Books, books books....
Hi everyone!
As promised, today I'm blogging about books. Or, to be more specific, books written about the West Country. The West Country is a very popular place for authors to set their books. I guess it's because there's something special about this part of Britain: it's quite isolated and the landscape is beautiful, with rolling hills, bleak moors and a dramatic coastline. 
Did you know that the most south western part of Britain - Cornwall - has its own language and it's own flag? In the picture below, it's the black flag on the right (the other two are the Union flag and the "Jolly Roger")
The Cornish language is probably only spoken fluently today by fewer than 500 people, but there is a revival happening and there are even some street signs written in English and Cornish.
But what does this have to do with books? Actually, nothing at all - I just thought it was interesting! Anyway, back to the subject of books. There have been literally thousands of books written about the West Country. The majority are historical novels - books that are set in the past. It would be impossible to talk about them all, so I thought I'd just mention three authors in particular. First of all, there's R D Blackmore. He lived 150 years ago and his most famous novel "Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor", is set in the 17th century and is the story of John Ridd and Lorna Doone. When John was a child, his father was killed by a band of thieves who lived in an isolated valley high on Exmoor. When he grows up he meets and falls in love with Lorna Doone....who is none other than the granddaughter of the leader of the band of thieves. Not only that, but she is also destined to marry someone else. Will John and Lorna ever find happiness? I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I will tell you that there are lots of twists and turns in the plot! Although it is a work of fiction, the places Blackmore describes are real. He wasn't born in the West Country, nor did he ever live there, but he must have visited Exmoor!
This is the Doone valley - even today you have to travel down a very steep, narrow road to get in to the valley:
and this is the church where Lorna got married:
The second author I want to tell you about is Daphne Du Maurier. She was born in London in 1907, but lived most of her adult life in Cornwall. You may already have heard of her: she wrote a short story called "The Birds" which Alfred Hitchcock made in to a film. She also wrote "Rebecca" which was made in to a film and won an Oscar in 1940. I have to confess that I have read Rebecca and didn't like it all that much! However, I have read most of her other books and enjoyed them. Apart from Rebecca, probably the most famous book she wrote was "Jamaica Inn".
Jamaica Inn really exists - but the story that Du Maurier wrote is fictional. Today the inn stands above a busy road, and is a tourist attraction - but when it was built in 1750, it was very isolated. Travellers would break their journey there overnight - but some of them were up to no good, hiding brandy and tea at the inn to avoid paying taxes! Like the story of Lorna Doone, the book Jamaica Inn is a romance: it's set in 1820 and is about Mary Yellan, who, after the death of her mother, goes to live with her aunt at Jamaica Inn. She soon realises that something strange is going on at the inn and discovers that her uncle is part of a group of wreckers - men who lure ships on to dangerous rocks and then steal the cargo.
Of course, there is also a handsome man involved and a surprise villain!
The final author (gosh this is turning in to a long blog - sorry), is Winston Graham who wrote a series of 12 books about the Poldark family (you can tell a true Cornishman if his family names starts with Tre, Pen or Pol). Once again, these are historical novels and tell the tale of Ross Poldark, who returns home to Cornwall to find his house is falling down and his fiancée is engaged to his cousin! The story follows Ross as he repairs his house and reopens the tin mine which is on his land. Naturally there are all sorts of disasters on the way - after all, that's what makes a good story! Before Cornwall became a popular tourist destination, mining tin was the main occupation - it was very dangerous, as many mines were on the cliffs and flooded very easily. Today the ruined tin mines are rather spectacular don't you think?
In the 1970's some of the books were turned in to a hugely successful BBC TV series called Poldark - I can remember sitting glued to the TV every week, gripped by the story and the beautiful scenery. At the time, I had never been to Cornwall but as you can see from my photos, I now go there every year if I can!
I'm going to sign off now, but next week I'll reply to all your comments and post the recipe for cheese scones!
Have a great weekend
Carrie
rolling hills: hills which go gently up and down
dramatic: very exciting
Jolly Roger: the flag flown on a pirate ship, showing a skull and crossbones
band of thieves : a group of men and/or women who steal things
none other than: this phrase is used to emphasize the surprising identity of a person
twists and turns : unexpected developements
break a journey: to stop somewhere to rest and/or eat and drink something
to be up to no good: doing something bad
to be glued to something or someone: to give something all your attention
to be gripped by something: something that affects you strongly
Comments
Carrie that's a really long blog, very nice to know these books on West Country...I've never come across these books until now!
Thank you for writing about books. I'm an eager reader. I read some fiction every day, and I often read travel books, biographies, memoirs and reports too. Thank you for recommending books written about the West Country to us. All three books are new to me. I already added "Lorna Doone" to a pile of books I'm going to read as soon as possible. I'm interested in a scene of the book. The picture of the Doone Valley looks like wonderful. All the remote or isolated areas appeal to me. What about other readers? Are you going to read some of these books presented in the blog? My Lorna Doone is an English-language edition. Let's see if I'm able to read it. I haven't read fiction in English much before. Whereas I read professional books and articles in English every day and it's not difficult at all.
wow interesting blog, I didn't know about the cornish language.
There are lovely places. this article made me want to read these books and going there. And many thanks for this interesting Blog. How a pleasant way to learn and understand English people
Hi Carrie!!!! Wow!!! What a delightful blog! Thanks God it was a long one :-). Although Rebecca is one of my favourite Hitch´s films I´ve never read the book. I´ve tried to find, but I´ve never succeed in my search. However, I have to confess that after reading your blog today I become more interesting in reading Jamaica Inn. Oooh... I hope I can find it. Therefore, I´ll have your amazing pictures to remind me the beautiful West Country scenery :-). Have a wonderful weekend you too, Ana Paula.
Hi Elina, I read english fiction before, like Dan Brown and Stephen King...they are different from the professional books and articles I would say. I read also scientific journals in english, but they are mostly straightforward in the language. In fictions they use some different expressions, flowery I would say (carrie, can I describe language as 'flowery'?)...I sometimes need a dictionary to understand some parts of the fiction, but still, very nice reading experience!
Hi Carie, My very first time to meet the word "Cornwall" was in Auckland, New Zealand where my brother-in-law Rod Peng lived. There is a park named Cornwall park in Auckland near Rod's house. My first thought with Cornwall was corn and wall which means there is a wall shaped like the corn, or, there are many corns bond together like a wall. And I knew I was wrong about it, it's a beatiful place in England. But, till now, I have no idea why the park in Auckland, New Zealand named it as Cornwall park. Best wishes, James
Hi Carrie! Wow.....your blog was more than interesting. You really take splendid pictures and the places you visit are amazing. I was glued to the computer reading your blog, taking notes of the books you recommended and visiting the links you posted. I learnt a lot from this blog. I feel really attracted by England in some way and your blogs let me make an imaginary travel. By the way, do you speak Cornish language?. Please keep blogging. I send you a big hug. Fondly, Cris
Carrie A long and interesting blog! I'm sure we don't mind having your long posts, you make us want to read it all! I saw Rebecca and Birds on VHS, long ago. Your pictures are beautiful, you take us with them along your text with perfection. The one of the ocean is just as I imagine it at the Cornwell coastline: fierce, powerful. Can the walls that appear on the picture with the flags and of Jamaica Inn be called ha-ha walls (even if they´re conspicuous)? I heard the term in The Archers. To those interested, Lorna Doone is available at the Gutenberg Project. I myself love the real thing, good old commercially printed books. And I support Elina's question: Would BBC consider reading one of these books for us to listen?
Carrie, the stories are fantastic. Thanks for sharing them with us. They seem to be romantic and moving. What to say about the shots you've got? I can't find adjectives to describe the stormy waves in Kyance Cove I almost hear the sound of the waves) and I have seen waves since as a child. My belated congrats on you birthday, I've posted a comment before but I think it was too late to be published. I wished you could read at least this one... A kiss Adri
Hi,Carrie,I have read Rebecca. I borrowed the book from a library. It was a book for easy reading for the foreigners. I like to read more books to improve my English. I am looking forward to your recipe for cheese cake.
It was a great introduction which contained full of information of those part of our world village. I just would like to wish if I can come and visit your area one day because it seems it should be fantastic surrounded scene over there.
good luck and have a great time over those part of paradise.
Thomas Hardy, Agatha Christy, Arthur Conan Doyle ... , those are my beloved English writers. And Rebecca, I still remember that I watched the movie in an open yard, and afterwards, borrowed the book in Chinese translation and read for several times before returning it to my friend. Thanks to the translators, the novels are very vivid illustrated and the language is as beautiful as English. I have set a plan for myself to read the English versions after my retirement.
Hi, Carrie what a wonderful blog and wonderful pictures. Im writing in the staff blog for the first time. I've never heard about Cornwall before. You've increased my knowledge:). Im not into reading much i've been reading a book since ages lol. What a pity:(. But this time i will try to read as many as i can.:). Thanx for the huge information. Tc and keep smiling !.
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