Forgotten Story

by Winston Graham

In December, 1898, a barquentine was wrecked on the Cornish coast near Falmouth. This is "the forgotten story" of some of the people who came unexpectedly to be passengers in the ship on her last voyage, of their loves and hates, and how a young boy is drawn irrevocably into the centre of a gripping drama.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1945

About the author

Winston Graham was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote contemporary thrillers, period novels, short stories, non-fiction, and plays. Born in Victoria Park, Manchester, he moved to Perranporth, Cornwall in 1925 and lived there for 34 years. Graham published his first novel, The House with the Stained Glass Windows, in 1934 and married Jean Williamson in 1939, who inspired the character Demelza in Poldark. During World War II, he joined the Auxiliary Coastguard Service. Graham became a member of the Society of Authors in 1945, serving as chairman from 1967 to 1969, and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, receiving an OBE in 1983. His Poldark series began with Ross Poldark in 1945 and concluded with Bella Poldark in 2002. He wrote 30 additional novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, including the acclaimed thriller Marnie, adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in 1964. Several other novels, including The Walking Stick and Fortune Is a Woman, were adapted for film. Graham also wrote plays, some adapted from his novels. His works have been translated into 31 languages, and his autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man, was published posthumously in 2003.

Reviews

[Betty Ast · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winston Graham true to form - will never disappoint you.

[Millstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written the same year as the first Poldark, although a century and more later; set wholly in Cornwall; opens with a shipwreck on the Poldarkian Sawle beach and centres around the experiences of a traveller newly arrived from foreign parts. I thought: perhaps this could have been the first in Winston Graham's other saga if his interest, and the public's, had been higher? Not so! This is so very different - clearly a self-contained tale which I won't spoil a morsel of having enjoyed it so much. If a Carter, a Martin or an Enys had been on the beach watching the wreck, I would have given it 6.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors. This was quite different from the 12 book Poldark series, although you will recognize the name of some of the villages. A mostly sad story told through the eyes of a young boy.

[Pat Morris-jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, good story. Clever interweaving of plot. Love Winston

[♥︎♥︎Sofia♥︎♥︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

BRILLIANT! Graham is a complete genius in the way he has structured and weaved this tale. Loved it 10000%

[Femke]

Wel een leuk boekje, met op het eind een wending die ik niet zag aankomen. Ik vroeg me de hele tijd af waar het nou toe zou leiden, het verhaal kabbelde rustig voort met geen rare onvoorziene uitspattingen. Het einde maakte de rest van het boek goed.

[Barbara Nabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cornish Tale

Between the start & end of a shipwreck, a story of a boy's introduction to good and evil, love & hate, truth and lies. Beautifully written.

[Eithne Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of Winston Graham's Cornish novels of suspense. It was published in 1964, when he was at the height of his powers. The characterisation was realistic and the relationships were believable.
I would never have predicted the end.