Why am I passionate about this?
Part-Cornish, as a child I spent family holidays in Cornwall and was told family stories of Cornish relatives, especially of great grandfather Philip Henry Hammer and his numerous children who left Cornwall for destinations near – London and Wales – and far–South Africa, Australia, and Tasmania – to make a living. Old family photographs, some from the 1870s helped to bring these men and women alive and inspired me to write The Hammers of Towan. The more I research Cornish history, the more I learn, and the more I want to write about Cornish people and their place in the world.
Sue's book list on Cornish history
Why did Sue love this book?
Just love reading James Stevens words as he wrote them: "February 23 – Cut a batten 20 ft long and made trough and rack for the calves. Much rain falling this last week. Great war on with South Africa." "October 26 – Drove mare and trap to St Ives. Bought 500 pilchards at 1s 4d per 120."
This diary gave me a great insight into the daily life of a 19th-century Cornish farmer, which I needed as I began to write my book.
1 author picked A Cornish Farmer's Diary as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
- Coming soon!