Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Humanities/2018 November 23

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November 23

Cornwall novel

Long ago (~10 years?) I started reading a novel set in Cornwall. One of the main plot points at the beginning was a painter persuading a local lass to model for him. I downloaded it from Project Gutenberg, so it was almost certainly published before 1923; I would fairly confidently assume it's by a British writer, though perhaps not a Cornish one. Any ideas what it might be? Henry^Flower 20:04, 23 November 2018 (UTC)

I'd ask "Anything ring a bell in Culture of Cornwall#Novels set in Cornwall?" (WHAAOE), but nothing mentioned there is old enough. Cornwall has long been known for its popularity with painters because of the quality of light found there, so the theme is probably not unique. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.200.131.235 (talk) 00:31, 24 November 2018 (UTC)

Perhaps something by D. H. Lawrence? DuncanHill (talk) 18:54, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

Good thought! But I've looked through the plot summaries of all his pre-1923 novels, and apparently not. Henry^Flower 20:32, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

We have Category:Novels set in Cornwall. Also Q was a prolific writer, with many of his books set in Cornwall. Do you remember any more about the book - the style, any odd phrases, anything like that? DuncanHill (talk) 20:41, 25 November 2018 (UTC)

Sounds like something that W. Somerset Maugham might write, and of his works, a likely novel might be The Moon and Sixpence (published 1919). Akld guy (talk) 09:08, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

Definitely not Moon and Sixpence. I'm working through Q's books on PG; nothing so far.

It was in a 'straightforward' style -- nothing overtly literary. The episode with the model was near the beginning of the book (I never finished it, which is why I'm looking for it again, so I can't say for sure whether it's all set in Cornwall). The girl had a proud, but inarticulate and grumpy father (as I say, not genre-bending). For now I'll keep looking through Q and that category. Henry^Flower 09:26, 26 November 2018 (UTC)

OK, neither Q nor in Category:Novels set in Cornwall. Henry^Flower 17:21, 27 November 2018 (UTC)