The delectable duchy;: Stories, studies, and sketches

by Arthur Quiller-Couch

Stories, studies, and sketches of Cornish villages, country folk, and fishermen; scraps of legend, humor, romance, and tragedy, slightly connected, and told in such a manner as to seem merely reported by the author. Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch was born in Cornwall in 1863. He was lecturer of classics in Trinity College, Oxford (1886-7) and then moved to London where he was connected with the Speaker from its commencement until 1899, but he moved back to his native Cornwall in 1891.

343 pages, Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1893

About the author

Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch was a Cornish writer, who published under the pen name of Q. He is primarily remembered for the monumental "Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900" (later extended to 1918), and for his literary criticism. He guided the taste of many who never met him, including American writer Helene Hanff, author of 84 Charing Cross Road, its sequel, Q's Legacy, and the putatively fictional Horace Rumpole via John Mortimer, his literary amanuensis.

Reviews

[John Bennett]

The short story genre is not one that really seems to bring out Q's strengths. Pace a previous reviewer who found the stories "charming" they are on the whole somewhat dour, leaning towards the downright depressing, ending in death or disillusionment in all but one or two of the tales. Clearly, the book's title is meant to be taken ironically as there is little "delectable" about the tawdry slices of life on display here. Nevertheless, some of the observation is acute. One for Q completists only though. For those less familiar with his oeuvre, start with the Mayor of Troy or the Curious History of Troy.

[Kirsten Jensen]

I found these stories, and Cornwall in general (I've not encountered its narratives before) entirely charming. To borrow words from this books prologue, this is a collection of numberless trivialities and small memories. And I love it. My library copy being returned now I'm rather inclined to track down my own copy from some obscure corner of a small book store (or the internet...).

"In a flash I saw the truth; that my love for this spot is built up of numberless trivialities, of small memories all incommunicable, or ridiculous when communicated; a scrap of local speech heard at this corner, a pleasant native face remembered in that doorway..."

[Kevin]

A lovely collection of genteel tales from Victorian Cornwall.
Finely observed with details such as the practice at the time of padding drinking chocolate with less wholesome ingredients than one might assume today.
Sadness at the changes brought by the progress of steam power and the necessity of the workhouse.
First read it several years ago. Enjoyed it just as much now.

[Bisatto]

This collection of short stories reads more like a series of vignettes of the gentle countryside of Cornwall, with every-day characters facing every-day problems. It has a nostalgic tone through all stories. Although it is a pleasant read, it did not leave me with a great impression, and I can't recall any outstanding stories... and I just finished it yesterday! Not one of the best of Q.