Best Books Set in Cornwall

I’ve written lists of the best books set in New York, London, and Paris, but now I thought I would staycation reads ago! Here are the best books set in Cornwall. Perfect for some armchair travel if you can’t get away this summer.

Best Books Set in Cornwall

Frenchman’s Creek by Daphne Du Maurier

A pirate romance romp. Yes, please! Set in the restoration period in the 1700s, this story follows an unhappy wife who takes her children down to Cornwall away from the court and her partying husband. She happens across a seductive french pirate and his ship, and very polite crew, in her nearby creek and falls in love. It’s a lot of fun.

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

A children’s classic I didn’t realise was set in Cornwall, is The Wind in the Willows. This story is bonkers, but a classic for a reason. We follow Toad, who is obsessed with cars – a little too much – and his friends, Badger, Rat, and Mole. The story is split into various short stories and is kind of hard to explain unless you read it, so… give it a read! It’s very pastoral.

Poldark by Winston Graham

A quintessential Cornish read has got to be Poldark by Winston Graham. Made famous by the TV series – the original – and then again with the remake, including Aidan Turner – everyone takes a moment to remember that scything scene without judgment! – this is a popular read. The series is quite long and carries on past Ross and his wife Demelza, to his son and daughter. It is rich with Cornish detail, from the language to the views. Great for a staycation.

Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher

I’ve yet to read any Rosamunde Pilcher – although we share the same surname and therefore I feel like I know her writing well. Her books are typically Edwardian historical novels that take place between or during the First and Second World War. Coming Home follows Judith Dunbar, who is at boarding school but is invited back to a friend’s house on the Cornish coast and she falls in love with the landscape and the family. But war is on the horizon and Judith’s happy second family life is about to be disrupted.

An Endless Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley

And finally, if you’re after some gorgeous romance and a truly staycation read then read anything by Phillipa Ashley. Disclaimer, I am her marketing manager, but her books are a joy on paper. Lighthearted and easy to read, download an ebook of An Endless Cornish Summer and I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the Cornish coast without even being there!

What’s your favourite book set in Cornwall? Let me know in the comments below.

Twitter // Facebook // Pinterest // Bloglovin // Instagram // Waterstones // TikTok