One of the perennial favorite topics around AAR is the lack of historical accuracy in today’s historical romances and there’s a lively discussion that proves that fact right now on the Let’s Talk Romance Novels forum.
Still, there is what AAR readers want and then what the rest of the reading world wants – at least according to some publishers. I’m hearing from certain writer friends who are, in turn, hearing it from their publishers that readers these days don’t especially care about historical accuracy – not to mention, of course, the belief that readers only want books set in 19th century England.
We are told over and over – and over and over again – that AAR readers aren’t the norm. And, perhaps, that’s true. But I for one find it impossible to escape into a historical romance (key word these days is escape) that is so broad-brushed it feels as if it could take place at any time.
Still, while I’m hardly the Regency police, there is one definite accuracy bug up my ass: I deplore the fact that some of the newer authors these days don’t seem to make any effort to make their dialogue feel even remotely authentic.
One “nasty kids” or “her ladyship felt a bit down” and I am mentally totally out of the story. Totally. (more…)
