Amatory fiction
Encyclopedia
Amatory fiction is a genre of British literature
popular during the late 17th century and 18th century. Amatory fiction predates, and in some ways predicts, the invention of the novel
. Amatory fiction was written by women and for women. As its name implies, amatory fiction is preoccupied with sexual love and romance. It is an early predecessor of the romance novel
. Indeed, many themes of the contemporary romance novel were first explored in amatory fiction.
The three most prominent amatory fiction writers were Eliza Haywood
(who wrote Love in Excess; Or, The Fatal Enquiry
), Delarivier Manley
, and Aphra Behn
. Together, these writers were known as the "fair triumvirate
," though their reputation for scandalous writing caused some to call them the "naughty triumvirate."
which typically depicts an innocent, trusting woman who is deceived by a self-serving, lustful man. For the women of amatory fiction, love
typically ends in misery.
Although amatory fiction has traditionally been excluded from "rise of the novel" narratives, recent scholarship concludes that these works are not merely precursors to the novel, but novels in their own right.
Authors of amatory fictions often detailed extramarital affairs, which conveniently allowed them to avoid the complications of property
, which was a strong motivation for marriage
when amatory fiction was popular.
Some works of amatory fiction were considered amoral by contemporary standards, and allowed their characters to commit scandalous love affairs without being "punished" based on themes of Christian
, social, legal or other forms of poetic justice
.
British literature
British Literature refers to literature associated with the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and Channel Islands. By far the largest part of British literature is written in the English language, but there are bodies of written works in Latin, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, Cornish, Manx, Jèrriais,...
popular during the late 17th century and 18th century. Amatory fiction predates, and in some ways predicts, the invention of the novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
. Amatory fiction was written by women and for women. As its name implies, amatory fiction is preoccupied with sexual love and romance. It is an early predecessor of the romance novel
Romance novel
The romance novel is a literary genre developed in Western culture, mainly in English-speaking countries. Novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an "emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending." Through the late...
. Indeed, many themes of the contemporary romance novel were first explored in amatory fiction.
The three most prominent amatory fiction writers were Eliza Haywood
Eliza Haywood
Eliza Haywood , born Elizabeth Fowler, was an English writer, actress and publisher. Since the 1980s, Eliza Haywood’s literary works have been gaining in recognition and interest...
(who wrote Love in Excess; Or, The Fatal Enquiry
Love in Excess; Or, The Fatal Enquiry
Love in Excess is Eliza Haywood's best known novel. It details the amorous escapades of Count D'Elmont, a rake who becomes reformed over the course of the novel.-Summary:...
), Delarivier Manley
Delarivier Manley
Delarivier Manley was an English novelist of amatory fiction, playwright, and political pamphleteer...
, and Aphra Behn
Aphra Behn
Aphra Behn was a prolific dramatist of the English Restoration and was one of the first English professional female writers. Her writing contributed to the amatory fiction genre of British literature.-Early life:...
. Together, these writers were known as the "fair triumvirate
Triumvirate
A triumvirate is a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals, each a triumvir . The arrangement can be formal or informal, and though the three are usually equal on paper, in reality this is rarely the case...
," though their reputation for scandalous writing caused some to call them the "naughty triumvirate."
Themes of amatory fiction
Narrowly defined, amatory fiction is a formulaic genreFormula fiction
In popular culture, formula fiction is literature in which the storylines and plots have been reused to the extent that the narratives are predictable. It is similar to genre fiction, which identifies a number of specific settings that are frequently reused...
which typically depicts an innocent, trusting woman who is deceived by a self-serving, lustful man. For the women of amatory fiction, love
Love
Love is an emotion of strong affection and personal attachment. In philosophical context, love is a virtue representing all of human kindness, compassion, and affection. Love is central to many religions, as in the Christian phrase, "God is love" or Agape in the Canonical gospels...
typically ends in misery.
Although amatory fiction has traditionally been excluded from "rise of the novel" narratives, recent scholarship concludes that these works are not merely precursors to the novel, but novels in their own right.
Authors of amatory fictions often detailed extramarital affairs, which conveniently allowed them to avoid the complications of property
Property
Property is any physical or intangible entity that is owned by a person or jointly by a group of people or a legal entity like a corporation...
, which was a strong motivation for marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
when amatory fiction was popular.
Some works of amatory fiction were considered amoral by contemporary standards, and allowed their characters to commit scandalous love affairs without being "punished" based on themes of Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, social, legal or other forms of poetic justice
Poetic justice
Poetic justice is a literary device in which virtue is ultimately rewarded or vice punished, often in modern literature by an ironic twist of fate intimately related to the character's own conduct.- Origin of the term :...
.