. This is probably a black thing, but I’m not very interested in the taming of the duke, or the runaway duchess. I tolerate The Ton in Kleypas’ books, because she’s a good writer.
I’ve always wondered why European historicals seem to be more popular than American historicals. Are the reasons similar to mine, in that you guys want settings that you’re not familiar with?
Kristie (J)
February 25
8:39 pm
It’s a big mystery to me too why European Historicals are so much more popular. I started out reading them, but if I had my choice, I’d read an American set Historical anytime. For me, European are way too much same old, same old. Yawn, yeah another duke/earl/marquis etc – big deal. I much prefer the rawness of American set books. But alas, you, me and others are in the minority.
Kat O+
February 25
10:21 pm
I love the frivolity of European historicals. That they’re usually light and fluffy is what I enjoy about them. I love reading about the restraint that characters have to show in public while they can’t keep their hands off in private. I don’t quite find ruggedness romantic – I always feel like any day after the HEA, some bandits can just come along and shoot the hero. For the same reason, medievals don’t do much for me. Not to say I haven’t read stories that I’ve loved…I just don’t go out of my way to look for them.
You didn’t mention Loretta Chase. I loved Mr Impossible and that was set in Egypt. And you haven’t mentioned the Bridgertons. I found the first four books really good (if a trifle silly). EJ is my favourite. Even when her plots disintegrate, her writing engages me. Then again, my favourite of hers is Enchanted Pleasures, and most reviews I’ve read of it haven’t exactly been thrilling. Judith Ivory I’ve admired on an intellectual level, but I find I can’t get emotionally attached to her characters. Maybe because they’re not frivolous!
I agree, though, that if the language used irks me, I’ll have a hard time reading anything more by the author. It’s happened many, many times. And your radar for that kind of thing is, I’m sure, a lot more sensitive than mine.
My pet peeve, however, is any historical that attempts to recreate the Scotting brogue. Urgh! Urgh, urgh, urgh! Or any dialect, for that matter. There’s very rarely a good reason for doing this and this post by Rosina Lippi pretty much encapsulates what I dislike about the practice.
Ann(ie)
February 25
11:15 pm
I like my historicals to offer something different, which is why I loved Flowers from the Storm and Seize the Fire.
If you dig Judith Ivory, check out her two books she released as Judy Cuevas (think that’s her real name). One is Bliss, I forget the other. They’re both very different and with a unique setting / time period. I get tired of the same old shite.
I want some turn of the century romances. I like Brenda Joyce’s stuff in late 19th c NY for instance.
Shelly
February 26
1:20 am
I don’t read many historicals at all. But when I do, I completely skip over England and France and will buy ones set in Ireland, Scotland, or Wales. I also LOVE pirate historicals set in the islands. I’ll read American historicals but I don’t get into Westerns much. I’ll read almost anything set around the civil war in the South.
I go through periods of glomming certain genres but its been about 2 years since I glommed any historicals. And I’m certainly not familiar with them enough to have favorite authors in the genre.
rozlips
February 26
4:19 am
I wonder what it’ll take to get Garwood back to writing historicals? When she stopped writing them I stopped reading them, its too damned depressing. I like both American and European historicals. I love medieval, but am not too crazy about Regency, though it can be fun sometimes. American history is probably my fave as long as its not about the Civil War. I absolutely abhor those.
Dawn
February 26
10:43 am
I quite enjoy reading historicals, and I find that I don’t enjoy the European one so much as others. I only ever read one Barbara Cartland, and that was only because the company that Mum worked for did the typesetting (that’s obviously going back a few years!). Gack! What utter tripe and now when I watch the Little Britain sketches about the Barbara Cartland type author, I always wet my pants laughing!
Merline Lovelace who writes for Intimate Moments, also does hystericals. I’ve read a couple, one set in Athens and Sparta and the other was set in Ancient Egypt, both excellent stories and well researched.
Otherwise, some of my fave historicals are by Sarah McCarty (of course) and Kathleen Woodiwiss, particularly The Wolf and The Dove which was set in Norman times.
Stacy~
February 26
12:12 pm
I love Kleypas, and recently read Chase’s “Lord of Scoundrels”, which I loved. I also just read, ahem (sorry), Guhrke’s “Guilty Pleasures” and was pleasantly surprised.
I have to say that I enjoy the English stories more than American stories because there is more of an exotic quality for me, vs. the westerns. Like Shelly, I would like to see other European- or even Asian-located historicals. There needs to be variety in the setting.
I do like some westerns, and I enjoyed LaVyrle Spencer’s version because they focused more on the relationship. And Sara McCarty tells really hot stories I can’t get enough of – Mac’s Law was my first and now I’m hooked.
But like any reader, I think we all want something different after awhile, and not the same old, same old.
Desiree Erotique
February 26
1:02 pm
I prefer European historicals. It might just be my perception, but when reading American ones it often seems that the author feels obligated to not only deliver a sexy romantic story but also throw in some understated political gist to the storyline; and I get enough politics in the paper and television.
Zeek
February 26
5:03 pm
I would guess the reason why we like to read European historical is the same as why you enjoy American. We’re so far removed from it- the fantasy works.
Have to laugh at the Holt comment. I feel quilty about reading an old lindsey in almost the same way. Except not for the slutty heroines- moreso because of the boorish men.
Kelypas is hit or miss and, anymore, there isn’t too many historicals set in England/UK I get excited about.
I miss Garwood’s old Historicals …
OH and Beast! Everytime I see that I think of Rachel on “Friends” when she attempted writing a romance novel- she has a problem with typos.
Now evertime I see “heaving breasts“- I read heaving “beasts”. HA!
Shiloh Walker
February 26
5:16 pm
I have to be in the mood for historicals and I don’t read many but when I do read them, I tend to prefer the colonial time period up to the civil war periods, or European historicals. Unless it’s something by Nan Ryan, I don’t care for western historicals. On the very rare occassion, a book with either a Native hero or heroine might catch my eye.
I don’t know why I have these preferences, but I do, and pretty much always have
Wendy
February 26
5:53 pm
I prefer American westerns because I’m more likely to get characters I want to read about. European historicals seem littered with chits whose only purpose in life is to get married and squirt out 100 babies. Yeah, yeah – time period and all that, but I just don’t want to read about these people.
For me, the problems people faced in the American west are more “real” (for lack of a better word). And frankly, I get tired of reading about snooty rich people. That’s one of the reasons I stick with Lisa Kleypas – she’s been known to throw in a commoner or two in her European historicals. Bless her heart.
Anonymous
February 27
12:49 am
Don’t read historicals any more. They are all written by Americans who have never set foot in Europe. Tend to be filled with glaring inaccuracies – London to Devon in half a day with horses being an example. Like you can do that now on the train. I’m all for fantasy in a story but if you are going to write something called historical romance then for goodness sake do some bloody research! Not just reading X historical romance writers book and taking what they wrote about the time period as fact. Then there is having the heroine from 1800s England speaking and acting like a Yank from 1990’s America. Why don’t they just write contemporary or even better fantasy romance and be done with it?
byrdloves2read
February 27
1:02 am
I rather enjoy all historicals but my favorites are Westerns. My family has a number of wonderful stories about early Texas so I hear echoes of them when I read Westerns, particularly those about Texas. And I love stories about mountain men. Fav historical authors are Sarah McCarty (natch), Maggie Osborne, Catherine Anderson, Lisa Kleypas, Julie Garwood. Kathleen Eagle writes fantastic stories with Native Americans but most are contemporary.
sybil
February 27
3:16 am
Julie Garwood’s next book is historical. I am pretty sure about that…
but too lazy to go check her site.
I love a good western. But I can dig a good regency too. I just wish we had more of a CHOICE.
Rosie
February 27
8:40 am
I like ’em all. I’ve never really stopped reading historicals American or European. When there isn’t anything in the bookstores I got to my bookshelves or TBR and read them.
Thanks to Wendy I’ve even found a few new western writers like Maureen McKade.
Sarah McCarty
February 27
2:46 pm
Oh Karen, *fanning away the tears like they do at all the best award ceremonies* I’m your main biotch? I don’t think I’ve ever been anyone’s main biotch before *happy sigh* Thank you.
And thank you everyone for listing my name as one of your faves. Makes for a very happy start for my day.
Sarah McCarty
February 27
2:47 pm
Rosie-
I forgot to thank you for the Maureen McKade suggestion. Really enjoying her work!
Sandra Schwab
February 27
7:30 pm
They are all written by Americans who have never set foot in Europe.
And one little German, who’s got both of her feet in Europe most of the time. *g*
I prefer European historicals, in particular those set in Britain. I’ve always loved British history, reading about Britain, visiting Britain, stuffing myself with Cadbury chocolate. (The only thing I absolutely detest is Marmite. And Turkish Delight.) I blame it all on Rosemary Sutcliff, who wrote wonderful historical novels for children and YAs.
If had to name an all-time favourite historical romance that would be Penelope Williamson’s KEEPER OF THE DREAM.
Sarah McCarty
February 27
11:16 pm
I think my all time favorite would also be by Penelope Williamson, but THE OUTSIDER. To the last sentence of the last page, I was so glad I didn’t have to make that decision.
Camilla
February 27
11:35 pm
It depends. I have a fondness for books set around a historical event or social issue, so for me, when picking up a historical that is you basic run of the mill Duke meets debutante plot, it has to reel me in with the writing.
I can’t proclaim that I love a certain setting over another because it boils down to how an author utilizes said setting(& characters), but I will instantly gravitate towards historicals set in 19th century NYC and San Francisco. But, in the meantime, I’ll write my own.
Eve Vaughn
February 28
12:15 am
Personally, I prefer European Historicals, Westerns aren’t really my cup of tea, nor are Civil amd Revolutionary War books and anything in between. Of course there are a few exceptions. Catherine Anderson did a few historicals and I loved them, particularly Annie’s Song and Simply Love. I also enjoyed Linda Howard’s Silver Creek, and a few Beverly Jenkins novels. But I love just about anything Regency or Medieval.
Kristie (J)
February 28
2:07 am
Sarah – have you seen the movie they made out of Penelope Williamson’s The Outsides? Lord have Mercy is that a good one!!!! My heart flutters at the thought of it – all tha luscious Tim Daly *shuddering in delight in rememberance* I don’t know how many times I’ve watched it. I drag friends over and make them watch it with me. Although it doesn’t include everything in the book and for some reason they changed names – it still follows the book very well, very well indeed. And did I mention Tim Daly as Johnny? *sigh*
Sarah McCarty
February 28
2:39 am
Kristie-
I didn’t know they made one!! Was it still called The Outsiders?
Kristie (J)
February 28
3:06 am
Sarah, Yes it’s called The Outsiders. And it even credits Penelope Williamson in the opening credits. It stars the yummy (yummy, yummy) Tim Daly as Johnny and Niaomi Watts as Rebecca (or Rachel – they changed names in the movie and I can’t remember which is which) It was on Lifetime a couple of years ago. I ordered my copy from Amazon. It has the most haunting musical score and Tim Daly has the most marvelous goatee. Except for the parts they cut out due to time I’m sure, it’s very faithful to the book. And then there is Tim Daly. You can just feeeeeelll the attraction between the two lead characters. That would be *um* Tim Daly and Niaomi Watts *g*
In fact I have two copies. A friend got me a previously viewed copy at a video store and then when I lost it, I ordered another copy – and then found the first one.
Tara Marie
February 28
4:04 pm
One of my guilty pleasures, are the seriously one-dimensional Cheryl Holt books, but that’s because she uses rude words in her stories, and I like her slutty slappers heroines.
OMG, I would totally agree with this if I could actually get past just how bad her writing is–I love her plots and story lines–LOL.
I love historicals, it’s like visiting another place and time, but if I’m reading an American set historical I need the history to be accurate or I start to nit pick, no matter how much I’m loving the story. But books set elsewhere often work better because I only know the basics about European history 🙂
Ann(ie)
February 28
5:31 pm
Ohhh, Penelope Williamson…
I -loved- her historicals. I was very sad when I learned she was writing other fiction. Same with Patricia Gaffney.
Sarah McCarty
March 3
4:42 pm
Kristie-
Popping over to amazon to buy it. Thanks.