{"product_id":"9781421408927","title":"Thrill of the Chaste: The Allure of Amish Romance Novels","description":"\u003cp\u003eBrowse the inspirational fiction section of your local bookstore, and you will likely find cover after cover depicting virtuous young women cloaked in modest dresses and wearing a pensive or playful expression. They hover innocently above sun-drenched pastures or rustic country lanes, often with a horse-drawn buggy in the background—or the occasional brawny stranger. Romance novels with Amish protagonists, such as the best-selling trailblazer \u003ci\u003eThe Shunning\u003c\/i\u003e by Beverly Lewis, are becoming increasingly popular with a largely evangelical female audience. \u003ci\u003eThrill of the Chaste\u003c\/i\u003e is the first book to analyze this growing trend in romance fiction and to place it into the context of contemporary literature, religion, and popular culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eValerie Weaver-Zercher combines research and interviews with devoted readers, publishers, and authors to produce a lively and provocative examination of the Amish romance novel. She discusses strategies that literary agents and booksellers use to drive the genre’s popularity. By asking questions about authenticity, cultural appropriation, and commodification, \u003ci\u003eThrill of the Chaste\u003c\/i\u003e also considers Amish fiction’s effects on Amish and non-Amish audiences alike.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Johns Hopkins University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47153817616624,"sku":"9781421408927","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781421408927_p0.jpg?v=1769899002","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781421408927","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}