Chasing Heroes, by Jo Robertson
Writing about one’s favorite hero in romance literature is like asking for a favorite color. There are so many choices, variations, and hues. How could a person decide from among them?
After some contemplation, I’ve come up with a beloved hero from my recent readings.
Author Anna Campbell, who is a fellow Bandida with me and nineteen other 2006 Golden Heart finalists, writes Regency noir. Her second novel, UNTOUCHED (currently available and published by Avon), presents the tortured, lonely Matthew Lansdowne, Marquess of Sheene.
Matthew is a man falsely imprisoned by his conniving uncle, who tortures the Marquess to keep him cowed, claiming he is mad. To provide amusement for his charge, Lord John kidnaps a woman and confines her in the prison estate with the hero. But Grace Paget is no common trollop; she’s an impoverished widow mistaken for a prostitute.
At first Matthew is a Lost Soul. Having been incarcerated from the age of fourteen, he’s a man who’s never known a woman, a virgin having no experience with the frailer sex. A sensitive, creative man, he tends to his hybrid roses in the courtyard garden, developing new floral strains and writing detailed horticultural accounts.
Matthew is a loner less by choice than by circumstances. Tormented by the heinous actions of his uncle, he resigns himself to living out the remainder of his life in seclusion and loneliness.
Until Grace Paget arrives.
Initially, when Grace is thrust into his life, he wants nothing to do with her. If she’d been an ordinary whore, he’d have found no romantic interest in her, but she is the woman of his youthful dreams and fantasies, and he finds himself unwillingly drawn to her. As a Lost Soul himself, he understands her terror and sympathizes with her fear.
But Matthew is also a Warrior. Contradicting his noble nature, he refuses to submit to his uncle’s machinations and tells Grace, “But I am not a man of honor . . . I am just a poor helpless lunatic.” However, her helplessness brings out the champion in him. He can no more abandon her than he can escape again, knowing his defection puts those he loves at risk.
He refuses to succumb to his desire to make Grace his own and clings to his humanity even as he’s driven by his passion for her. How much easier to take her and ease his own pain! But he refuses to compromise her honor. Eventually he makes the greatest sacrifice of all and plots to free the young widow from sharing the hell of his own bondage. He acknowledges his feelings to himself: “Tonight’s joy would always be a thread of bright gold woven through his life’s ragged fabric. He’d passed through a transforming fire.”
Even imprisoned and at the mercy of cruel, merciless guards, Matthew finds a way to protect Grace. Both Warrior and Lost Soul, he finds his way to redemption and emancipation through his love for Grace.
QUESTION OF THE DAY:
What do you think the keys are to crafting a complex hero such at Matthew Lansdowne?
Jo Robertson, a retired school teacher and the author of three unpublished romantic suspense novels, is currently working on an early 1900’s historical. She’s a founding member of Romance Bandits and also a member of RWA and her local chapter, Sacramento Valley Rose.
Everyone loves a good hero, but what do readers, agents, editors, and writers love most? Join us as we delve under the covers and find out!
February 26th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Hi, Jo! What a thought-provoking post. I agree with your assessment of Matthew. It was such a delight to find out he was more than a Lost Soul. *sigh* I think writing a complex hero like Matthew requires a lot of attention to detail.
For Matthew, that meant creating a backstory and situation that was not only tormented but that he felt he truly couldn’t escape. He believed he was mad and a menace to society, so he more or less accepted his imprisonment throughout his highly hormonal adolescence. Also, he took refuge in his mental pursuits, his learning and studies and experiments.
What made it most believable was that his uncle, while clearly a desperate and horrible man, was savvy enough to let Matthew have his books and things that kept him more comfortable in his cage. Theirs was also a complex relationship.
Overall, pulling this off depends on motivation. I have commented before that I can enjoy almost anything if it’s motivated properly and it’s true! I thoroughly enjoyed Matthew’s journey through his tormented psyche and outward and I hope everyone else does as well.
And everyone should come check us out at , where we talk about heroes and other cool stuff all the time. *g*
February 26th, 2008 at 8:23 am
Thanks, Misa, for inviting me to guest today on Chasing Heroes. What an interesting site!
It’s 5:30 a.m. here on the west coast and I’m going to be gone for a few hours so I thought I’d pose another question — one which I would’ve answered differently before I read Anna Campbell’s book UNTOUCHED and became acquainted with Matthew.
As a reader of romance, does the idea of a hero who’s inexperienced with women — a virgin, for heaven’s sake — turn you off? Or are you intrigued by such a man?
I’ll be back later, so have at it!!
February 26th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Hi, Jo! I think it’s the contradiction that makes a hero complex. The fact that you can have a virgin hero who is manly and highly sexed and will still deny himself his first experience because of his compassion and honor. I am definitely intrigued by such a man and can’t wait to read this book! Thanks for the great post.
February 26th, 2008 at 11:19 am
What a great blog, Jo. I loved the book, too (thanks for giving me a copy), and found Matthew a fabulous hero. You describe him so well.
Here’s to lost souls who eventually triumph!
Brenda
DEAD RIGHT, On Sale Now!
http://www.brendanovak.com
February 26th, 2008 at 11:59 am
A complex hero I find very intriguing.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Thanks Brenda and Virna for dropping by. LOL, Brenda, I’d forgotten I gave you a copy of Anna’s book. She really is a fantastic up and coming Regency Noir writer.
Yes, Virna and Lee, I think the complexity of the hero is what intrigues us women. Someone said recently — oops, forgot who, but the idea stuck with me — that we women like to read and write about Alpha males, but we marry Betas because they make the best husbands. I told my husband this and he frowned. “Hey, I don’t know if I like being a Beta.” I replied, “Better than an omega, dear.”
Of course, in UNTOUCHED Matthew’s anything BUT a Beta male
February 26th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Jo, what a great blog. Now I can’t wait to start Untouched. Hopefully only two more days! Matthew sounds like such a contradiction as a Lost Soul and Warrior. I think complex heroes are great!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Jo, fasinating blog subject. Intriging to think men can be complex creatures too. LOL
I’m married to an Alpha. It isn’t easy, but it makes life exciting.
I will have to get that book, you made it sound so thrilling to read, I can’t wait.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Hey Jo! Waving from the lair!
I’ve been asking myself how to do this–how to write such a tortured hero and have him still redeemable, since I read Claiming the Courtesan, also by Anna Campbell.
You know, usually, you can look at a book and ask the question, “Is this the hero’s story, or is this the heroine’s story?” and you can answer that about most stories. But not about Anna’s. It’s both. Her characters are so complex and real they’re undeniable. I still haven’t stopped thinking about ANY of them.
And Matthew is my favorite kind of hero. He’s a good guy and not a jerk. He’s suffering horribly, but he is, at heart, what his father taught him to be–a good man.
Maybe Anna will come on here and tell us how she does it–how she writes these people. But I have to say she MUST completely understand them–what makes them tick. My own heroes often are really close-mouthed–like a lot of men I guess–and they just won’t talk. They won’t tell me what made them that way. They don’t much like introspection when they’re talking to me. ARRRGH!
Nice look at Matthew, btw. Excellent blog Jo.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Another Bandita and SVR member swinging by! Wonderful site ladies, and GREAT post, Jo! I agree with Brenda, you described Matthew perfectly.
I must admit when I first heard Anna’s premise of a virgin hero, I was skeptical, but she pulled off her portrayal of Matthew with aplomb! He is a sensitive, sexy, to-die-for hero! Can you tell I loved this book? LOL!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Hi Jo! Another Bandita stepping over from the Lair to talk about one of our favorite subjects….Heroes! One of the things Anna did with Michael is use what I’d consider total opposites in charcterization, the Lost Soul and the Warrior. She tossed in a man who has little left to lose except his garden and his honor and POOF! complex man.
Great post, Jo!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Thanks for stopping by, Christie. You’ll love this book. By the way, Christie Kelly’s book EVERY NIGHT I’M YOURS just came out. It’s also a good read with a complex hero and even more complex heroine. Check it out.
Jill, I KNOW. I’ve always thought men were pretty simple creatures! Shhhh! Now I find out they may be as emotionally complex as we women. Frightening thing that!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Hi, dear friend Cassondra! Thanks for helping me out with the link so the Banditas could visit here.
Yes, I agree that Anna does that psychological complexity superbly. Hey, Cassondra, we should go on the road and spruik Anna’s books.
And damn those silent heroes! What’s with that? Sometimes you have to give them an unexpected thump in the rear to get them talking!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Hi, Cindy (known as Aunty Cindy in the Lair)! Cindy’s my critique partner and a better one is not to be found west of the Mississippi!
I agree that normally virgin heroes are a little off-putting, but Matthew really is a hero in his own class. There’s nothing untried about him. He has an instinctive knowledge about how to please a woman. Whew! Getting a little hot in here. ‘Nuff said.
Oooh, nicely said, Suz! Wish I’d expressed it as well. His garden and his honor. Although Matthew threatens Grace that he’s NOT honorable, the reader knows better.
And he’s smart, you know? I’ve always had a thing for smart men!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Hi, Jo–
I also like smart men. For complex heroes, I think it’s important to go beyond the surface, maybe not taking the first possible solution. As Suzanne says, the Lost Soul and the Warrior don’t usually go together.
Great blog!
February 26th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Jo,
Fantastic description of Mathew and I echo what you said about Anna Campbell being a master at developing psychological complex characters. Mathews strength and true hero abilities surfaced in the face of a greater wrong than even that which he had been subjected to….almost a latent alpha-ism…..
And I don’t have a problem with virgin heroes as long as the circumstances of his life have dictated why he is one. It was fascinating watching Mathew struggle with what he knows to be “right” with what Grace brought out within his heart, mind and body.
Back to the lair…..I hear a GR may be on the loose!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
LOL, Joanie, another Bandita, it’s true that we wouldn’t be much interested in a hero that’s a virgin without a compelling reason (uh, assuming he plays for our team). I think that’s why I loved the story of Thorn Birds and the priest (sorry, mind went blank) who’s a strong man, but has made a vow of chastity. Compelling reason, that!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Jo and Anna,
Another Bandita chiming in….excellent post. I love twists on a theme. Therefore, the man being the virgin is a wonderfully fresh and innovative idea. Heck, from the sounds of our dark and tortured Matthew, who wouldn’t want to teach him a thing or two??? LOL
I love Anna’s writing style and unique heroes!!!
KJ
February 26th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Jo, what a masterly analysis. I loved Untouched and as a writer, I’m flabbergasted that Anna managed to write such a sensitive, kind hero–a virgin, no less–and still make him sexy as all get out. And why do we like men of experience? Is it because we know they’ll be more skilled in the bedroom?
February 26th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Jo, what a fantastic analysis of Matthew’s character! And thank you, everyone, for those kind words about the green monster!
I wish I could say something really smart about creating complex characters. But the truth is these people emerge from deep in my subconscious, fairly fully formed. I’m not by any means saying I’m Michelangelo (!), but I get what he meant when he said the angel was trapped in the marble and all he did was chip away the stone to free it.
Matthew was very interesting (aka annoying) to write. I set out to do another troubled ultra alpha like the Duke of Kylemore from Claiming the Courtesan. I mean, if anyone has a right to be angry and bitter, it’s Matthew. But he was a knight in shining armour from the moment he appeared on the page and every time I tried to turn him into something more twisted, he used to just dig in his heels and refuse to talk to me (absolutely get what you mean about them talking to you, Cassondra!) and the book would stutter to a halt. As it is, I think my deepest instincts were right, not my conscious mind - there’s so much darkness in the surrounding circumstances, that having him as a source of light works well for the book’s balance.
On the issue of complexity, the characters I find compelling are the ones with shades of light and dark in their personality and contradictions and flaws and regrets. That seems to me more real - and anyway, I spend at least a year with these people (Untouched took four years on and off to write) so I need to keep myself interested as well! And like Jo said, I’ve always had a soft spot for a smart guy! I like the idea that talking to the hero would be (almost) as exciting for the heroine as his other skills
And hey, there’s nothing wrong with a man with imagination!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Ooh, and while I was rambling on, some more Banditas passed by. Hi, guys! Thanks for visiting! Actually, the virgin thing was sort of forced on me. For the story to work, Matthew had to be locked up from his boyhood. And I really wanted to make it clear that Lord John hadn’t just stolen his physical freedom, he’d stolen a whole range of human experiences from him at the same time, including Matthew’s chance to interact with women. Also, I have to say I find the whole first time thing for a man rather intriguing - we get it so often when the woman’s the virgin, not so often for the man.
I read a Harlequin Temptation years ago where the hero was a virgin and younger than the heroine - pretty daring for back in the late ’80s. He’d been in a car accident and his rehabilitation had denied him all the usual teenage experiences. One of the things that touched me about that story (it’s called First and Forever by Katherine Kendall and it’s still on my bookcase) was that all that pain and self-reflection had actually made the hero mature way beyond his years. So he was a better man for all his suffering - and I tried to bring that in for Matthew. Matthew has been refined by his suffering - in a way Lord John has created the man who can finally defeat him by abusing him. It’s like bringing Grace onto the estate is meant to be the death blow to Matthew’s defiance and yet it’s actually the thing that is the start of LJ’s downfall. Like twists like that!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Just checked - First and Forever was 1991. Definitely worth checking out!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Hey, Jo! Swinging by from the lair for a chance to hear about Anna’s virgin hero! What a fascinating character! I don’t mind virgin heroes/heroines per se, but I need a fully developed reason for it. Otherwise, it seems a little too contrived, especially for heroes.
I also am really intrigued by the combination of lost soul & warrior. Being a warrior implies knowing exactly who you are & what you’ll fight for, while lost souls are still searching. But to be both implies that you know some things with a deep certainty while others are still mysterious, & it provides such interesting ground to cover when the heroine comes into the picture & starts helping the hero know himself better.
Can’t wait to read this one, Anna!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Hi, Nancy, I was just thinking that the LOST SOUL and WARRIOR from the Hero’s Journey was MY analysis. I’m not sure Anna would agree with that’s what she intended with that pairing. But it works, huh?
KJ, oh yeah, teaching Matthew something would be fun LOL. But having Grace a pseudo-virgin (in the sense that her husband was a kind cold fish) makes it work, I think. They’re both fumbling along a little with their passion, but it doesn’t take them long to figure it out!
February 26th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Word Press is kind of acting up today, so bear with me if we get duplicates or it appears I’ve missed someone’s comment.
(Plus, I’m trying to watch RAISIN IN THE SUN while I’m blogging — multi-tasking, you know, tee hee.)
Christine, I KNOW. What is it with us women? We wouldn’t dream of sharing our men with other women, but we don’t want them to be dorky in the bedroom. Maybe we feel that sexuality is more “inherent” with men than women? That THEY know instinctively what to do and we women don’t?
February 26th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Hi, Anna C.!!! Thanks for stopping by. Here’s the author in the cyber-flesh, so to speak LOL.
BTW, the Green Monster is the title we’ve applied to the gawgeous cover of UNTOUCHED.
I ADORE what you’ve written Anna, and I think it’s a form of genius (now, now, no rebuttal here) when a writer digs deep into her subconscious mind and brings out these innovative ideas. I so envy that. I’m afraid my subconscious is pretty shallow b/c it rarely speaks to me when I’m sleeping LOL.
BTW, Lord John is truly a heinous villain, I think, when you consider, as you said, that he’s robbed Matthew of so much more than his physical freedom.
I didn’t think I could love another hero as much as Kylemore from COURTING THE COURTESAN, but Matthew captured my heart.
Who was the writer (Alexander Pope?) that said something like, “suffering refines us and purifies us and makes us fit for the presence of God”? I don’t know about God, but it does seem that Matthew’s suffering made him such a noble character.
February 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hi, Susan, waving madly. Excellent comment! You’re right. Perhaps it’s that ambivalence of the hero’s knowing some things with absolute certainty and waffling with others that draws us to a protagonist like Matthew. And a male virgin without a compelling reason in this day and age is strange. I imagine our inspirational romance sisters do a great job of handling that — sensual tension without sex, now there’s a challenge.
And Anna, yes, I love the irony, the poetic justice of Lord John’s actions having created the traits in Matthew that allow Matthew to defy/defeat him.
LOL, I imagine every divorced woman who’s become a stronger person because of the #&*# husband feels the same way.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Hey Jo (waving from the lair) - I’m a BIG fan of Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER and her hero was a virgin. That was the book that made me seek out and devour romances (long story) so this aspect in UNTOUCHED felt like coming home. Of course, I’m a big fan of Anna’s work as well, so it’s only fitting.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Goodness, Jo, that’s a great quote - sounds bit too profound for Pope
My main memory of him is his definition of wit as what was oft though but ne’er so well expressed or whatever the actual words are. I rather like the suffering one - certainly fits in with my concept of Matthew. Matthew is the man who can save Grace because he’s been through so much. Actually one thing I will say with my characters is that I like to make them a product of their history - because I think that’s true about all of us. We’re the people we are because of what has happened to us in the past. And I like thinking about the fullest consequences, however dire, of what has happened to those characters in the past. It’s often my characters’ scars that make them interesting! At least to me anyway.
Jo, I found your analysis really, really interesting. I’m not sure I think so much in the actual terms you used which is one of the things I enjoyed about your take on the story. A different analysis shone a different light on the story and illuminated stuff that was there but that I hadn’t actually thought of which I always love. To me, Matthew was an alpha male placed in a position of powerlessness. I think to survive what he’d been through, you’d have to be a leader and strong and brimming with integrity, which are all characteristics of the alpha male to me.
Thanks for those kind words, Donna!
February 26th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Wow, when a bandit comes out to play, the rest of the banditas really rock their support! Thanks to all of you for stopping by Chasing Heroes, and thanks for a great post, Jo!
~Misa
February 26th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Absolutely, Donna, how could I forget Jamie? And Claire was a widow, if I remember right? Now Gabaldon, she’s in a class all her own — the rich historical detail parallelled by the love story.
I’m reading Jennifer Donnelly’s THE TEA ROSE right now (she was a recent guest on our blog (http://romancebandits.blogspot.com/) and she has that strong sense of balancing historicity with the romance.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
“Matthew is the man who can save Grace because he’s been through so much.”
Love that comment, Anna. We often think that Grace is rescuing Matthew because his life was pretty bleak until she came into it, but I like the idea that he saves her. I always wondered if the name “Grace” had a symbolic meaning in the story.
LOL, it’s always strange (and funny) to hear someone else analyze our writing. I always straddle between “that’s not what I meant” and “cool, hadn’t thought of that.”
When my advanced placement seniors analyzed works, they always challenged the traditional ideas — how do you KNOW the author meant that? To me, that’s true genius, when someone can take the author’s works and make varied meaning throughout the years, all of which have some kind of validity.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Thanks for inviting me, Misa! It’s been a pleasure. We Banditas do tend to storm the beaches! All for one and one for all!
Have fun with your blogsite. I love the title and your concept of talking about our favorite heroes.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:16 am
There’s not many people smarter than Jo, and Anna, I can’t wait to read Untouched. I love what you said about your characters coming fully formed. Now that, ma’am, I find truly amazing. Jo, marvelous analysis of Matthew, what makes him tick and what makes this character grow and become a hero the reader identifies with and thus she can’t put down. I love that publishers aren’t looking for a hero who’s exactly like every other hero out there. How boring would that be? It’s characterization and how Anna brought him to life. Well done! I enjoyed reading everyone’s comments.
February 27th, 2008 at 1:03 am
Thanks, Donnell, that’s very kind of you. There’s tons more people smarter than me for sure. In fact, after I turned fifty, my IQ started losing points LOL.
I too find hope in the thought that editors aren’t looking for the same old version of the standard hero. Anna does this new kind of hero very well, as does another Bandita, Donna McMeans. Check out her THE EDUCATION OF MRS. BRIMLEY. That hero breaks the mold too!
April 6th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
There are so many people here commenting stuff. I’m not trying to correct your mistakes, I’m just not agree with any single word
July 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
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