Kilvert's Cornish Diary: Journal No. 4, 1870

by Francis Kilvert, Richard Maber (Editor), Angela Tregoning (Editor)

144 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

Robert Francis Kilvert always known as Francis, or Frank, was an English clergyman remembered for his diaries reflecting rural life in the 1870s, which were published over fifty years after his death.

After his death from peritonitis, his diaries were edited and censored, possibly by his widow. Later they were passed on to William Plomer who transcribed the remaining diaries and edited and published a three-volume selection Selections from the Diary of the Rev. Francis Kilvert (Jonathan Cape, Vol I: 1870-1871 pub. 1938, Vol II: 1871-1874 pub.1939, Vol III: 1874-1879 pub.1940), and later a one-volume selection Kilvert's Diary, 1870-1879.

Reviews

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having spent many a holiday in Cornwall I found Kilvert's account fascinating. His descriptions of churches and wells and standing stones etc. are spot on, since many of the things he is describing in 1870 are still to be found to this day. That being said I think he would throw himself off the cliff if he were to visit Land's End today!

[Elizabeth Bridcut · Rating 3 out of 5]

The holiday diary of a late 19th century gentleman. A gentle read with lovely descriptions and insights into the place and into life at the time. The actual diary is only about half this book because there's quite a lengthy intorduction and lots of footnotes.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming. This is the third surviving full notebook of Kilvert's diary, and is exclusively the account of his holiday in Cornwall with his friends who had inherited a house there. This notebook is now in the possession of Durham University. Published in paperback and with a lot of small photographs, otherwise similar to the editions of the other two notebooks brought out in hardback by the National Library of Wales. Kilvert managed to see and do quite a lot during his stay of nearly three weeks, and there is some interesting material here on Cornwall, still at this period quite an industrial place. Unobtrusive notes fill in background onpeople and places.