SPECIAL PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT
The Winston Graham Historical Prize is launched by the
Royal Cornwall Museum.
Royal Cornwall Museum.
This year, the centenary of the correct date of Winston Graham’s birth, the
Royal Cornwall Museum is hosting 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 coincides 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Graham Prize for an unpublished work of historical fiction.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 coincides 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Graham Prize for an unpublished work of historical fiction.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 will be 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 will be 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
celebrates 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 will be 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
celebrates 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, provide the background to the exhibition. Original artefacts of the period,
like a 1790s eye-testing machine, are 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, provide the background to the exhibition. Original artefacts of the period,
like a 1790s eye-testing machine, are 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 – accompany the exhibition.
