Cornwall writers

Cornwall, with its dramatic coastal and moorland scenery, has inspired many writers and poets to set their stories and poems there, but there are several who have a more direct connection with the county, due to having been born, or spent an appreciable part of their lives, in Cornwall. These include:

Sir John Betjeman (1906-84)

John Betjeman, who was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death, knew Cornwall well due to having spent many holidays there from childhood onwards. The area he knew best was around the village of Trebetherick, near Padstow, and he bought a house there (named "Treen") in 1959. This was where he died, and his grave is in the churchyard of the nearby church of St Enodoc. A number of Betjeman's poems refer to the area, including "Trebetherick", "Cornish Cliffs" and "Sunday Afternoon Service in St Enodoc Church, Cornwall”.

Charles Causley (1917-2003)

Charles Causley, poet and editor, was born in Launceston and, apart from wartime service in the Royal Navy and a few visiting fellowships abroad, spent the whole of his life there. He was a primary school teacher in the town for 30 years, and many of his poems were either for or inspired by children. He was highly regarded by his fellow poets, although, like John Betjeman, he tended to write outside the mainstream of modern poetry. He was thought by many people, especially in Cornwall, to be the best choice to succeed Betjeman as Poet Laureate. He is buried in the churchyard of St Thomas's church in Launceston.

Daphne du Maurier (1907-89)

Although born in London, Daphne du Maurier got to know Cornwall from an early age, as her parents had a holiday cottage at Bodinnick, near Fowey. In 1943 she took her young family to Cornwall to escape from the Blitz and rented a large house called Menabilly, overlooking St Austell Bay. This house was already well known to her, as it had been immortalised as "Manderley" in her best-known novel, "Rebecca" (1938). In 1969 she moved to a house called "Kilmarth", in Par, where she spent the rest of her life. Apart from the Cornish locations of novels including "Frenchman's Creek" and "Jamaica Inn", Daphne du Maurier was inspired to write her short story "The Birds" by watching gulls following the plough. This story was adapted by Alfred Hitchcock for his 1963 film.

Sir William Golding (1911-93)

William Golding, the novelist who is best known for "Lord of the Flies" (1954) and "The Spire" (1964), was born in Newquay but spent much of his life outside Cornwall, most notably in Wiltshire. However, he returned to the county in 1985 and spent the rest of his life there. He settled in the village of Perranworthal, between Truro and Falmouth, and wrote "Close Quarters" (1987) and "Fire Down Below" (1989) while living there.

Winston Graham (1908-2003)

Winston Graham, novelist, was born in Manchester but at the age of 17 moved with his parents to Perranporth, near Newquay, due to his father having suffered a stroke. He lived in the village until 1959 and used the area as the setting for his best-known novels, namely the twelve "Poldark" books written between 1945 and 2002. These were a historical family saga, set in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, some of which were made into a highly successful BBC drama series. He wrote many other novels including "Marnie" (1961) which was the basis of Alfred Hitchcock's 1964 film.

Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)

Thomas Hardy is usually regarded as a Dorset writer, but Cornwall had an important influence on his life and work. In 1870, as an assistant architect, he visited the church of St Juliot, near Boscastle, to work on its restoration. While there he met and courted Emma Lavinia Gifford, whom he married in 1874. His early novel "A Pair of Blue Eyes" (published in 1873) was set in north Cornwall, with Boscastle becoming "Castle Boterel". Many years later, after Emma had died in November 1912, Hardy returned to the area on a "pilgrimage" and wrote a number of poems that recalled his memories of courting Emma and his regrets following her death. These were some of his greatest poems, including "After a Journey", "Beeny Cliff" and "At Castle Boterel".

© John Welford