Delving into works by mark twain henry james william dean howells and others the book identifies the genres unique features and explores the connections between romantic friendships in literature and in real life situating love between men at the heart of victorian culture it alters our understanding of the american literary canon and with its deep insights into the emotional and intellectual life of the period also offers a fresh perspective on nineteenth century americas . In manly love axel nissen turns to the novels and short stories of victorian america to uncover the widely overlooked phenomenon of passionate friendships between men nissens examination of the literature of the period brings to light a forgotten genre the fiction of romantic friendship. In manly love axel nissen turns to the novels and short stories of victorian america to uncover the widely overlooked phenomenon of passionate friendships between men nissens examination of the literature of the period brings to light a forgotten genre the fiction of romantic friendship. Download citation manly love romantic friendship in american fiction the modern idea of victorians is that they were emotionless prudes imprisoned by sexual repression and suffocating social . It was a familiar scenario in 19th century american fiction and like the english school story it often ended in pathos or in the marriage of one friend to the others sister the master of the subgenre was bret harte who found international fame with touching but slightly ironic stories of friendships formed in the california gold rush