Romance

Often derided as an inferior form of literature, 'romance' as a literary mode or genre defies satisfactory definition, dividing critics, scholars and readers alike.

Barbara Fuchs traces the myriad transformations of 'romance' throughout literary history and shows how its elusive and complex nature can serves as a touchstone for larger issues in literary and cultural theory, such as the historicization of literary genres or resistance to the imaginative force of literature.

The case for 'romance' as a concept is presented clearly and imaginatively, arguing that its usefulness to contemporary critics can be maintained if it is regarded as a literary strategy rather than a fixed genre.

Romance will be of equal value to all students of historical and comparative literatures and of modern literary forms.