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CW: racism; rape
#DailyPaperback Originally published in 1919, Edith Maude Hull’s The Sheik is one of the most influential romance novels of all time. It’s also—obviously—problematic as hell. Here’s a short thread:
#DailyPaperback Originally published in 1919, Edith Maude Hull’s The Sheik is one of the most influential romance novels of all time. It’s also—obviously—problematic as hell. Here’s a short thread:
CW: racism; rape
The heroine, Diana Mayo, is a haughty aristocratic tomboy whose parents are dead. She decides to take a desert trip with only a guide and is kidnapped by... yep, you guessed it... the Sheik.
The heroine, Diana Mayo, is a haughty aristocratic tomboy whose parents are dead. She decides to take a desert trip with only a guide and is kidnapped by... yep, you guessed it... the Sheik.
CW: racism; rape
And he rapes her. Repeatedly. It’s all off camera but still not fun to read (yes, I have actually read this btw). This narrative becomes SUPER common in romance... for a long time. In fact, I think the Sheik influenced the narrative of Daenerys and Drogo in GOT
And he rapes her. Repeatedly. It’s all off camera but still not fun to read (yes, I have actually read this btw). This narrative becomes SUPER common in romance... for a long time. In fact, I think the Sheik influenced the narrative of Daenerys and Drogo in GOT
CW: racism; rape
I am *massively* oversimplifying here but one reason rape “works” in romance is because it allows the heroine to remain “pure.” She can be sexually active without making that choice (being a slut). Anyway, of course Diana eventually falls in love with the Sheik.
I am *massively* oversimplifying here but one reason rape “works” in romance is because it allows the heroine to remain “pure.” She can be sexually active without making that choice (being a slut). Anyway, of course Diana eventually falls in love with the Sheik.
CW: racism; rape
And is the book racist? Fuck yeah. The Sheik (mega spoiler) turns out to be English and Spanish, impersonating an Arab. So it’s not even an interracial romance and marriage in the end. Also liberal use of slurs, so be warned if you read it.
And is the book racist? Fuck yeah. The Sheik (mega spoiler) turns out to be English and Spanish, impersonating an Arab. So it’s not even an interracial romance and marriage in the end. Also liberal use of slurs, so be warned if you read it.
CW: racism; rape
In 1925 Hull published a sequel, Sone of the Sheik. I have the Dell mapback editions which, despite their problematic content, are stunning.
In 1925 Hull published a sequel, Sone of the Sheik. I have the Dell mapback editions which, despite their problematic content, are stunning.
CW: racism; rape
I’ll just pause here and say please don’t judge women of the past for reading these. They were escapism and they were erotic and exciting and *available* when other forms of sexual expression were not. Just let dead women get their jollies, okay?
I’ll just pause here and say please don’t judge women of the past for reading these. They were escapism and they were erotic and exciting and *available* when other forms of sexual expression were not. Just let dead women get their jollies, okay?
CW: racism; rape
Part of the book’s enduring legacy came from the 1921 film version, starring Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres
Part of the book’s enduring legacy came from the 1921 film version, starring Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres
CW: racism; rape
When Barbara Cartland launched her Library of Love in the 70s, she chose The Sheik (an edited version) as #1 in the series. I haven’t read the edit and I’m curious if she removed the slurs or if it was only edited for length.
When Barbara Cartland launched her Library of Love in the 70s, she chose The Sheik (an edited version) as #1 in the series. I haven’t read the edit and I’m curious if she removed the slurs or if it was only edited for length.
Shirley Conran borrowed the plot for a small subplot in her 1982 bestseller Lace (I only mention this because Lace is WILD and if you have not read it, go buy it NOW)
And the Sheik lives on and on. These are Harlequins from the early 2000s, including one of my all-time favorite titles “Hide-and-Sheikh.” I’ll resist any temptation to comment further other than saying there’s still a lot to discuss regarding racism in romance fiction.
A good point that this fantasy was not at all new when Hull “revived” it: https://twitter.com/JohBri/status/1394811119466860545
More insight into this side of the genre https://twitter.com/ArtOfTheClinch/status/1394831667563532291
I have not read this yet but it looks amazing. Definitely the place to go for more on this trope https://twitter.com/rebeccaromney/status/1394834708274483201
