Romantasy novels have deep roots in medieval fairy romance
Critics dismiss the popular genre as trash, yet its fairy romances trace back to the 12th century and beyond, a report says.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
A Guardian article says romantasy, a popular genre featuring human-sized fairies in romantic and sexual stories, is far older than its critics assume. The article notes such fairy romance was already common in the 12th century.
Why it matters
The article says serious commentators view the genre as trash or as leading readers astray, but its popularity with millions of readers, including many women, keeps it widely read.
Coverage
- ‘Medieval romance overflowed with sexually active fairies’: the surprisingly long roots of romantasy (The Guardian)
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