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Buy a colonial romance book with adventure and love written by Eileen Kirksey Triplett, Jeremiah’s Journey.
The colonial era is a long period that is marked by a terrible series of power imbalances, cycles of exploitation, and senseless cultural clashes. It might seem like quite the unlikely setting for romance, yet within this era of complex socio-political upheaval, human connection still persisted and flourished.
Despite the pervasive idea of hierarchies, racialized and nationalized entities, there was still love–love that defied ingrained societal norms and stratified political realities.
WRITING COLONIAL ROMANCE
Writing colonial romance presents an opportunity for writers to actually portray and convey the intimacies that blossomed amidst the troubles that were persistent in that time. Through colonial romance, readers can see how bridges between two worlds can be bridged and how love endures even in the face of insurmountable odds.
The colonial era was a period decidedly marked by the abject suffering that was prominent all throughout. Not to say that what agony that was begun or amplified by it is gone, but it was an age full of great dichotomies: there was great exploration, but there were also horrific restrictions; it was a time of cultures reaching out, but it was also a time of cultures being stamped out.
The tangled nest of contradictions that was the colonial era make it ripe for narrative because, while these grand stories were being played out, smaller vignettes flourished in between. Writing colonial romance presents a unique challenge and opportunity for historically minded authors, who want to reveal the colonial era as it was for the people who would have lived through it.
This genre, when approached with sensitivity and historical awareness, is a powerful vehicle for delivering profound insights into human relationships and the lengths people go to to make connections, even in a time of great fracturing.
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BALANCE SENSITIVITY & HISTORICITY
A critical element of writing colonial romance is that there should always be a clear acknowledgement of the power dynamics being portrayed and the historical context within which they play out.
Never romanticize colonialism. It is possible to depict that colonialism brought some benefits to the colonized, but it should never paper over the fact that whatever good happened, it was at the expense of inflicting pain upon other people.
Thorough research is paramount to ensure this. Take great measures to understand what actually happened during the time you want to set your narrative in, learn what the cultural nuances are of both the colonizer and the colonized, and internalize in the writing the political climate brewing.
Do not take the easy way out, falling into crude stereotypes. Treat each character as products of their time–and not twisted reflections from a time that has long passed gleaned from the perspective of a future that’s learned from its mistakes.
The romance you want to portray should not exist in a vacuum but rather be deeply intertwined with the realities of the setting.
THERE IS LOVE, NEVERTHELESS
While there was untold suffering throughout the age of colonialism, there was–nevertheless–love also. Despite the many horrid ideologies and policies that sprang forth from the metropoles, people still believed and fought for their shared humanity.
This is where colonial romance shines: the grand perspective of love and the unifying power it possesses, transcending petty ideas of race, ethnicity, religion, etc. With colonial romance, readers can see that–despite what ideas were imposed upon them–people can find love, belonging and understanding from anyone, even from those they had been taught to hate and to consider lesser.
However, while there is such a thing as universal concepts and experiences, these are all filtered through the lenses people were taught to see them in. Always be careful to give nuance to the perspectives of different people and the process of mutual understanding.
Exploring these contrasting perspectives adds depth and complexity to the burgeoning romance.
CROSSING BOUNDARIES
The inherent tension and societal disapproval that comes with interracial or intercultural relationships in a colonial setting (and even now) can be a powerful element in colonial romance.
The forbidden nature of this connection intensifies the feelings of the couple for each other, forcing them to confront the prejudices and limitations of their respective societies.
However, it is essential to avoid romanticizing the suffering that these relationships often entail. The focus should be on the characters’ agency and their determination to forge a connection despite the obstacles rather than glorifying the pain and hardship they endure.
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For a great colonial romance, Jeremiah’s Journey by Eileen Kirksey Triplett is available on this website. Click here to get to the order page.
