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Have you tried a Literary Tour of Devon?

27th June 2018

Categories: Visitor News

Have you tried a Literary Tour of Devon?

If you’re a book worm, Devon is the perfect destination with links to many famous authors and works, here are a selection of our favourite authors and where you can find their inspiration and their memorials.

Starting with one of the most famous crime writers ever, you can visit the birthplace of Agatha Christie by heading to Torquay. The author was born in Barton Road in 1890, later on, she purchased Greenway, over looking the River Dart, which is now managed by the National Trust. The house is full of interesting antiques collected by the Christie family and tours and other events are regularly run on site. While you’re at the house, you should head to the Boathouse, the scene of the crime in her book, Dead Man’s Folly, and if you venture out into Torquay to learn more about her roots, you can see if you can spot some of the scenes from her other books, many of the little coves around the town and some of the hotels are featured in various stories.
Big fans will also want to head down to the harbour to find her commemorative bust.

Agatha Christie wasn’t the only author living in and taking inspiration from the beauty that is Devon. Rudyard Kipling, of Jungle Book fame, also lived in Torquay for a time, it was also visited regularly by Oscar Wilde and the poet Lord Alfred Tennyson, who was said to have described it as “the loveliest sea village in England” which after taking a look around, I’m sure you’ll be inclined to agree.

Former prime minister and author, Benjamin Disreali, stayed at the former Royal Hotel many times and is also said to have loved the town.

If you’re visiting Torquay, then you might as well head up the coast to Teignmouth where another poet, John Keats lived. His old house has been marked with a plaque and renamed Keats’ House.

Thomas Hardy, though from Dorset, used Devon settings, particularly Exeter, in a number of his books. He also lived in Plymouth for a bit, tracing the heritage of his wife after she had passed.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, famous for the Sherlock Holmes stories, used Dartmoor as his inspiration for Hound of the Baskervilles, have a wonder around the countryside and see if you can conjure up the hounds at the heart of his novel. While you’re in Dartmoor, you can explore the moor on the hunt for the memorial to poet Ted Hughes. Though hailing from Yorkshire, he moved to Devon in the sixties and a memorial stone engraved with his name can be found at his favourite spot on Dartmoor.

While mostly known for her association to Bath, Jane Austen’s novel, Sense and Sensibility is largely based in Devon. Barton Park, featured in the book, is said to be based on Pynes, a home set in a 37 acre park, while the village is said to have been inspired by Upton Pyne, which is near Exeter.

Why not add a literary edge to your visit, after scouting some of the industry’s best known authors favourite places and former haunts, why not visit the Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival it’s the ninth year the festival is taking place and will feature a whole programme of talks and events with a number of critically acclaimed authors taking part.