Absence of Rosamunde Pilcher and presence of Daphne du Maurier
My title might require some explanation. When Germans think of Cornwall, then Rosamunde Pilcher quickly springs to mind. Her name easily entices many people to think she is German, but, as Petzi assured me again, no, she is English, in fact, she is from Cornwall. No big surprise there.
Well, her films always show couples lying in the grass on one of the cliffs, squinting (in a beautiful way, of course, not like me, with my nose all wrinkly) into the sun reflecting from the ocean (according to Wikipedia, both Pilcher and ZDF programme director Dr. Claus Beling were awarded the British Tourism Award in 2002 for the positive effect the books and the TV versions had on tourism, can you believe it?!).
Daphne du Maurier on the other, also a native Carnwallian, chose to write about the darker side of Cornwall. About the screams of seagulls and lonely country houses. These images from her books have been successfully adapted by no other than Alfred Hitchcock in 'The Birds' and 'Rebecca'.
So when we came to Cornwall, we had some Pilcher moments, but also a lot of seagull-screaming-rain-filled situations I had to brave with an extremely battered umbrella. But who cares, if there are deliciously chocolatty, creamy shortbread butterfingers and tea when you come home?!
Thank you so much, Rainer and Petzi, I had a wonderful time!!!
Labels: Cornwall, Daphne du Maurier, Rainer und Petzi, Rosamunde Pilcher
posted by Annika Stennert at 10:26 pm
4 Comments:
I love your literary approach to landscape - and such an evocative image of being battered by the elements before retreating to the cosy comfort of tea and chocolatey cakey delights - you need to add "and Annika Stennert" to your title's author list!
Liebe Annika,
wir haben Cornwall auch schon mal genossen. Das war 1975. Wir waren an den Küsten, Lands End, Bodmin Moor, und haben sehr gut in Jamaika Inn zu Abend gegessen. Sehr schöne Erinnerungen. Liebe Grüße von Peter
Oh, such lovely comments! Thank you very much! The literary approach was all thanks to my aunt and uncle, really. Maybe my great-aunt, she is the big Rosamunde Pilcher fan in our family :)
Should really do that more often, find literature about the places you visit. Makes for a really cool 'aha!-moments'!
Lieber Peter! Habt ihr damals auch Fotos gemacht? Die würde ich gerne mal sehen! Ich fand es ganz wunderbar in Cornwall. Emily's Vater hat dort jetzt eine Cottage gekauft, also werde ich hoffentlich noch mal die Chance haben, dort an den Klippen zu wandern und auszuspannen!
Post a Comment
<< Home