Special Interest Groups: What Have You Learned from Romance Novels?

One of my favorite Linda Howard books, Duncan's Bride, had the h/h exchanging bits of trivia. Through this verbal foreplay between them, I discovered what an aglet was, that a 10 gallon hat doesn't actually hold 10 gallons of water, the names of the kings & queens in a deck of playing...etc. *sigh* I would love it if this book was re-released in digital format.

Oh, @vi Dao, I love that you learned about aglets from a book! I learned most of what Regency history I know from romance novels, and I just read a Harlequin Superromance that talked a lot about high school football, about which I'd known nothing.

I cherish all the things that romantic novels have taught me. I have learnt about Hazard, Haggis, Russian Icons, and 19th century fashion. But at the same time, I've learnt about the horrors of the war against Napoleon, the magnificency of conquest of the west, the devastation of the American civil war. I have learnt also about the brave defenders of womens' rights, the vision of medicine pioneers, and the talent of the masters of arts. After reading my favorite books from Jo Beverly, Lorraine Heath, Mary jo Putney, Mary Balogh, Connie Brockway, Loretta Chase, and many more, I've seen England in spring, a rainstorm in Paris, Texas under the sun, and the after battle of Waterloo. Indeed, I cherish all those things.