‘I can’t think of a more enjoyable or more illuminating guide to Cornwall than Petroc Trelawny, who knows it intimately, loves it deeply, and shares it generously’ – THE REVEREND RICHARD COLES
His first name is shared with one of Cornwall’s most celebrated saints, his second is the name of its unofficial national anthem. But when a stranger challenges the Radio 3 presenter on his ancestry, Petroc Trelawny is inspired to return to the lands of his boyhood to rediscover the place where he grew up, and attempt to confirm whether he still belongs there.
Petroc embarks on a very personal pilgrimage that sees him visit old mine workings, ancient churches, sites where new technology was forged, and places where poets, musicians, architects and film makers have worked to shape Cornwall’s cultural identity. He explores the Tamar, the river that marks out the Cornish frontier, and holds a finger up to winds of change, exploring the collapse of Methodism, the decline of the Cornish language, and the complex, sometimes destructive, relationship with tourism.
As he travels by road, rail and foot, he conjures marvellously vivid figures and scenes from memory, telling the story of a loving family full of mysteries and a landscape still redolent of ‘Cornish otherness’.
His first name is shared with one of Cornwall’s most celebrated saints, his second is the name of its unofficial national anthem. But when a stranger challenges the Radio 3 presenter on his ancestry, Petroc Trelawny is inspired to return to the lands of his boyhood to rediscover the place where he grew up, and attempt to confirm whether he still belongs there.
Petroc embarks on a very personal pilgrimage that sees him visit old mine workings, ancient churches, sites where new technology was forged, and places where poets, musicians, architects and film makers have worked to shape Cornwall’s cultural identity. He explores the Tamar, the river that marks out the Cornish frontier, and holds a finger up to winds of change, exploring the collapse of Methodism, the decline of the Cornish language, and the complex, sometimes destructive, relationship with tourism.
As he travels by road, rail and foot, he conjures marvellously vivid figures and scenes from memory, telling the story of a loving family full of mysteries and a landscape still redolent of ‘Cornish otherness’.
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Reviews
A vivid and often moving memoir-cum-history of his home county, the farthest-flung of all . . . a blend of personal history and reportage that makes for an enlightening and deeply pleasurable read
Trelawny's Cornwall sits perfectly balanced between personal remembrance and the historical celebration of a nation. I loved it!
Petroc Trelawny's meditative book on Cornwall . . . mixes travel writing, memoir and social history and it considers the particular question of regional identity. What is lost with a local language vanishes? What is gained by an influx of tourists with money to burn? What does the idea of 'Cornish otherness' actually mean?
Part charming memoir . . . part lyrical paean to a county that is often typecast. Instead of presenting Cornwall as entirely reliant on cream, pasties and Poldark, Mr Trelawny promotes it as a place of innovation and foresight, citing the potential . . . The two strands are beautifully balanced and resist aggressive nationalism, the autobiographical details gracefully revealed with a light touch and an endearing sense of hireth (a Cornish word suggesting an elusive homesickness triggered by memories)
Lively and informative . . . This is a richly rewarding book . . . I can't think of a better guide to Cornwall than Trelawny. He's the real deal, and short of being able to catch trains and wander around churches with the man himself, having his erudite, engaging and enjoyable book to hand makes an excellent close second
An enthralling work, honest, elegiac, rich in social history, erudition, curiosity and memories, shot through with 'hireth', an ache of nostalgia
A delightful book, beautifully written, in which the author interweaves his Cornish background with subjects that fascinate him - from music and Methodism to shipwrecks, mining and the role of Cornwall in long-distance communications, all bedded in a love for the people and culture of the south-west. This book will be a huge pleasure to those who share his passion for this part of the world and a revelation to others. I cannot recommend it too highly
I can't think of a more enjoyable or more illuminating guide to Cornwall than Petroc Trelawny, who knows it intimately, loves it deeply, and shares it generously
The broad knowledge, fluency and personal passions that Petroc Trelawny brings to classical music find a very special voice for Cornwall in all its diverse incarnations. I loved this book
Anyone who loves Cornwall and understands its charm will become a complete fan of this. I thoroughly enjoyed Petroc's gentle humour and acute observations. Plus there is so much wonderful information about Cornish life and history here
Utterly engaging and full of sly pleasures . . . an authoritative, insider's survey of all the high achieving men and women who made Cornwall the fascinating place it is today but also a deeply personal memoir which manages elegantly to sidestep all the usual pitfalls of autobiographies of household names