Abstract
This chapter is an outline of the history of English contemporary and historical romance novels from the beginnings in 1621 to 1975. It begins with a history of contemporary romances—that is, those romances written during the period they are set in—from the seventeenth century to 1975, with attention to the sub-genres prevalent at different times. This is followed by a survey of critiques of contemporary romance novels over the same period. The chapter then offers a history of the English historical romance novel—defined here as romances written at least fifty years after the period they are set in—again followed by a history of criticism of this form and its various subgenres.
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