I don’t know about you but I love reading books about the place I am traveling too! In this guide we round up the best books set in Cornwall for kids and adults to help you immerse yourself in your travels to Cornwall!
Books Set in Cornwall for Kids
The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber
My favorite book for children set in Cornwall! The Mousehole Cat is set in the Cornish fishing village of Mousehole! The titular cat goes on a fishy adventure through stormy seas to save the village from starvation! The book won a British Book Award in 1998!
Five Go Down to the Sea by Enid Blyton
In this book in the classic series Five Go by Enid Blyton, the five children head to a haunted Cornish Farm where there are mysteries to be solved!
Why the Whales Came by Michael Morpugo
Michael Morpugo may be more famous for his War Horse Novel but this earlier book set on the Isles of Scily is a beautifully written book about Narwhals!
Novels Set in Cornwall
Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier
Daphne Du Maurier is one of my favorite mystery writers! This iconic novel set in Cornwall about a group of wreckers working out of the eponymous Jamaica Inn is a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat! The bonus is that you can actually go and visit Jamaica Inn on your trip
The Poldark Series
One of the most iconic series set in Cornwall and has had a surge in popularity in connection to the famous TV adaption!
Peril At End House by Agatha Christie
I have confessed many times on this blog my love of Agatha Christie (Mousetrap play anyone?) – Peril At End House sees Christie’s super sleuth Poirot taking a well earned holiday in Cornwall when suddenly things go awry! A great beach read!
The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher
Ranking in the Top 100 Books in the 2003 BBC Big Read Poll the Shell Seekers tells the story of Penelope through time shifts throughout her life!
There is also a series which was also filmed in Cornwall and is very popular among European tourists!
Mistress of Mellyn by Victoria Holt
One for the romance lovers – Mistress of Mellyn is a historical romance that tells the story of a governess who moves to Cornwall and starts to fall for her new employer while trying to uncover the mystery of his late wife death!
Have you read a book set in Cornwall? What is your favourite?