Vanishing Cornwall

History, travel, and legend combine in this elegant elegy to beautiful, mysterious Cornwall by its most famous resident.

There was a smell in the air of tar and rope and rusted chain, a smell of tidal water. Down harbour, around the point, was the open sea. Here was the freedom I desired, long sought-for, not yet known. Freedom to write, to walk, to wander, freedom to climb hills, to pull a boat, to be alone . . . I for this, and this for me.

Daphne du Maurier lived in her beloved Cornwall for most of her life. Its rugged coastline, wild terrain, and tumultuous weather inspired her imagination, and many of her works are set there, including Frenchman's Creek, Jamaica Inn, and Rebecca. Here she celebrates the land she loved, exploring its legends, its history, and its people, and eloquently makes a powerful plea for Cornwall's preservation.