The Shell Seekers

By Rosamunde Pilcher,

Book cover of The Shell Seekers

Book description

Artist's daughter Penelope Keeling can look back on a full and varied life: a Bohemian childhood in London and Cornwall, an unhappy wartime marriage, and the one man she truly loved. She has brought up three children - and learned to accept them as they are.

Yet she is far…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

2 authors picked The Shell Seekers as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This novel was an immersive journey through the English countryside, from Cornwall to the Cotswolds. I was so deep into this setting and story that I was always stunned to look up and see that I was at home in my own living room. Rosamunde Pilcher is from Scotland, and she knows this landscape so well. She takes us there with deft prose and page-turning skill. 

The story is about a woman named Penelope Keeling and her extended family. It is a novel of connections—mothers, daughters, husbands, and lovers—all revolving around a famous painting called The Shell Seekers. Through a…

From Patti's list on transporting you to another land.

This well-loved book was published in 1987. It’s beautifully written and takes you right to the heart of Cornwall, evoking the Bohemian lifestyle favoured by the artists who were drawn to the special qualities of the light as well as the lifestyle. It’s a story of family life and family conflict which will resonate with so many. Penelope’s garden remains with me now; the descriptions are perfect, and the characters well-drawn. It’s a story about learning true values and needing to maintain inner strength. Deservedly popular as one of Britain’s most well-loved books, it’s a long read but totally immersive.

From Nicola's list on historical books set in Cornwall.

Want books like The Shell Seekers?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Shell Seekers.

Browse books like The Shell Seekers

Book cover of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Book cover of Avalon
Book cover of Frenchman's Creek

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,355

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in grandmothers, Cornwall, and Bohemianism?

Grandmothers 50 books
Cornwall 73 books
Bohemianism 28 books