Cornwall Uncharted

The first comprehensive mapping of Cornwall's queer past, 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. AUTHOR: Paul Taylor-McCartney is a writer, researcher and lecturer in Cornwall. His interests include dystopian studies, creative writing and teacher education. His poetry, short fiction and academic articles have appeared in a wide range of print and electronic form. His debut children's novel, 'Sisters of the Pentacle', was published by Hermitage Press (2022) and fiction titles he has recently worked on as commissioning editor of Hermitage Press have won multiple regional readers' and publishers' awards. As an active member of the LGBQT+ community, he works to bring marginalised voices to the fore and he is an avid reader of queer fiction. 4 colour, 36 b/w illustrations