Merchants of Venus: Inside Harlequin and the Empire of Romance

by Paul Grescoe

Book by Grescoe, Paul

Genres: Nonfiction

309 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Paul Grescoe has contributed to most of the major Canadian magazines and has also written books, including detective novels and The Merchants of Venus, about the Harlequin publishing empire.

Paul Grescoe has been chronicling Western Canadian entrepreneurs for decades--from the legendary Vancouver billionaire Jim Pattison ("Jimmy") to the Winnipeg couple who founded the Harlequin romance empire ("The Merchants of Venus"). With his wife, Audrey, he is also a compiler of three recent volumes of private correspondence that illuminate Canadian history. They live on Bowen Island, near Vancouver, B.C.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
* 1992 Best First Novel: Flesh Wound

Reviews

[Grizel · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting account of the history of Harlequin Enterprises and to a lesser extent of Mills & Boon. The book also touches on various peripheral topics, like marketing, fan magazines and fan clubs. It would be nice if the author wrote an updated edition to take into account phenomena which were only beginning when this book was written, like online reviewing and blogging.

[Beccabrewing · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5. I’ve always loved pulp novels, not romance so much as horror / mystery / fantasy -sci fi. But of course I know what harlequin is, I’m a woman born in the 80s! This book is an addictive read about the colorful history of the industry as well as a business how and how not to guide. Glad I found this in one of the neighborhood book drops and can’t wait to pass on to a work friend who loves all the romance novels

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lively survey of the romance publishing business from the point of view of the giant of them all: Harlequin.

I'd like to see an update (this book was published in 1996) that reviews the changes the business has encountered with e-publishing and the like.

[Christina Morden (ClaryNathanWill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for my Master's thesis.