Britishness at the Margins; Daphne du Maurier and Cornish Identity

The concept of Britishness and what are British values has become the subject of much debate in politics in recent years.  This study aims to look at Cornish national identity that many regard as being distinct from Englishness, but specifically to look at the role that the novels of Daphne du Maurier played in the construction of Cornish identity.  It will be argued that just as the novels of Scott played a crucial role in creating romantic notions of Scottishness and Scottish identity, that we should not ignore the role of literature in shaping Cornish identity.  This project is part of a broader research project that Pete Woodcock is involved with in conjunction with Dr Polly Flinders of the University of Huddersfield, examining class, gender and identity in the novels of Daphne du Maurier. 

Contact Pete Woodcock for further information.