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Western Romance Literature

The Novel and Its Forms

Western romance literature denotes a genre subset of romance literature, sometimes referred to as cowboy romance. Works within this category typically adhere to the characteristics of romance but take place in a western setting, frequently the American frontier. Though often historical, the genre is not restricted to romantic works set in the period of American settlement but extends to contemporary romantic works that centre around cowboys or other tropes of the Western genre.

Facts
Notable Example
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey 1
Defining Trait
Romance of a cowboy, ranch hand or bull rider and his heroine against a harsh landscape 1
Connections

Form Of Genre

Romance Novel, Genres
Sources
1. Western romance literature (Wikipedia)
  • History
    Grey became known for his work in this genre (under the publisher, Harper's) and the hugely successful Western Romantic novel Riders of the Purple Sage (1912).
  • Characteristics
    These stories typically follow the romance of a cowboy, ranch hand or bull rider and his heroine, contrasting the fragility of love with the severity of the harsh landscape.
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