Winston
Graham
Graham
2008 © This is the official Winston Graham and Poldark website authorised by and copyright of the Winston Graham literary executors. Contact
This year, the centenary of the correct date of Winston Graham’s birth, the
Royal Cornwall Museum hosted an exhibition (14th June 2008 to 13th September
2008) devoted to his life and times. This Truro based Centenary Exhibition – Poldark’s
Cornwall: the life and works of Winston Graham coincided with the re-publication of the
Poldark novels by panmacmillan and complements the launch of the new Winston
Graham Prize for an unpublished work of historical fiction.
2008) devoted to his life and times. This Truro based Centenary Exhibition – Poldark’s
Cornwall: the life and works of Winston Graham coincided with the re-publication of the
Poldark novels by panmacmillan and complements the launch of the new Winston
Graham Prize for an unpublished work of historical fiction.
Visitors to the exhibition were able to follow the Poldark novels and Winston Graham’s
other books as a visual time line. He wrote almost 50 books in a career that spanned
well over 70 years beginning in his Perranporth youth in the mid 1920s where the
serious business of writing was interspersed with tennis and long afternoons on the
beach when the sun was out. As well as the Poldark series, Winston wrote many
modern thrillers, short stories, plays and an autobiography.
other books as a visual time line. He wrote almost 50 books in a career that spanned
well over 70 years beginning in his Perranporth youth in the mid 1920s where the
serious business of writing was interspersed with tennis and long afternoons on the
beach when the sun was out. As well as the Poldark series, Winston wrote many
modern thrillers, short stories, plays and an autobiography.
Winston’s typewriter, the trilby hat without which he never went out, walking stick and
personal memorabilia were on show, alongside a selection of manuscript notebooks.
Many of these personal items have been donated to the Royal Cornwall museum by
Andrew Graham and Rosamund Barteau (his son and daughter). The exhibition also
celebrated Winston Graham‘s many Cornish friendships. His ’oldest’ friend Fred Harris,
the Adult Education lecturer, was his historical advisor for the early Poldark novels.
Letters from Winston Graham to Fred Harris reveal their shared sense of fun.
personal memorabilia were on show, alongside a selection of manuscript notebooks.
Many of these personal items have been donated to the Royal Cornwall museum by
Andrew Graham and Rosamund Barteau (his son and daughter). The exhibition also
celebrated Winston Graham‘s many Cornish friendships. His ’oldest’ friend Fred Harris,
the Adult Education lecturer, was his historical advisor for the early Poldark novels.
Letters from Winston Graham to Fred Harris reveal their shared sense of fun.
Costume, paintings, ceramics, glass and social history items of 18th and early 19th
century date, provided the background to the exhibition. Original artefacts of the period,
like a 1790s eye-testing machine, were displayed in the de Pass gallery alongside replica
costumes. Poldark’s Cornwall also includes some costumes from the Poldark BBC TV
series and original designs by John Bloomfield.
century date, provided the background to the exhibition. Original artefacts of the period,
like a 1790s eye-testing machine, were displayed in the de Pass gallery alongside replica
costumes. Poldark’s Cornwall also includes some costumes from the Poldark BBC TV
series and original designs by John Bloomfield.
Screenings of the BBC series Poldark – accompanied the exhibition.
