The Seventh Day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Seven virgins sighing.
When I started reading romance (not long after the invention of the printing press), the heroine’s virginity was a non-issue. The typical romance heroine was young, beautiful, and virginal. Even the romance revolution led by Kathleen Woodiwiss with The Flame and the Flower in 1972 didn’t change this rule. Romances might now openly reveal the heroine as a sexual being who thought about more than chaste kisses. They might even follow the H/H behind the bedroom door, but the heroine was still conventionally innocent until she met the hero and surrendered her virginity to him, often under duress. Harlequin author Anne Mather made history in 1980 with the first Harlequin to feature a heroine who engaged in premarital sex. That same year Dell introduced the Candlelight Ecstasy line, the first category line to tell their authors that heroines need not be virgins. A scant three years later, sales of the line’s books totaled $30 million. Twenty-five years later publishing giants like Harlequin, Kensington, and Avon have erotica imprints and Publishers Weekly describes the state of romance as “hotter between the covers than between the sheets.” Readers regularly mock the innocent heroine, and with the exception of inspirationals and the “sweet” categories, romances that feature heroines who achieve their HEAs in a virginal state are an endangered, if not an extinct, species.
Now I’m not arguing for a return to the heroines of my youth. Even then those characters had more in common with fairy tale princesses than with the women readers of romance novels. I do protest, however, the idea that a virginal heroine must inevitably be a vanilla character. To support my contention I refer you to the gifts on this seventh day of RV Christmas, seven sighing virgins and not a bland one in the bunch.
Thunder and Roses (1993) by Mary Jo Putney
Clare Morgan, the daughter of a Methodist minister and a schoolmistress, sacrifices her reputation for the good of the community. She is torn between her attraction to the hero and her faith.
Heaven, Texas (1995) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Gracie Snow is a virgin spinster who has spent most of her life working in a nursing home. Social inexperience and sexual innocence are coupled with looks so ordinary that even after a makeover, Gracie is merely moderately pretty. Yet the hero, a world class womanized, falls for her so hard that he cheats to allow her to win his football quiz.
The Famous Heroine (1996) by Mary Balogh
Cora Downes is young and awkward, and as if that’s not enough, she laughs too often and too loudly. She also suspects the hero is gay. She is also funny, sweet, and vulnerable with an irresistible ability to laugh at herself.
My Dearest Enemy (1998) by Connie Brockway
Lily Bede is only nineteen, but she’s well-educated and committed to radical ideas about the equality of the sexes. The bluestocking heroine may be a stereotype, but there’s nothing stereotypical about Lily’s past, her plans, or her abilities.
The Rake (1998) by Mary Jo Putney
Alys Weston is no petite, protected beauty. She is two inches shy of sex feet, self-conscious about her physical appearance, and, at 30, convinced that she is destined to be a spinster. She has also taken on the work of a steward and has turned the estate of an absentee landlord into a model of efficiency, technology, and humanness.
Tallie’s Knight (2001) by Anne Gracie
How many shy, poor, orphaned, virgins used and abused by a heartless relative and saved from her dreary life by a handsome wealthy hero have you encountered in romance? Every bit of that description applies to Thalia Robinson, but “Tallie” is no cardboard heroine. She is a true innocent, a romantic dreamer with a loving heart and her own brand of strength and wisdom.
Romancing Mr. Bridgerton (2002) by Julia Quinn
The wallflower is another conventional heroine. But Penelope Featherington, a twenty-eight-year-old spinster, an overweight, shy, poorly dressed wallflower proves her intelligence, wit, and total lack of convention.
Do you see virginal heroines as (a) historically accurate in some books? (b) a bore regardless? (c) a joke in a contemporary? (d) just another character whose value depends on the author’s skill? Do you have any favorite heroines who qualify for this select company?
Kelly, you are the winner of the “hot looks” books. Send me your contact info, and I’ll get them in the mail right away.
The lucky winner of the seventh day of RV Christmas will win an autographed copy of Innocence Unveiled by Blythe Gifford .
Be sure to check back for five more days of celebration and giveaways.
I think it depends on each book. No one answer for all for me. I used to really hate the virgin widow but one day I read a really good virgin widow book, which changes my mind (the book was Adele Ashworth’s Duke of sin). So the answer would be d) up to the author’s plot and storyline.
I think it definitely depends upon the author and the story whether or not the virgin heroine is boring. I have read plenty of heroines who were virgins and enjoyed many of the books. It makes sense to me that a young sheltered woman is a going to be a virgin in an historical story. Even if the book is a contemporary if the circumstances are explained that make sense of the heroine being a virgin then I don’t have a problem with that being in the story.
Most of the historicals I read feature virginal heroines. There are a few contemporaries where the heroine is a virgin. I agree it’s up to the author to make the character unique and believable regardless of her virginity. Of the books you mentioned, I’ve only read “Romancing Mr. Bridgerton.” I think several of Lisa Kleypas’ heroine would make your list like Lillian Bowman and Evie Jenner. They’re both Wallflower, but while Evie is painfully shy, Lillian is bold and willful.
I would have to say d) just another character whose value depends on the author’s, also. I believe a skilled author can make anything work. I’m also one of those that actually like the virgin aspect. It really makes complete sense in historicals and I think is a little more common these days than all the contemporaries like us to believe.
You named several of my favorites, Janga. A few others that come to mind are – For historicals I would say Alice from Gaelen Foley’s Lord of Fire and Sara from Lisa Kleypas’ Dreaming of You. They both remind me a little of Clare from MJP’s Thunder and Roses. Both have strength of character and meet life head on. For contemporaries I would have to go with SEP’s Emma from Lady Be Good and Daisy from Kiss An Angel. Daisy is a favorite character of mine. SEP did an awesome job of portraying her innocence and positive outlook on life without making her a charicature.
As I get older, I’m writing older heroines. In the trilogy I’m working on, I have deliberately de-virginized them. But I think there’s plenty of room for every kind of heroine, and I enjoy them all. Purity is a much tougher sell in contemporaries, but it can be done by the right writer.
That’s a V for Virgin sign. *g*, which my girls used to flash when they were.
I have to smile at the appropriateness of offering a copy of my INNOCENCE UNVEILED as a prize for this discussion. I hope the lucky winner will find the heroine historically accurate, but not a bore. A virgin, yes, but she also manages a weaving business. To answer your question, though, I’ve come to the conclusion (after reading romances for almost as long as you have!) that EVERYTHING depends on the author’s skill.
Janga…I feel like an idiot asking this but…what is your contact info? I can’t for the life of me find it. Sorry!
Kelly, I should get it through the webmistress address here. Or if you send me a private message on the EJ/JQ board, I’ll give you my personal email address.
May, I remember that brouhaha about the Duke of Sin. I think Ms. Ashworth herself was astonished at the furor.
I thought the “virgin widow” made sense within the context of the book, and I love Adele Ashworth’s writing.
Maureen, I agree. That’s why I think the writer makes the difference. If the writer sells me on the character, I’m willing to accept the story.
Jane, yes, LK’s wallflowers are great examples. I want to go back and reread that whole series since I read A Wallflower Christmas.
Irish, so many of my favorite heroines are MJP characters. Clare is one of her best creations IMO. I agree that SEP is the best contemporary example. She’s used a number of innocent heroines in her books. I’m just partial to Gracie.
Maggie, I’m laughing at your girls and their sign. I bet you remember the circle pins too. I’ve long forgotten which side was supposed to signal virginity though.
And I know readers will fall in love with your heroines, be they virgins, courtesans, or some level of experience between the extremes.
Blythe, thanks for dropping by the caravan. I thought IU was an appropriate choice too. It’s also a great read, and something out of the ordinary in many ways. I’ve become a regular Harlequin Historical reader; the variety of settings and styles is so refreshing.
I’m not good with the accuracy with historical romances. I’m not sure with some if what I’m reading is what really happened or not. Most ’sounds’ good to me, LOL If it doesn’t I may question it but most of what I look up is what fascinates me! Don’t laugh, LOL, but I remember looking up on what their bath ‘tubs’ looked like before! LOL. I had read a book and it was so interesting that I wanted to see a read pick of it! I figure most of the time I’m reading ‘fiction’ so that I’m getting that along with what fits within the story is accurate as available, but I know that may not always be the case. But I’m so more enjoying what I read. There’s just this special place in my heart where I so much love reading historicals because of the great comfort they give me. I for one, do like reading heroines that are ‘virgins’ in more than just physically. Meaning I love reading those who are new to all they are experiencing with falling in love. I love their innocence! So those I do enjoy reading. Same thing goes too with those more stronger heroines that not necessary they have any physical experience but they are more aware from their communication with their other female friends or even some experiences with males. I love variety!!! So I love all those different kinds of heroes and heroines! Did you read SILENT MELODY of Mary Balogh? Its just the kind of heroines that’s my favorites. She was totally virginal in all ways but too she had a strong mind in all she believed. I don’t often remember details and titles and authors because I do horrible with that, but this one stayed with me because I could relate to the heroine who is deaf. Those others I have to check out! I can’t wait to check them out! I haven’t had the joy to read yours either Blythe, but I too hope to change that someday too. I heard some wonderful things about your books. A joy to chat with you!