Harlequin Presents is the best-selling category romance line and has been for decades, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
Fifty Years of Harlequin Presents Romances
Harlequin Presents is the best-selling category romance line and has been for decades. Indeed, this year marks the 50th anniversary of its inception.
The first Harlequin Presents romance, Gates of Steel by Anne Hampson, was released in 1973. This was one year after Avon published Kathleen E. Woodiwiss‘ seminal bodice-ripper, The Flame and the Flower. The new series offered readers captivating tales of love and passion.
1973: The Birth of Harlequin Presents—Redefining Category Romance
Harlequin Enterprises famously refused to publish books containing sex until the 1970s.
However, this would change with their acquisition of Mills and Boon in 1971, which gave the Canadian company full access to their entire catalog.
Harlequin’s new leadership, including new president Larry Heisey, focused on market research. This enabled them to tailor books and market directly to readers’ preferences. This led to Harlequin’s shift towards sexier and bolder novels.
The ban on sex in Harlequin novels was lifted, leading to the creation of the Harlequin Presents line in 1973.
The Passionate Beginnings
The 1970s was a time of change in the romance genre, from full-length historical epics to short, category romances.
The launch of Harlequin Presents was a watershed moment in the history of romance. This modern and more sensual line—introduced in the United States and Canada—brought a new wave of storytelling. Soon, these books would capture the hearts of readers around the globe.
The series maintained its European setting, immersing readers in a world of aristocracy, glamour, and exotic locations. The alpha male archetype and the virginal heroine became recurring themes, captivating readers with their irresistible chemistry and dramatic relationships.
For the first few runs, Harlequin Presents were repackaged popular Mills & Boons deemed too hot for the standard Romance line.
Six HPs were released each month. The first 42 books were written by Mills and Boon bestselling authors Anne Mather, Anne Hampson, and Violet Winspear.
Artist Don Sinclair would illustrate well over the first 100 editions, giving the early Presents a very uniform “retro” look of an image of a beautiful woman’s face within a circle on a white book cover, occasionally with the hero’s face in the background.
Sexuality in the Line
Harlequin Presents emerged as a response to the growing demand for romance novels that pushed the boundaries of traditional storytelling and on-page eroticism. While some books never went beyond passionate kisses for the first several years of the line, others contained on-page sex scenes—usually brief and euphemistically described.
At first, these scenes were depicted between married couples, or if the heroine was single, she was usually virginal but sometimes widowed. Quite often, the initial lovemaking scene consisted of forced seduction, or at least it straddled the line of consent.
It wouldn’t be until Anne Weale’s 1984 Ecstasy that a single woman willingly chose to engage in a sexual relationship with the hero—without force, blackmail, or even love driving her to it. Desire came first, then sex, and from that fertile soil grew their love.
The success of Harlequin Presents can be attributed to its ability to cater to readers’ desires for stories that combine passion, intensity, and escapism. With each new release, readers were transported into a world of high-stakes romance where love conquered all.
50 Years of Passion
Harlequin has been publishing romance novels for over 70 years. The advent of digital and self-publishing has cut into the company’s sales and led to downsizing. Even so, the publisher remains popular with a fiercely devoted segment of fans. In particular, their Presents line is enjoyed by readers worldwide.
The line has played a significant role in shaping the romance genre and has provided readers with countless hours of entertainment, emotional connections, and literary escapes.
From its humble beginnings in 1973 to its global prominence today, Harlequin Presents has left an indelible mark on the world of romance fiction, enchanting readers with its timeless tales of love, desire, and happily ever afters.
As Harlequin Presents celebrates its 50th anniversary, it continues to captivate readers with its compelling narratives, irresistible heroes, and passionate love stories.
What makes this long-running line resonate with readers? Why do they love these books so much? Do these vintage romance novels have a place in the modern era?
To answer these questions, we’ll look at the history of these category romances and the familiar tropes that appear in these books.
The History of Harlequin Presents
Some consider the Harlequin Presents line “the Wild West of romance.” They feature tropes that may be controversial to outsiders, yet their readers find them thrilling and fun.
These short books pack a lot of punch. They are about 60,000 words long, or 188 to 192 pages.
In 1976, American author Janet Dailey began her Americana series, which used each of the 50 states as a backdrop to the romance. American authors and settings are still rare in this line.
Today, Harlequin Presents titles are billed as “Uplifting International Romances” and usually feature a tycoon or a sheikh in an exotic location.
Harlequin has published over 4,000 editions of Presents. These short, emotionally-packed novels are often filled with iconic tropes like the 28-year-old virgin, the one-night stand leading to a lifetime of life, the secret baby, boss, and secretary, plus jet-setting billionaires from exotic lands.
They often include dramatic plotlines and steamy scenes that make them popular with romance readers.
Simply put, Harlequin Presents romances are modern fairy tales with happy endings. However, some in the past were more dark-tinged, like the story of Rapunzel or Sleeping Beauty. You’ve read the original versions of those stories, haven’t you? They were pretty dark!
The Common Tropes in Harlequin Presents
Vintage and retro romance novels appeal to a particular segment of romance readers. People view these romances as escapist comfort reads.
Harlequin Presents straddles the line between modern and old-school. They often star virgin heroines and Alpha billionaires. They have steamy scenes, intensely emotional moments, and handsome heroes who sweep women off their feet.
Like all popular genres, Harlequin Presents has its own set of tropes that make the books well-liked.
Some of these include secret babies, billionaire romances, one-night stands, marriages of convenience, virgins, forbidden love, and dramatic plot twists that change everything.
For fans of these books, escaping reality is a great way to enjoy a fantastic story full of action and romance.
Why Has This Category Line Been Popular for 50 Years?
Not only are the new releases appreciated by fans, but the vintage backlist remains popular today. Why are these books so popular? It may surprise you, but it all has to do with classic romance tropes. These storylines are familiar to people who have read romance novels for years, and they’re comforting to revisit.
Harlequin Presents portrays romance in a way that’s easy to understand; they are straightforward stories with no extraneous characters or confusing sub-plots. Readers love the retro themes of these books and the traditional plotlines.
The old-fashioned language and settings add an element of nostalgia that appeals to Presents fans.
And lastly, the covers are often beautiful and classy, perfect for displaying on bookshelves!
Do Harlequin Presents Romances Have a Place in the Modern Era?
Romance novels have a long and illustrious history. Harlequin romance novels are one of the most popular and enduring publishers of the genre. While some readers may enjoy these novels for their wild, unpredictable plots, others find them outdated and sexist. If you’re looking for a more realistic read, try something else, like full-length modern contemporaries.
Ultimately, it’s up to each reader to decide whether or not they want to read Harlequin romance novels! While this might be problematic in the modern era, these books remain so popular with consumers.
So, if you’re interested in picking up a harlequin romance novel, do so at your own discretion, but be sure to enjoy the ride!
Final Thoughts on Harlequin Presents
What is it about Harlequin Presents that has made them so popular with romance readers over the decades?
From the classic tropes that readers love to the fact that these books are often cheap to buy, there is a lot that makes these books so popular. While some might argue that these books have dated over time, there is no denying that they are still an important part of the romance genre.
As long as they’re well-written and offer a good story, there’s no reason why these books can’t continue to be popular with romance readers.
If you’re curious about why Harlequin Presents romances are so popular and want to read some for yourself, be sure to check out our reviews!
List of First 100 Harlequin Presents
# | Author | Title | Date Published in North America |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Hampson, Anne | Gates of Steel | May-1973 |
2 | Hampson, Anne | Master of Moonrock | May-1973 |
3 | Mather, Anne | Sweet Revenge | May-1973 |
4 | Mather, Anne | The Pleasure and the Pain | May-1973 |
5 | Winspear, Violet | Devil in a Silver Room | May-1973 |
6 | Winspear, Violet | The Honey Is Bitter | May-1973 |
7 | Hampson, Anne | Dear Stranger | Jun-1973 |
8 | Mather, Anne | The Sanchez Tradition | Jun-1973 |
9 | Winspear, Violet | Wife Without Kisses | Jun-1973 |
10 | Hampson, Anne | Waves of Fire | Jun-1973 |
11 | Mather, Anne | Who rides the tiger? | Jun-1973 |
12 | Winspear, Violet | Dragon Bay | Jun-1973 |
13 | Hampson, Anne | A Kiss from Satan | Jul-1973 |
14 | Mather, Anne | Storm in a Rain Barrel | Jul-1973 |
15 | Winspear, Violet | The Little Nobody | Jul-1973 |
16 | Hampson, Anne | Wings of Night | Aug-1973 |
17 | Mather, Anne | Living With Adam | Aug-1973 |
18 | Winspear, Violet | The Kisses and the Wine | Aug-1973 |
19 | Hampson, Anne | South of Mandraki | Sep-1973 |
20 | Mather, Anne | A Distant Sound of Thunder | Sep-1973 |
21 | Winspear, Violet | The Unwilling Bride | Sep-1973 |
22 | Hampson, Anne | The Hawk and the Dove | Oct-1973 |
23 | Mather, Anne | The Legend of Lexandros | Oct-1973 |
24 | Winspear, Violet | Pilgrim’s Castle | Oct-1973 |
25 | Hampson, Anne | Fountains Wild | Nov-1973 |
26 | Mather, Anne | Dark Enemy | Nov-1973 |
27 | Winspear, Violet | House of Strangers | Nov-1973 |
28 | Hampson, Anne | Dark Avenger | Dec-1973 |
29 | Mather, Anne | Monkshood | Dec-1973 |
30 | Winspear, Violet | Bride of Lucifer | Dec-1973 |
31 | Hampson, Anne | Blue Hills of Sintra | Jan-1974 |
32 | Mather, Anne | Jake Howard’s Wife | Jan-1974 |
33 | Winspear, Violet | Forbidden Rapture | Jan-1974 |
34 | Hampson, Anne | Stormy the Way | Feb-1974 |
35 | Mather, Anne | Seen by Candlelight | Feb-1974 |
36 | Winspear, Violet | Love’s Prisoner | Feb-1974 |
37 | Hampson, Anne | An Eagle Swooped | Mar-1974 |
38 | Mather, Anne | Moon Witch | Mar-1974 |
39 | Winspear, Violet | Tawny Sands | Mar-1974 |
40 | Hampson, Anne | Wife for a Penny | Apr-1974 |
41 | Mather, Anne | Dangerous Enchantment | Apr-1974 |
42 | Winspear, Violet | The Strange Waif | Apr-1974 |
43 | Brett, Rosalind | They Came to Valeira | May-1974 |
44 | Hampson, Anne | Petals Drifting | May-1974 |
45 | Lindsay, Rachel | Price of Love | May-1974 |
46 | Mather, Anne | Prelude to Enchantment | May-1974 |
47 | Hampson, Anne | When the Clouds Part | Jun-1974 |
48 | Lindsay, Rachel | Business Affair | Jun-1974 |
49 | Mather, Anne | A Savage Beauty | Jun-1974 |
50 | Winspear, Violet | The Glass Castle | Jun-1974 |
51 | Hampson, Anne | Hunter of the East | Jul-1974 |
52 | Hilton, Margery | A Man Without Mercy | Jul-1974 |
53 | Lindsay, Rachel | Mask of Gold | Jul-1974 |
54 | Mather, Anne | The Night of the Bulls | Jul-1974 |
55 | Brett, Rosalind | I love this stranger. | Aug-1974 |
56 | Hampson, Anne | After Sundown | Aug-1974 |
57 | Mather, Anne | Beloved Stranger // Legacy of the Past | Aug-1974 |
58 | Rome, Margaret | Man of Fire | Aug-1974 |
59 | Hampson, Anne | Beloved Rake | Sep-1974 |
60 | Lindsay, Rachel | Castle in the Trees | Sep-1974 |
61 | Mather, Anne | Chase a Green Shadow | Sep-1974 |
62 | Rome, Margaret | The Marriage of Caroline Lindsay | Sep-1974 |
63 | Hampson, Anne | Stars Over Sarawak | Oct-1974 |
64 | Leigh, Roberta | Beloved Ballerina | Oct-1974 |
65 | Mather, Anne | White Rose of Winter | Oct-1974 |
66 | Mutch, Karin | Cindy, Tread Lightly | Oct-1974 |
67 | Burchell, Mary | Accompanied by His Wife | Nov-1974 |
68 | Leigh, Roberta | And Then Came Love | Nov-1974 |
69 | Mather, Anne | Master of Falcon’s Head | Nov-1974 |
70 | Winspear, Violet | The Chateau of St. Avrell | Nov-1974 |
71 | Brett, Rosalind | And No Regrets | Dec-1974 |
72 | Hampson, Anne | The Way of a Tyrant | Dec-1974 |
73 | Lindsay, Rachel | Food for Love | Dec-1974 |
74 | Mather, Anne | Leopard in the Snow | Dec-1974 |
75 | Burchell, Mary | Dare I Be Happy? | Jan-1975 |
76 | Leigh, Roberta | Heart of the Lion | Jan-1975 |
77 | Mather, Anne | The Japanese Screen | Jan-1975 |
78 | Way, Margaret | A Man Like Daintree | Jan-1975 |
79 | Hampson, Anne | The Black Eagle | Feb-1975 |
80 | Lindsay, Rachel | Innocent Deception | Feb-1975 |
81 | Thorpe, Kay | The Iron Man | Feb-1975 |
82 | Way, Margaret | Copper Moon | Feb-1975 |
83 | Burchell, Mary | Yet Love Remains | Mar-1975 |
84 | Caine, Rebecca | That Summer of Surrender | Mar-1975 |
85 | Lindsay, Rachel | Love in Disguise | Mar-1975 |
86 | Mather, Anne | Rachel Trevellyan | Mar-1975 |
87 | Hampson, Anne | Fetters of Hate | Apr-1975 |
88 | Lynne, Suzanna | Red Feather Love | Apr-1975 |
89 | Wibberley, Mary | The Snow on the Hills | Apr-1975 |
90 | Winspear, Violet | The Noble Savage | Apr-1975 |
91 | Lane, Roumelia | Stormy Encounter | May-1975 |
92 | Mather, Anne | Mask of Scars | May-1975 |
93 | Thorpe, Kay | Opportune Marriage | May-1975 |
94 | Way, Margaret | Bauhinia Junction | May-1975 |
95 | Hampson, Anne | Dark Hills Rising | Jun-1975 |
96 | Mather, Anne | Silver Fruit Upon Silver Trees | Jun-1975 |
97 | Seale, Sara | To Catch a Unicorn | Jun-1975 |
98 | Winspear, Violet | The Girl at Goldenhawk | Jun-1975 |
99 | Burchell, Mary | Love Made the Choice | Jul-1975 |
100 | Mather, Anne | Dark Moonless Night | Jul-1975 |
Harlequin presents were always a category I enjoyed. Great retrospective. Thanks!
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