victorian lesbian romance novel

They often feature the strict social norms of the Victorian era as a backdrop. For example, the characters may have to hide their relationships due to the lack of acceptance in society.

There are also works that might not be as widely known but still fall into this category. For example, some lesser - known novels by female authors of the Victorian era that subtly hinted at same - sex relationships between women. These novels often had to be very discreet due to the social norms of the time. Female friendships were sometimes used as a guise to explore deeper emotional and romantic connections that could be interpreted as lesbian relationships.

Another good one could be 'Fingersmith' also by Sarah Waters. It's a complex tale set in Victorian times that involves themes of love between women, along with mystery and deception. The characters are well - developed, and the story really draws you into the Victorian era and the relationships within it.

Victorian lesbian romance novels often reflected the repressive nature of the society. They had to be very cautious in their portrayal as homosexuality was not accepted. So, the relationships were sometimes masked as deep friendships.

One main theme is secrecy. Given the Victorian era's strict moral and social codes, lesbian relationships had to be hidden. So, in the fiction, characters often struggle with keeping their relationships secret.

Well, one characteristic is the elaborate settings. They often feature grand mansions, beautiful gardens, and the charm of the Victorian era's architecture. The characters are usually from different social classes, which adds to the drama. Also, there's a strong sense of propriety and morality, and the romances are often slow - burning, with lots of unspoken feelings and longing glances.

Rather than focusing on erotica, we can consider Victorian novels that have complex relationships between women. For example, in 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë, there are deep emotional bonds between female characters that were revolutionary for their time in depicting female relationships, without any inappropriate content.

One well - known work is 'The Well of Loneliness' by Radclyffe Hall. It's a significant piece in the exploration of lesbian identity within the Victorian - era context.

The settings could vary widely. Some might be set in modern urban environments, where the characters navigate through the challenges of a fast - paced, often judgmental society. Others could be in more rural or small - town settings, where the sense of community and secrecy play important roles in the love story. The language used in these novels is usually rich in emotion, to really convey the intensity of the relationships.

I'm not sure which ones were the most popular exactly, but 'Ash' was quite well - received. It's a fantasy - inspired lesbian romance that combines elements of fairytales with a modern - day love story, which made it appealing to a wide range of readers.