Cornwall Uncharted: Mapping Cornwall's Queer History of Concealment, Culture and Creativity

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 cr