Virgin Heroes

Virginity is one of the staple tropes of the historical romance novel. To date I’ve never written an historical heroine who wasn’t a virgin and during most periods keeping one’s virginity until marriage is a pretty big deal. Of course one or two of those heroines has jumped the gun, so to speak, but with her hero only. This necessity provides many plot complications and helps build tension up until the heroine is virgin no more.

What is almost as common, although I wouldn’t have believed it, is the virgin hero. The “Books with Virgin Heroes” list on Goodreads numbers 269 books where the hero is a virgin until he meets the heroine. And this list was created in 2009, so there may indeed be more.

The number one book on this list is Outlander and I’m sure millions of women tuned in last night to see Jamie Fraser’s deflowering on the series (including me!). And yes, this post was inspired by “The Wedding” episode of Outlander. Number 5 on the list is Twilight (I always forget that Edward is a virgin when he marries Bella). And one of my favorites is number 35, Forbidden by Jo Beverley.

Until I actually looked at the list of books with virgin heroes, I’d always found it rather difficult to think of men past their teenage years as virgins. I know, that seems like the old double standard in reverse. But men place such an emphasis on sexual prowess, that to find a character who has denied themselves that rite of passage to manhood casts that character in a different light to readers. It speaks to the depth of their character and their conviction that they have imposed this deprivation on themselves for whatever reason. I find them more attractive because of their virginity, because to my mind they have chosen not to follow the crowd but to march to their own drum. It speaks to their strength of character and I love a strong hero.

So I have worked a virginal hero into one of my historical series. His story is a couple of books down the road, but I’ve already figured out why he’s stayed a virgin and how his heroine reacts to this news. I’m really looking forward to their interactions and how his virginity drives a lot of the conflict of the book.

Do you have a favorite book with a virgin hero? Have you ever written one?

Filed under: Craft, Historical romance, Jenna Jaxon