I'd read that.

[azurelunatic]

runpunkrun has Feelings about the Regency romance genre's overused tropes:

You know what? I want to read a Regency romance about the second most notorious rake in London. He's pretty good at flirting, but that other guy is always swooping in and stealing away his conquests. It just drives him up the wall! So the second most notorious rake in London decides to do something about it. No matter what it takes, he will win the title of Most Notorious Rake in London. The current Most Notorious Rake in London thinks this sounds like good fun, as a little competition always makes things more interesting. They start showing up at all the same parties and watch each other keenly, studying the other's moves, getting into his head, exploiting his weaknesses, admiring his talents, enjoying the tightness of his breeches, going riding together, falling in love.

Context is reading a lot.

Comments

[inoru_no_hoshi]

I'd read that, too.

...In fact, I'm tempted to start researching Regency London just so I could write that. NOOO TOO MUCH TO DO ALREADY RIGHT NOW. D:

[lannamichaels]

I want that fic and/or romantc comedy.

[mommy]

Yeah, I'd read it.

[dingsi]

*mind blown*

[thedeadcat]

I am following along with the I WOULD READ THAT crowd.

And I won't say I'll write it, because Regency London is above my head.

[psyco_chick32]

I would read the hell out of that.
Not write it, because I know I couldn't pull it off. But oh man would I read it.

[mmegaera]

I'd be all over that, actually. Somebody needs to write it, please.

[teapot_rabbit]

When I hit "falling in love" I started snickering. That sounds like an excellently fun read!

[themistoklis]

I'm surprised by how much I want this and I don't even read romance novels.

[nacarat]

LOVE this :D

Also, bring me your GOOD Regency!fic recs

[nacarat]

Since it's my favourite period of history and I"ve never read a good fic about it :(

[adalger]

Who can rec me some good Regency romance so I can start writing?

[birke]

Ditto!

[montuos]

For good Regency, start with Jane Austen. Also read Georgette Heyer.

[adalger]

Ooh. I just finished Pride and Prejudice not that long ago. So, if I modeled the second-most-notorious rake after Wickham, this should be a reasonable starting point, no?

[montuos]

Sadly, it would be extremely difficult to pull off without totally breaking suspension of disbelief. :-/

In the Regency time period homosexuality was not just frowned upon by Society, but it was illegal. If you were convicted of ‘buggery’, you could be sentenced to death. And yes, they did have trials and they did hang men if convicted. In fact, the executions were public affairs and people gathered outside the prison to watch the poor fellow(s) die.

[paxpinnae]

Actually, you could probably write a decent modern version centered around the pick-up artist community. It wouldn't be as ~elegant~ though.

[montuos]

I did too! ;D I just wish I thought somebody could actually write that without making me want to throw the book across the room for being completely, totally un-Regency... :-/

[teapot_rabbit]

Yeah, it would have to be some kind of not-quite-Regency alternate universe, where men still obsessed over their cravats and had racing curricles, etc, but without the anti-homosexuality laws.

[teapot_rabbit]

Wickham's just a twit. :( Georgette Heyer is frequently credited with basically inventing the Regency romance novel trope. Some of hers are quite good. A personal favorite of mine is The Toll-Booth, but it doesn't have the lovable rake as a main character. Try The Corinthian, maybe, or Frederica.

[silverflight8]

idk, I am pretty well pleased when the authors avoid "snowy white neckties", "Hessian boots", and the like.

[staranise]

I've always just wanted a Regency where the heroine is supremely unimpressed by the rake who's thrown himself at her feet, and marries the dorky young fellow she met in the library who is an amazing kisser.

[gehayi]

This sounds familiar. I'll have to check and see if there's an M/M Regency like this.

[kate_nepveu]

_Cotillion_ by Heyer is a little bit like this--takes a while to realize the rake isn't all that, but the guy she ends up with is far from smooth.

[msmcknittington]

There's actually a Mary Balogh book that's a lot like this, but like Balogh always does, she drops the ball when it comes to the finer nuances of consent. Her heroes have a tendency to say things along the lines of, "I will be taking my marital rites with regularity," and they're making it clear that their wives' opinions on it don't really matter. I . . . disapprove.

Agh, alpha males. Doorknobs.

But, yes, I'd love a Regency where the dorky fellow wins the girl.

[ashen_key]

Oh, man, yes, that'd be awesome.

[staranise]

I just don't get why "rake" means "good husband material"! Doesn't it actually indicate, idk, low moral character, lack of fidelity, and high probability of veneral disease? "Burning loins" should be PURELY METAPHORICAL.

[marina]

Ahahaha that is charming.

[siliconshaman]

Throw in a little magic and call it done...

RE difficulty

[jaxomsride2]

It would seem that so long as they were reasonably discreet, being prosecuted and hanged didn't occur that often. At least according to an interview with an author of at least one m/m Regency romance. She evidently has done her homework.

http://www.afterelton.com/people/2007/3/mjpearson

[jaxomsride2]

You'd have more fun basing him on Justin Alistair The Duke of Avon in These Old Shades. Of course him being Bi makes it easier.

[badbookworm]

Oh, man. I need to pass this idea along to Paige Turner, who writes MM historical. She'd be all over it.

[nemonclature]

Oh God Yes. I would read the shit out of that.

[msmcknittington]

Ah, but that's supposed to be the entire draw! The heroine reforms the rake, and he becomes good husband material. Unfortunately, thanks to romance tropes, he frequently remains a big alpha male jerkface. But not longer philandering. Just imperious.

And, silly! Venereal disease doesn't exist in romance! Teflon penises, one and all.

[inoru_no_hoshi]

Hmmm. Alternate history? Of course then you'd have to think about how it came about that it wasn't illegal, which all things considered would probably drive me right around the bend. >__>

[inoru_no_hoshi]

Elegant can be a point of view! Heeeeeee. But yes, fair point. :D

[inoru_no_hoshi]

And, silly! Venereal disease doesn't exist in romance! Teflon penises, one and all.

LOL IRL.

[lea_hazel]

That's Sense and Sensibility I think. Whereas Pride and Prejudice is a grimmer version that's more like, "You wanted a rake, now you're stuck with him."