100 years of love: Introducing Barbara Cartland’s Romantic Sub-Genres 

Barbara Cartland, a renowned novelist, wrote 723 books throughout her lifetime, having published her first novel, “Jigsaw,” in 1925. Her literary contributions have resulted in global sales surpassing one billion books. To many, she is celebrated as a romantic author, earning her the well-deserved title as ‘the undisputed queen of romance.’ However, her extensive catalogue includes more than romantic stories, demonstrating a diversity in her work.  

Her novels, globally beloved for a century, are known for inspiring narratives and strong female leads that offer engaging and entertaining book moments. As we explore and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Cartland publishing her first book, we encourage you to discover the diverse and captivating sub-genres of Cartland’s romance novels.  

In this article we will dive deeper into four subgenres from Cartland’s broad catalogue. From the rugged charm of adventure romance and the engrossing regency era, to love in medieval times and family sagas exploring dynamic family relationships – all showcasing Cartland’s wide-ranging storytelling. To explore the full extent of the captivating sub-genres of Cartland’s romance novels, consult the Barbara Cartland sub-genre kaleidoscope here.  

The variety of Cartland’s novels means there’s something for everyone – her wide range of stories really draws in different readers. It just goes to show that Barbara Cartland’s books have a timeless appeal that can hook anyone. 

Adventure Romance 

Barbara Cartland’s adventure romance novels combine the best elements from the adventure and romance genres. The stories are marked by exciting, risk-filled scenarios, often involving quests and travels, or high-stakes challenges. Often set in distant locations they tell vivid narratives of dangerous and even sinister situations, and how the main characters overcome hurdles together to find love ever after. Readers who enjoy this genre get the thrill of adventure combined with the emotional connection and comfort found in classic romance novels. Fans of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the wind” and Julia Gregson’s “East of the Sun” will probably find this appealing.  

You can find the list of our English language adventure romances by clicking the link below:

Regency Romance 

Cartland’s Regency Romances plunge readers into the heart of England’s regency period, a time of elegance, manners, and grandeur. Filled with themes of social standings, controversial reputations, and captivating courtship, Cartland utilizes the era’s charm to carve intricate love stories. Amidst balls and societal norms, readers witness love unfolding in its most classic form, all the while capturing the essence of a time when manners and etiquette were paramount. Will likely appeal to fans of Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen and Bridgerton.  

You can find the list of our English language regency romances by clicking the link below:

Romantic Tropes 

Last but certainly not least are Cartland’s romantic tropes. Her novels often include compelling tropes, such as enemies to lovers, love triangles, forced proximity, fake relationships or even hidden identity. She was a precursor of these tropes who are currently being very sought after, if their popularity on social media is of any indication. With 1.4M posts on Instagram and +2M posts on TikTok, #enemiestolovers is extremely popular even amongst young populations. Same goes for #lovetriangle, with +245K posts on Instagram and +115K posts on TikTok. The tropes that Barbara Cartland develops ensure that the reader will feel comforted by her novels, while still being captivated by the plot of the story. And they also solidify Barbara Cartland as the Queen of Romance, as she handles these tropes with a brilliance worthy of the greatest romance authors. 

You can find the list of our English language romantic tropes by clicking the link below (the lists per trope are located at the end of the article). We have referenced the following tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Opposite Attract, Love Triangle, Forced Proximity, Second Chance, Friends to Lovers, Fake Relationship, Forbidden Love and Hidden Identity.

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There are plenty of intriguing stories to delve into within Cartland’s catalog. It’s no surprise that she holds a big place in readers’ hearts even 100 years after her debut. Barbara Cartland’s romance sub-genres cater to a broad reader spectrum, demonstrating her exceptional authorship. Whether it’s adventure romance, classic regency narratives, or compelling romantic tropes, Cartland provides captivating content for all. Even after a century, her engaging writing maintains its appeal, solidifying her status in romantic fiction. To explore more of Barbara Cartland’s sub-genres such as Mystery and Suspense, Victorian and Wartime and Military, click here.

Click on the links below to download our selection of English titles that belong to each trope: