Must-read books set in Cornwall
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
An international bestseller this classic 1938 novel follows the story of an unnamed English woman who is the books main protagonist. She meets and marries an older wealthy gentleman and comes to live at his mansion in Cornwall called Manderley. The house carries the legacy of her husbands deceased late wife Rebecca.
From the opening sentence - "Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again" - to the final - "And the ashes blew towards us with the salt wind from the sea" - I was hooked ... Rebecca is one of the underrated classics of the 20th century ... Rebecca is a masterpiece in which du Maurier pulls off several spectacular high-wire acts that many great writers wouldn't attempt - Guardian
Other books by Daphne du Maurier: Frenchman’s creek, Jamaica Inn, The House on the Strand.
2. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
A Sunday times bestseller in 2018 this captivating book is all about starting over again. After receiving some terrible news Raynor and her husband make the impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the South West Coast Path. It is an honest story which comes to terms with grief and the healing power of nature.
An astonishing narrative of two people dragging themselves from the depths of despair along some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country, looking for a solution to their problems and ultimately finding themselves. - Independent
Other books by Rayner Winn: The Wild Silence, Landlines.
Inspired by the Salt Path check out our blog post on our top 3 walks around the Lizard by clicking below!
3. Ross Poldark by Winston Graham
The first novel in the popular series by Winston Graham this book is set in Cornwall in the 1780s. It follows Ross Poldark as he returns from the grim war in America to discover his joyful homecoming has turned sour.
Ross is one of literature's great heroes . . . [with] elements of Darcy, Heathcliff, Rhett Butler and Robin Hood - Debbie Horsfield
Other books by Winston Graham: The Poldark novel series.
4. A Cornish Affair by Liz Fenwick
If you are a fan of romance novels then this is the book for you! After running out on her wedding day Jude flees to Pengarrock, a crumbling cliff-top mansion in Cornwall where she works for the Trevillion Family. Exploring different relationships and learning to love oneself you will enjoy the beautiful descriptions of the Cornish Countryside as well as the plots themselves!
This is a book about loss, misguided decisions, heartbreak and change, but it's also about hope, long held secrets and friendships formed between the unlikeliest of people ... [it] made me laugh out loud and cry a few times. I loved it - NOVELICIOUS
Other books by Liz Fenwick: The Cornish House, A Cornish Stranger, Under a Cornish Sky.
5. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
Nominated as one of the top 100 novels in the 2003 BBC’s Big Read, The Shell Seekers follows Penelope Keeling’s examination of her life both past and present in Cornwall with the story centred around her father’s painting, The Shell Seekers, which turns out to be worth quite a bit of money. Now in her sixties she reflects on her bohemian childhood in Cornwall.
A wonderful, not-to-be-missed novel that is destined to provide many hours of pleasurable reading - Woman and Home
Other books by Rosamunde Pilcher: A Place Like Home, September, Coming Home.
