I wish to take you on an armchair journey through the novels, poems and other writings of the Peak District in central England. We will explore aspects of the landscape, anecdotes about the writers and quote brief extracts from their works.
The Peak District National Park, established in 1951, was the first in the UK. About 60 miles North-South and 40 miles East-West, it is a hilly area between Manchester, Sheffield, Derby and Stoke-on-Trent.
We will encounter one hundred and thirty writers including many famous names who had connections with the area. This is a taste of familiar names. George Eliot, Samuel Johnson, Alexander Dumas, Mary Shelley, Charlotte Bronte, Lord Byron, Daniel Defoe, Sir Walter Scott, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, D H Lawrence, Agatha Christie, George Bernard Shaw, E M Forster, Ben Jonson, Robert Louis Stevenson, William Wordsworth and Alison Uttley.
I will explain unusual connections such as Samuel Johnson's link with a novel he wrote which was inspired by the Peak District scenery. An Alexandre Dumas's book, based in Ashbourne, has never been published in English. Jean-Jacques Rousseau befriended the local aristocracy in the south of the area while preparing his autobiography.
There are literary links with the USA. William Penn corresponded with a man living on an isolated farm. The Kennedy Family had significant links with the Duke of Devonshire's family and visited Chatsworth. The famed US writer, Nathaniel Hawthorne, recorded his thoughts on the landscape near Matlock.
There are many authors who were popular in their day when they received significant recognition, but their popularity has died away. Ann Radcliffe wrote for the Gothic genre, while Mrs Humphry produced an Edwardian novel which sold a million copies and Tom Moore was favourable compared to Lord Byron and Sir Walter, and although he has modern links with twenty-first century songs, his name is little recognised.
My wife and I have walked in the Peak District for many years. This book has been compiled from our experience in searching out literary connections which have resulted in many of the illustrations in this book. For those with access to this wonderful countryside we have included a list of walks at the back of the book.
Enjoy your armchair journey.
