How utterly mortifying to be rejected by a rake! Sneaking off to Vauxhall Gardens lands Lady Olivia Beauchamp in a bit more trouble than she expected—but after being plucked from peril by resolute bachelor Lord Hugo Alastair, she is secretly outraged that he doesn’t even try to steal a kiss! He’s a notorious rake among the ton, and as a result, utterly forbidden to an innocent debutante like her—the daughter of a duke, no less. But their attraction is magnetic. Will she risk her reputation for a passionate encounter? Praise for the romances of Janice Preston “One of the deepest, most lovable heroes I’ve read about in quite some time.” —All About Romance “A captivating, sweet tale.” —RT Book Reviews
A study of the depiction and development of masculine figures in eighteenth-century British literature. Erin Mackie explores the shared histories of the modern polite English gentleman and other less respectable but no less celebrated eighteenth-century masculine types: the rake, the highwayman, and the pirate. Mackie traces the emergence of these character types to the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, when traditional aristocratic authority was increasingly challenged. She argues that the development of the modern polite gentleman as a male archetype can only be fully comprehended when considered alongside figures of fallen nobility, which, although criminal, were also glamorous enough to reinforce the same ideological order. In Evelina’s Lord Orville, Clarissa’s Lovelace, Rookwood’s Dick Turpin, and Caleb Williams's Falkland, Mackie reads the story of the ideal gentleman alongside that of the outlaw, revealing the parallel lives of these seemingly contradictory characters. Synthesizing the histories of masculinity, manners, and radicalism, Rakes, Highwaymen, and Pirates offers a fresh perspective on the eighteenth-century aristocratic male. “In this well-researched study, Mackie makes a strong case for the inclusion of alternative, criminal masculinities in understanding the development of the modern English gentleman and patriarchy in the eighteenth century. Situated at the nexus of gender theory and literary studies, her book adds to the study of modern and late modern cultural norms of gender and sexuality through discourse analysis of literary and nonliterary texts.” —Srividhya Swaminathan, Journal of British Studies “The topic is lively, the writing clear, and the argument persuasive. Bringing together histories of criminality, of gender, and of manners cuts across the period in a new way that promises to produce lively debate.” —James Thompson, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill “The central concern of this book is the transformation of the “British gentleman” from the so-called Glorious Revolution through reformulations of patriarchy as exhibited in taste, sensibility, and virtue in the 18th century and beyond.” —Choice
When the last cat dies, Jane will be rich Jane thought that taking care of thirty cats would be the hard part of her job. Until she is swarmed with suitors who want a shot at the large sum she will inherit when the last cat of her late employer's cats dies. Even the local baron has taken an interest in her, which has her longtime fiancée returning to learn what is happening. Suddenly Jane has to reconsider the life she had envisioned for herself, especially when she finds there is perhaps more to love and marriage than mutual fondness and financial stability.
A Second Wedding Night: Millie is a timid and young lady betrothed to Charles, the Duke of Camborne. Her life seems perfect until her mother reveals to her, that what will happen on her wedding night will not be pleasant for her. Charles is looking forward to a loving marriage with Millie, but when their wedding night turns into a disaster, their relationship stagnates and never have a change to blossom. Ten years later a chance encounter at Charles's mistress gives them the opportunity for a second wedding night. Falling for a Footman: Charlotte was not interested in any of the men she met in London during the season. When she returns to her family's country estate, she finds herself drawn to the new footman, James. Caught between desire and propriety Charlotte also has to figure out whether James is the person who has been stealing from her family. All James wants is to finish his first assignment as an undercover Bow Street Runner, but the duke's eldest daughter proves to be quite a distraction. But how will she react when she learns of his true identity? A Portrait of Love: Edmund has been in love with his best friend Lucy since they were young. Lucy is only focused on becoming a painter but is still curious as to what happens between men and women. When she enlists Edmund to explore this, she does not realize that she will change their friendship forever. Because Edmund is not going to settle on being her lover, he wants her heart as well. But is Lucy prepared to give him that? The Marquis Who Ruined Me: Lady Edwina Stanhope is hoping for a true love match and remains at a ball despite feeling ill. When Lord Henry Seacourt tries to help her, the two end up engaged instead, only to learn that Edwina is the daughter of Henry's fathers former mistress. While their chemistry is undeniable, will they – with only days until their wedding – have the time to fall in love as well? Mating Rituals of the Haut Ton: Lady Hester Montagu agrees to a house party in the hope she will find a husband who will not mind that she always says what comes to mind, that her hair is too dull, and she is obsessed with birds. Flint Eavesgrave, the Earl of Lambourn, is not one of the men courting her. In fact, he is almost engaged to someone else. Someone who will make a suitable countess, but most importantly will never cause his heart any danger. Which is why he has to stay as far away from Lady Hester as possible. An Accidental Elopement: Cecilia Gaywood is certain she will not be able to hold the attention of her husband for long, which makes her want a loveless union. Archie Montagu has never considered marriage. The two are instantly attracted to each other when they first meet, but with Cecilia's impending betrothal and Archie's reputation as a rake, little more than a secret friendship can exist between them until they accidentally elope with each other and suddenly have to navigate the tricky waters of marriage. Three Wishes Upon a Tombstone: Four years after her husband's death Rosie makes three wishes while visiting his tombstone. She wants to start a charity, she wants to host the party of the season, and she wants another child – without having to remarry. Her plans are derailed, however, when she becomes attracted to her childhood friend Gregory.
A Genealogy of the Gentleman argues that eighteenth-century women writers made key interventions in modern ideals of masculinity and authorship through their narrative constructions of the gentleman. It challenges two latent critical assumptions: first, that the gentleman’s masculinity is normative, private, and therefore oppositional to concepts of performance; and second, that women writers, from their disadvantaged position within a patriarchal society, had no real means of influencing dominant structures of masculinity. By placing writers such as Mary Davys, Eliza Haywood, Charlotte Lennox, Elizabeth Inchbald, and Mary Robinson in dialogue with canonical representatives of the gentleman author—Joseph Addison and Richard Steele, David Hume, Samuel Johnson, and Samuel Richardson—Mary Beth Harris shows how these women carved out a space for their literary authority not by overtly opposing their male critics and society’s patriarchal structure, but by rewriting the persona of the gentleman as a figure whose very desirability and appeal were dependent on women’s influence. Ultimately, this project considers the import of these women writers’ legacy, both progressive and conservative, on hegemonic standards of masculinity that persist to this day.
Is she ready to let go of the past and reach out for love once more? Lady Anna Harold’s husband was brutally murdered only two years ago and she is uncertain whether she wants to marry again. When her father dies, she is escorted home by Lord Wulfric Rosenkranz who has been in love with her since they were young. The introverted Wulfric has never dared hope that Anna might consider him, but as they journey together a friendship starts to build between them. But is Anna prepared for them to be more and finally let go of the dreams and hopes that died with her husband? If you like a historical medieval romance of lovers to friends, overcoming grief to start living your life again, a bit of fantasy and a happy ending, this book might be for you. The Lady’s Dilemma is the second book in the series Dynasties and Desire and an independent continuation of The Queen’s Choice.
She is the daughter of his father’s former mistress and now he has to marry her after the scandal of the decade Lady Edwina Stanhope is hoping for a true love match despite the slim chance due to her parents’ scandalous marriage. Hoping to attract the eye of a gentleman she remains at a ball despite feeling ill. Lord Henry Seacourt comes across the pained Edwina, wanting to help her, yet only minutes later he finds himself alone with her in an anteroom and has to marry her. Afterwards he discovers that she is the daughter of his father’s former mistress which only deepens the scandal and complicates matters further. While their chemistry is undeniable, will they – with only days until their wedding – have the time to fall in love as well? If you like steamy stories from the Regency Era, this novella might be for you. The Marquis Who Ruined Me is the fourth book in the series Lust and Longing. It is a Historical Regency Romance of about 60.000 words about the how your fate can change over night, sizzling desire, and love with a happy ever after.
Provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of the poetry, drama, fiction, and literary and cultural criticism produced from the Restoration of the English monarchy to the onset of the French Revolution Comprises over 340 entries arranged in A-Z format across three fully indexed and cross-referenced volumes Written by an international team of leading and emerging scholars Features an impressive scope and range of subjects: from courtship and circulating libraries, to the works of Samuel Johnson and Sarah Scott Includes coverage of both canonical and lesser-known authors, as well as entries addressing gender, sexuality, and other topics that have previously been underrepresented in traditional scholarship Represents the most comprehensive resource available on this period, and an indispensable guide to the rich diversity of British writing that ushered in the modern literary era 3 Volumes www.literatureencyclopedia.com
