Have you ever learned anything from an HP?

[Neri]

As silly as it is...I had not realized ransom kidnapping were a thing in 70s Italy until I read several HPs where it was brought up or a major concern for the rich H's (or sometimes h's) family. I just mentioned it to someone today and they asked how I knew, so this topic came to mind.

Lots of travelogues, fashion montages, and food odysseys in HPs so was wondering if anything stuck out to you all.

[Jasbell76]

Hi Neri, it's not a silly question at all, in fact, I have asked that question to myself, and the answer is YES!!!! I have learned many things from Harlequins, such as food, fashion, geography, history, art, cars, places, customs, etc. I think I will read them untill I die ;) They are addictive and entertain me a lot when I have a break.

[Neri]

I love learning about the jobs, too...I always wonder how much research they put into these book. I always take their Greek (my partner is Greek so these are always a boatload of fun...when will I be whisked away to his secret island? 🤔)/Spanish/Italian (or whenever the H comes from a non-English speaking locale, lol) socio-cultural details with a grain of salt though.

[JillyB]

There are definitely things you can learn about in HP’s. I have liked looking up some of the historical and geographical references. Plus, the different foods and drinks. I learned a lot about Peru with. Flight of Discovery and Without Knowing Why and I know how to make the Peruvian drink pisco sour after googling the recipe!

[Dinou]

I have to admit that the food and drinks mentioned in my HP readings have often made me look more knowledgeable than I really am about Greece or Italy when chatting casually. Architecture at a lesser level has also been mentioned but I've never been bold enough to pretend that I knew of these places first hand: it was more like "I heard (or I was told) that such place is so and so?". It usually is a good conversation starter when the other person comes from these places. The best part is I don't mean to learn such facts. They just stick after the romance.

[Mimilikestoreadandwrite]

For someone like me who is not from a "western" country, HP was a great source of information growing up. I learnt a lot about the US :
- geography (roadtrip stories, culture schock stories between yankee hero and southern heroine, etc...)
- Culture (american heroes would always be defined by either they played "football" or "Lacrosse" at school)
- Social issues or maybe a bit of prejudice (For some reason all italian american heroines would come with large families and unhealthy self esteem) I Do, But Here's the Catch
- Economics : the farmer or rancher hero seemed to have money (although painstakingly won) but were always worried about
the future whereas bankers and tech wizards seemed more secure financially. Amber by Night
- Of course FEMINISM. Oh I learned so much about feminism in these books. I don't think many real life feminists would've agreed with the brand of it that were written int these books, but eh... Body and Soul

I also learnt a lot about England, mostly that
-It's a less exciting place than the US,
-Their men are a lot more subdued and less flashy but under the ice lives a fiery, sometimes dangerous passion Dark Dominion ,
- The women are very, very calm, almost silent. They are also most often blondes, or very rarely redheads if they have irish roots. No brunette in sight in all of England. Runaway Wife
- French men are NOT to be trusted, unless they have an english mother,
- The remaining of Europe (that is Italy, Spain and Greece) is a very dangerous place for the unmarried english woman, Wife for a Penny
- Arab princes just can't resist the quiet charm of the English Rose.
-It always rains.

[Jasbell76]

Mimi008 wrote: "For someone like me who is not from a "western" country, HP was a great source of information growing up. I learnt a lot about the US :
- geography (roadtrip stories, culture schock stories between..."

hahahah Your comment is the perfect description of what Harlequins are about :D l LOVE IT!
"French men are NOT to be trusted, unless they have an english mother"
The other day I was thinking about I haven't read many HPs with French heros, less than 5/4. One by Lynne Graham and the other ones by Sara Craven. Maybe they are not much interesting, or sexy like the Italians or Greeks, I'm a huge fan of them. English heros are OK. Spanish or Portuguesse are not popular too :D

"Arab princes just can't resist the quiet charm of the English Rose."
As you said, they are fond of heroines with fairy skin and red/blond hair XD
I don't remember any English heroine with brown/black hair.

[Neri]

> - Of course FEMINISM. Oh I learned so much about feminism in these books. I don't think many real life feminists would've agreed with the brand of it that were written int these books, but eh... Body and Soul

Daphne Clair is one of the better feminist HP writers although I must remind myself an HP is an HP is an HP, LOL.

> - French men are NOT to be trusted, unless they have an english mother,

I laughed so loud I startled my dog at this one, ha.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish]

Mimi008 wrote: "For someone like me who is not from a "western" country, HP was a great source of information growing up. I learnt a lot about the US :
- geography (roadtrip stories, culture schock stories between..."

Ha! Classic. :)

[Mimilikestoreadandwrite]

Jasbell76 wrote: The other day I was thinking about I haven't read a few HPs with French heros, less than 5/4. One by Lynne Graham and the other ones by Sara Craven. Maybe the are not much interesting, or sexy like the Italians or Greeks, I'm a huge fan of them. English heros are OK. Spanish or Portuguesse are not popular too :D

Usually french men are cast as the OM in HP books (at least those that I read). They're usually charming and sophisticated but not very trustworthy. I read at least 2 HP with french heroes, both had an english mother. They were both a bit devious, and I think only the english blood saved them haha. I think one was a kim Lawrence book.

Neri wrote: "Daphne Clair is one of the better feminist HP writers although I must remind myself an HP is an HP is an HP, LOL. "

To be honest some 80s and early 90s HP are surprisingly "woke". I think the most interesting heroines are indeed Daphne Clair's but also Charlotte Lamb's. For the latter, she tends to write about smart women making a path for themselves in a very, very patriarchal society. Most of her heroines start out extremely submissive to hard husbands, and end up topping from the bottom LOL

[Neri]

Mimi008 wrote: "Jasbell76 wrote: The other day I was thinking about I haven't read a few HPs with French heros, less than 5/4. One by Lynne Graham and the other ones by Sara Craven. Maybe the are not much interest..."

CL was something else when it came to her ladies dominating within the confines of their status...dominating literally in some cases, lol, because Vampire Lover is a book I could write a thousand word essay on.