tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15898979.post3251235707256686106..comments2024-01-14T18:44:19.861-05:00Comments on Is that a stake in your pocket?: A Mistress by any other name...Devonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12526459179535104279noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15898979.post-36869039354448871522007-12-20T17:24:00.000-05:002007-12-20T17:24:00.000-05:00Right on, Tumperkin! Very true. I think it also ...Right on, Tumperkin! Very true. I think it also implies a certain naughtiness that is titillating to readers.Devonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12526459179535104279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15898979.post-79363830851135186632007-12-20T05:32:00.000-05:002007-12-20T05:32:00.000-05:00You've been reading my mail, Devon! I was just th...You've been reading my mail, Devon! I was just thinking about this. <BR/><BR/>Use of the word mistress makes total sense in historical books or to describe contemporary extra-marital affairs. It is not, however, used in contemporary society to describe a 'kept woman'- which is how Harlequin use it all the time. These days most people would simply think of such a woman as the man's girlfriend.<BR/><BR/>So why is it used all the time? <BR/><BR/>It is essentially a perjorative term, implying a degree of disapproval which is why I think it is attractive to readers despite it being effectively meaningless in modern terms. We immediately know that the hero probably isn't giving the heroine the respect she deserves (since he probably believes he is paying for her 'services') and he is going to have to learn his lesson.Joanna Chambershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11008683032460114886noreply@blogger.com