Romantic fiction has long been dismissed as trivial and denounced for peddling supposedly patriarchal myths of heterosexual love and marriage. Despite such criticism, the popularity of romantic fiction has only increased in recent decades.

Drawing on research from the evolutionary sciences, Ania Grant proposes that narrative patterns of romantic stories and their enduring appeal reflect the importance of love as a fundamental human drive. She examines two of the most successful and critically scrutinized romantic narratives of the past 200 years, Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice and the hit television series Sex and the City, and argues that such texts simulate the cognitive and emotional complexities of mate choice-one of the most consequential decisions from both a biological and a cultural perspective. Her biocultural analysis aligns the interpretation of romantic fiction with the feminist ideals of female autonomy and gender cooperation. It also suggests that positive identification with romantic heroines gives audiences the hope and energy to pursue the transformation of gender relations in real life.

The book will be of interest to anyone who ever wondered why so many women (and some men) around the world are enthralled by romantic stories, as well as to anyone who has ever been inspired by romantic happy endings to strive for a world in which men and women love and cooperate with each other-even if it seems like a utopian ideal while the war of the sexes rages on.

About the Author

Ania Grant teaches Literature and Media Studies at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Her research combines evolutionary and feminist perspectives.

Reviews

"A triumph of clear thinking, wide knowledge, and astute reading. Darwin rightly called On the Origin of Species "one long argument." As a feminist and an evolutionist, Grant begins with one long argument showing the value of romantic love and romantic fiction for feminists and everybody else, before her subtle close readings reveal just how much we can learn from two of the most successful of romantic fictions, Pride and Prejudice and Sex in the City."

-Distinguished Professor Brian Boyd, University of Auckland

"Evolution, Feminism, and Romantic Fiction cements Ania Grant as the preeminent voice on romantic storytelling. Merging feminist theory with bio-cultural insights, Grant reveals powerful connections between Pride and Prejudice and Sex and the City, redefining the role of women's agency, individuality, and romance across history. Revolutionary, insightful, and unforgettable-this book will be an essential reference for years to come."

Maryanne Fisher, a Professor of Psychology at Saint Mary's University in Canada

Book Information
ISBN 9781032342023
Author Ania Grant
Format Paperback
Page Count 248
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 460g