There is no recession when it comes to sex in historical novels. Even if you don't admit to any interest in bursting bodice romance novels, you will still find an ample supply of more or less graphic sex scenes in even medieval era novels.Some readers and authors squirm at this fact. They say things like "The Church frowned on such behavior!" or "Women then would never have behaved like that" and cite tales of couples using a sheet with a hole in it so a man could impregnate his wife without actually seeing her naughty bits.
I frankly reject these notions of premature Puritanism in the Middle Ages. People are people, and sex is sex. If we had homes for unwed teen mothers in the 1950s in spite of much greater strictures against premarital sex than we have today, then why believe young people in the 1250s were any different?
It is important to remember that much of what we know about the Middle Ages was written by monks. That is not a credible source for interpretations of female behavior in general, no less sexuality. Further, if the Church's strictures about sexuality were so formidable, why did they not take within their own society? In a time when the Church was a career path as much as or more than a spiritual calling, numerous instances of clerical mating abound.
I say don't assume anything about the era that does not jibe with human nature. Healthy people had sex, lots of it, and enjoyed it very much, and I for one intend to lace my historical novels with healthy people.
Originally published a whole bunch of time ago. September 3, 2008 to be precise.
I concur with your thoughts, Nan. The matter of sexuality in historical-set romances is often hotly debated, but a glance back through time will clearly show how sex/passion has changed the course of our civilization again and again. Helen of Troy. Caesar and Cleopatra. More "recently" - Henry VIII and the Church of England - a direct result of his desires for a woman.
ReplyDeleteCharles II, George IV - so many names, so many shifts in history as a result of their love affairs.
And the Popes themselves were licentious and uninhibited - see Giulia Farnese and her long time affair with Pope Alexander around 1500!
Yes, sex is a natural part of the interaction between a man and a woman,no matter when they lived or who they may be. Trying to "sanitize" historical romances...well, it doesn't do full justice to the time or the characters, IMHO. I'll also agree with Liam, however. It's NOT a good replacement for a solid story!