"The light over me is too bright, milky white and diffuse, above I can sense the sun, but I cannot orientate myself by it; the labyrinth insists of its own sky."
In this memoir, writer and painter Wolfgang Hildesheimer recounts his time visiting Cornwall while training as an artist in the 1930s. He wrote Times in Cornwall after returning for a final time in 1965.
Hildesheimer’s narrative weaves in and out of Cornwall’s past and present like the narrow lanes he describes. This duality adds depth as he observes the changes that occurred in his absence.
Part memoir, part nature writing, Times in Cornwall is highly poetic. Frequently referencing characters from classic literature and opera, Hildesheimer captures the many sides of Cornwall, from tempestuous storms to the tranquillity of spring.
Hildesheimer constructs his image of the Cornish coastline as artfully as his paintings, with credit to Barnes for the translation. Printed on the highest quality papers and section bound, the book itself is a joy to hold. At 90 pages, Times in Cornwall is short, sweet, and worth every moment.
