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.
Cornwall Uncharted
Cornwall Uncharted: Mapping Cornwall's Queer History of Concealment, Culture and Creativity | Hardback
Author: Paul Taylor-McCartney
Illustrated by: James Innerdale
ISBN: 9781837052479
Publisher: The History Press Ltd
Publication Date: 4 Jun 2026
Genre: Queer History - Non-Fiction
Pages: 291
Dimensions: 222 x 145 x 21 (mm)
Language: EnglishQueer History & People
















