Lincoln Bishop University recently hosted a public event inspired by romance novels and the constant demand for literature about love.
As romance has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years, Dr Lucinda Newns, Senior Lecturer in English, hosted an event to discuss the genre.
The event, entitled ‘Beyond Guilty Pleasure: Mills & Boon Romance,’ centred on the publisher Mills & Boon (known as Harlequin in the United States), who have specialised in romance novels since the 1950s. They remain the biggest name in the genre, publishing more than 110 romance titles a month, in over 30 countries and 150 languages.
No matter what kind of trope or characters you’re looking for, there will be a Mills & Boon series for you. Local Mills & Boon author and Lincoln Bishop lecturer Jenni Fletcher, who teaches on our creative writing module, Mills & Boon editor, Annie Warren, and romance scholar, Dr Amy Burge, took part in a 90-minute discussion with Dr Newns on everything related to the romance genre.
Although the topic may not seem obviously academic, it was inspired by a module entitled ‘Reading the Popular’ – taught on our undergraduate course BA (Hons) English Literature at Lincoln Bishop. This module discusses novels from popular genres such as romance, chick-lit and detective fiction which helps to remind students why they love to read and gives them a space to discuss popular books with an academic lens.
The event was opened by the University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Gower and was attended by people of all ages. The discussions involved topics such as the necessity of a ‘happily ever after’ and whether the genre still centres marriage, where romance fiction might be going in the future, issues of diversity, and whether romance is truly anti-feminist, as some have claimed.
These discussions were aided by real-world examples such as the incredibly popular Bridgerton and Heated Rivalry television series (based on novels originally published by Harlequin). The panellists also discussed topics such as the necessity of consent in both novels and real-life relationships, the use of artificial intelligence in creative writing, as well as advice for aspiring authors - including ‘to write what you’re passionate about and believe in yourself’.
The final portion of the event provided an opportunity for audience questions, which then sparked more discussion with levity.
Dr Newns said: “It was wonderful to see such a great turnout from staff, students, and members of the public, all wanting to talk about romance fiction. The panellists brought their unique insights and expertise from different perspectives in the sector and made it a warm and entertaining discussion.”
Lincoln Bishop University is the perfect place to satisfy your literary appetite, whether it’s studying on one of our English Literature courses or attending a public event like this one.
To find out more about English Literature at Lincoln Bishop, please click here!
This news story was drafted by third-year undergraduate English student, Emily Machin, edited and published by our Communications team.