Cornwall Uncharted

The first comprehensive topographical mapping of Cornwall’s queer past (and present), revealing hidden coves, moors and harbours as creative refuges. Cornwall Uncharted reveals the county's vibrant queer histories for the first time, tracing a hidden tapestry of creativity and community from the eighteenth century to today. Through an original synthesis of art and literary analysis – examining studio paintings, poetry, novels and private manuscripts – as well as meticulous archival research in coaching-inn records, market ledgers, architectural surveys and wartime reminiscences, this rigorous study reconstructs the social and cultural worlds where nonconforming lives were forged. Six thematic chapters – from urban concealments and coastal artist retreats to lighthouses, rural hinterlands, du Maurier’s literary landscapes and contemporary grassroots networks – demonstrate how Cornwall’s unique geography shaped queer expression and solidarity. Challenging metropolitan-centric narratives, this book offers a compelling model of peripheral resistance and belonging, inviting scholars and general readers alike to rediscover Cornwall as a crucial site of queer innovation.

Hardcover, The History Press Ltd