One such book could be 'The Secret Bond' which explores the challenges faced by two women in an arranged marriage setup in a historical setting.
I'd recommend 'The Hidden Love in Times Past'. This book presents a captivating tale of two lesbian characters forced into an arranged marriage, and how they navigate through the difficulties and find their true selves. It beautifully portrays the historical backdrop and the emotional turmoil they go through.
One popular one is 'Pride and Prejudice'. It's set in the early 19th - century England. The relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy starts off as a sort of arranged - marriage - like situation due to social expectations. Another is 'Jane Eyre'. Although not a traditional arranged marriage in the strictest sense, Jane is pressured into a marriage - like situation with Rochester which is influenced by social and economic factors of that historical period. And 'Wuthering Heights' also has elements of arranged marriages within the complex web of relationships in the Yorkshire moors setting of the 19th century.
Love development. Usually, the couple starts off not knowing each other well in an arranged marriage, and the story focuses on how they gradually fall in love. For example, in many books, they start to notice little things about each other that are endearing.
One great book is 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith. It was groundbreaking for its time in depicting a lesbian relationship within a historical context.
One popular arranged marriage fiction book is 'The Arrangement' by Mary Balogh. It beautifully depicts the relationship that develops between the two main characters in an arranged marriage situation.
I really liked 'Love Amidst Arranged Marriage and Pregnancy'. In this story, the arranged marriage is between two families with different values. The female character's pregnancy is a catalyst for many changes. It shows how she tries to adapt to the new family, deal with the expectations of society, and at the same time, handle her own feelings during this crucial time in her life. It's a great exploration of human relationships in a historical context.
One great example is 'Outlander' by Diana Gabaldon. It has elements of historical arranged marriage within a time - traveling love story. The relationship between Claire and Jamie starts with an arranged - like situation in the historical Scottish setting and develops into a deep and passionate romance.
'Fingersmith' by Sarah Waters is also highly recommended. It's set in Victorian England and is full of twists and turns. The characters are well - developed and the portrayal of the lesbian relationship is complex and nuanced. It shows how women in that era had to navigate their feelings within a society with strict norms.
Historical lesbian fiction books often explore the social constraints of the time. For example, in many past eras, same - sex relationships were not accepted. So, these books show how the characters navigate this hostile environment. They also tend to have rich historical settings, like Victorian England or early 20th - century America, which add depth to the story.
Definitely 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. Although not strictly an 'arranged marriage' in the modern sense, the concept of marriage for social and economic reasons, which was common in that era, is a major theme. Mr. Collins' proposal to Elizabeth, which was more of an arranged - like situation, is a key part of the story.
Sure. 'The Viscount Who Loved Me' by Julia Quinn is a wonderful book in this genre. It shows how the main characters enter into an arranged marriage for various reasons and then discover unexpected feelings for each other. It's full of charming banter and romantic moments. Also, 'An Arranged Marriage' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni tells a poignant story of a young woman in an arranged marriage and her struggles and growth within that relationship.