Valentine's Day Up Front

View of Davis Library's Main Entrance around 3:20 PM Thursday 2.14.13

Just sharing a little library love with you today…

Looking for romance?  Here are a few alluring classic titles from Davis Library’s collections to help keep you the mood until next Valentine’s Day:

Pamela:  or Virtue Rewarded  [Call Number:  823.61 R525p V. 1 -2] by Samuel Richardson – Published in 1740, the book is often credited as being the first English novel.  While this distinction is frequently debated, it’s usually agreed that that the text is one of earliest forerunners of the modern romance novel .  It’s one of the first works in Western-Culture to focus on courtship from the point of view of the female main character.

Pride and Prejudice [Call Number:  823.74 A933n V.6] by Jane Austen – One of the best loved novels in English literature that is also believed by many to be the ultimate romantic comedy.   First published 200 years ago, the storyline still remains relevant and influential in popular culture as it has been tirelessly adapted and borrowed from over time.  The problem with first impressions and the desire to marry for love instead of money are central themes in the book.

Jane Eyre [Call Number: 823.81 B869j] by Charlotte Brontë – An example of gothic romance, this Victorian Novel offers a sense of mystery and danger as the story’s young heroine tangles with her longing for love and need for self-respect.

To learn more about history and study of romantic love in popular culture and fiction, check out The Popular Romance Project, an online forum exploring the lasting appeal of this literary genre.

Looking to borrow some contemporary romance fiction from authors such as Nicholas Sparks, Nora Roberts, Beverly Jenkins or Jude Deveraux?  Search RioCat – Davis Library Catalog, the OhioLINK Library Catalog, or SearchOhio to see what’s available.  

Need help hooking up with a good book for your next reading rendezvous?  “Ask Us!” to play matchmaker and we’ll set you up with a most attractive literary date.

Happy Valentine's Day! <3