I love me some Sabrina Darby. Aside from being a fabulous writer of sexy romance (read On These Silken Sheets ASAP) and a coauthor of The Ballroom Blog, She’s a dear friend (the first I made as a romance novelist), a wonderful critique partner and a brilliant mind. So I should not have been surprised that when I asked her to blog for Writers on Rogues, she came up with a truly fabulous rogue…
A lady one.
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A rogue of romance fiction is a unique character: wicked, lascivious, scandalous, and just waiting to be tamed by a very civilized yet still passionate love.
One of my favorite rogues is all those things and more. In fact, this rogue’s a she.
George Sand (the pseudonym for Armandine Aurore Lucile, Baroness Dudevant—a long, very feminine name suitable for romance book fame, complete with a title thanks to her estranged husband) was a French writer who, during her life, was almost more famous for her love affairs as for her novels. Likely this was due to the fact that many of the books she published were memoirs of her scandalous life. And that she liked to go about dressed as a man.
Excellent!
My favorite portrayal of George Sand is by Judy Davis in the wonderful movie Impromptu.
The film chronicles the beginning of Sand’s decade long love affair with Fredric Chopin (a young Hugh Grant), who, in the film’s depiction is the equivalent of the innocent, talented, and virtuous heroine of romance who is seduced by the rogue at the same time as convincing the rogue of the error of his ways. What I just adore, is that in this movie, whether or not the actual history was quite this way, the gender roles are completely reversed!
Here she is at the start of the movie where we learn how very roguish she is. (Note the wonderful Mandy Patinkin in the clip as her previous lover.)
I love stories where the woman is scandalous one pursuing the man. In fact, I’m writing one of those at the moment!
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And I cannot wait to read it!!!
I told you Sabrina was awesome! Tell us…do you like it when the heroine acts as seductress? Or when she wears pants and defies social conventions of the time? What are your favorite romances that feature women as rogues? One lucky commenter (US only) will win a copy of Sabrina’s amazing On These Silken Sheets!
March 12th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
Judy Davis is brilliant as George Sand in Impromptu! I love that movie! I’m not a huge fan of the trope in general because I don’t really think it’s usually well handled by authors, but I will keep my grumpy comments to myself. :)
March 12th, 2012 at 11:20 pm
I love the movie too and my friend just informed me it is on instant download on Netflix…
March 12th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
What an awesome post! I love scandalous ladies. One of my favorite historical figures is Lady Hamilton. I think the best part of any rogue figure–male or female–is when an author brings to life their quirks.
March 12th, 2012 at 11:21 pm
:) She is a very compelling figure and definitely a bit roguish.
March 12th, 2012 at 10:12 pm
Very nice post. I like both these types of stories. I like Gaelen Foley’s Prince Charming.
March 14th, 2012 at 8:38 am
How cool is this?!
March 15th, 2012 at 3:51 pm
So…lady Rogues. I have two ladies who became infamous because of famous painters who painted them, scandalously, in Paris and Vienna. Each has her own historical novel. Fascinating!
First is Madame X by John singer Sargent which caused such a stir at 1884 Paris Salon. She was an American beauty named Virginie Gautreau who was born in New Orleans and fled to France during the Civil War. Gioia Diliberto wrote about her in ‘I am Madam X.’
Second is The Kiss by Gustav Klimt (1907/8). It is thought that Emilie Floge, Klimt’s mistress, was the model for this painting (he painted a full-length portrait of her also). She was a well-known Viennese fashion designer. Elizabeth Hickey wrote of her life story in ‘The Painted Kiss.’
March 16th, 2012 at 6:48 am
I can’t really think of a story where the woman pursued the man but I know I’ve read them. Right now I’m reading A Scandalous Countess, the heroine is not pursuing the hero but the heroine ends up in a scandal because of her behavior even though she didn’t do what she is accused of.
May 19th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Sabrina,
I love heroines who are rule breakers. There’s nothing better than a story served with rogues, scoundrels, a side of rakes, and a dollop of humor.
Somehow I missed seeing Impromptu. I’ll rectify the situation forthwith.
-Jillian