How did Bertrice Small got away with writing explicitly about underage heroines indulging in sexual activities?

[Simona]

I started reading Enchantress Mine and in the prologue the h's stepmother is fourteen and trying to seduce her uncle. Her uncle reminiscence about how he "took her virginity" when she was twelve. Except for Bertrice Small, I haven't found any author who had underage heroines, especially as young as 12-14 even though many have written books set in similar periods.
Why did her editor not force her to make necessary age changes?

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Simona (pretty name)

By Medieval church law (canon law?) A female was “ready” for consummation of marriage at age at 12 yrs. Also, there were child-marriages for dynastic and political purposes.

Henry VIII grandmother, Margaret Beaufort was married at 12 and nearly died giving birth to her only child, Henry VII. I think by 15-16 she was a widow, but did marry again.

[Simona]

Thanks for replying Andrea.

Of course times were different then. Times were different even till 1980s when it was still common for women under 18 to get married. But most authors who write/wrote historical usually use modern legal age as limits even in books set in medieval times. Only BS's books have underage heroines. Ages of heroines usually doesn't matter in romance novels as most usually show them as idiot nincompoops. But BS's books are full of so many taboos, from underage characters to incest to bestiality, I am surprised how her work wasn't classified as pornographic.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Simona wrote: "Thanks for replying Andrea.

Of course times were different then. Times were different even till 1980s when it was still common for women under 18 to get married. But most authors who write/wrote h..."

Simona,

I still haven’t had a chance to read any by and Ms. Small as of yet, but I read some HR in the 70s when I was in high school, with a Medieval 15 year old heroine (married off at 15) and other heroines under 18. Ms Small was not the only one with under 18 heroines.

Two books, that I read as a teen and later tracked down out of print used copies when I was well into adulthood bec I wanted to reread have a 15 yr old heroine and a 17 yr old. I didn’t care anything about “strong” heroines in recent HR bec I don’t find them so.that some mainstream HR go on about, but I now think these heroines as “my” idea of a strong, smart heroine.
:-)

[Blondie]

Ms Small writes her fictional characters in a nonfictional type world she works a lot of history in her books. I love her work and have read a lot by her I would never consider her books pornographic. She writes epic type romance books more so her earlier works than her more recent stuff but they can get a little smutty but it seemed to me more realisticly done for the time period.

[Blondie]

it's been a while since I read one of her older books did she write detailed sex scenes with the younger girls I thought they were implied until they were adults

[Mermarie]

Magic.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Bertrice Small was just one of the writers of the particular genre of historical romance termed 'bodice rippers" written mainly in the 70's and 80's and so named because of the content. Underage heroines, dubious consent, rape, lots of themes that are considered not acceptable by today's standards. But they were of their time. To be honest, I read them as a teenager and loved them and wasn't scarred for life. Perhaps because they did have a historical time period so even at a young age I could separate fiction from real life.

[Marisela]

If u don't like it don't read ,U my change their ages but doesn't change the fact that it did happen. She wrote about historical romances back than u could have a betrothed by the time u where able to get out of ur baby clothes

[Simona]

Blondie wrote: "it's been a while since I read one of her older books did she write detailed sex scenes with the younger girls I thought they were implied until they were adults"

Nope. Very explicit scenes with younger girls. I understand her weaving of history with fiction and honestly love her historical accuracy about girls' status in society. I also love the OTT smuttiness since she was sort of the trailblazer on that.

Marisela wrote: "If u don't like it don't read ,U my change their ages but doesn't change the fact that it did happen. She wrote about historical romances back than u could have a betrothed by the time u where able..."

Ohh. I love Bertrice Small's books even though sometimes I've found the epic nature of them boring. I am interested in why most authors then and now stick to modern legal age in medieval romance and American historical romance.

[Simona]

Andrea (Catsos Person) is a Compulsive eBook Hoarder wrote: "Simona wrote: "Thanks for replying Andrea.

Of course times were different then. Times were different even till 1980s when it was still common for women under 18 to get married. But most authors wh..."

Interested to check out those if you can share them. I know some others like Cassie Edwards and Karen Robards books had underage heroine but even they never went below 16. It's only Ms. Small who seems to have chosen the path of "to hell with your ickyness, i'm gonna write as historically accurate about a girl's life".

[Simona]

Mermarie wrote: "Magic."

Can you explain this?