The death of Glossop-born, multi-award-winning author Dame Hilary Mantel in September was a huge loss to the world of literature and an equally sad one for our county.
Her passing drew tributes far and wide, with JK Rowling simply commenting that ‘we have lost a genius.’
A best-selling historical novelist, Mantel’s lauded trilogy about Thomas Cromwell, a chief protagonist in the Tudor age who – as many did – succumbed to the wrath of his master Henry VIII, sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.
Mantel was not alone in being a famous, celebrated, Derbyshire-born author.
Born in 1884 at Castle Top Farm, Cromford, Alison Uttley (née Taylor) was a prolific writer responsible for over 100 children’s books – including her well-known series featuring Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig.
Another piece of Uttley literature of some repute is the 1939-written A Traveller in Time and here we see tangible examples of her Derbyshire roots, with the story inspired by the Babington Plot (a scheme devised by Anthony Babington of Dethick to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I) and set in the county.
Uttley was by no means alone in using Derbyshire as a focal point for her books. Indeed, our county is perhaps more famous for the authors and books – both classic and contemporary – influenced by it, than those it has produced.
And what a list the following is – which, of course, is far from exhaustive.
Izaak Walton (1593-1683)
When a book gets published in 1653 and, over 300 reprints later, is still selling, you know it’s probably something rather special.
Walton’s The Compleat Angler, a classic of angling literature and a celebration of the English countryside, has countless references to Derbyshire.
Whilst Walton spent most of his life living in London, his influence can still be seen in our county.
Viators Bridge in Milldale, for example, takes its name from his description of it: ‘What’s here the sign of a Bridge? Do you use to Travel with wheel-barrows in this country? …why a mouse can hardly go over it: ‘Tis not two fingers broad.’
Elsewhere, you’ll find the Izaak Walton Hotel in Dovedale and The Compleat Angler pub, in Wirksworth.
Jane Austen (1775-1817)
‘I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley…’ proclaims Elizabeth Bennett in Jane Austen’s classic Pride and Prejudice.
The fictitious Pemberley, home to Mr Darcy, is widely accepted as being based on Derbyshire’s very own Chatsworth House.
This association – and inspiration – is perhaps unsurprising, given Austen is believed to have written at least parts of Pride and Prejudice whilst staying at the Rutland Arms in nearby Bakewell.
The Rutland Arms still exists today and a plaque proudly commemorates its connection to an all-time literary great.
Mary Shelley (1797-1851)
Closely associated with London – where she was born and died – as well as Italy, Derbyshire nevertheless gets a mention in Mary Shelley’s acclaimed Frankenstein.
In the novel, Shelley references Matlock Bath (which she writes as Matlock):
‘We left Oxford with regret, and proceeded to Matlock, which was our next place of rest. The country in the neighbourhood of this village resembled, to a greater degree, the Scenery of Switzerland; but everything is on a lower scale, and the green hills want the crown of distant white Alps, which always attends on the piny mountains of my native country.
‘We visited the wondrous cave, and the cabinets of natural history, where the curiosities are disposed in the same manner as in the collections at Servox and Chamounix.’
Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855)
It’s widely known that, in 1845, Charlotte Brontë visited Hathersage to stay with her friend, Ellen Nussey.
It’s believed that so enchanted was she by the awe-inspiring landscape that the Peak District village heavily influenced the landmarks so beautifully described in her classic, Jane Eyre.
Specifically, North Lees Hall is said to be the inspiration for Mr Rochester’s Thornfield Hall.
George Eliot (1819-1880)
After visiting her aunt and uncle in Wirksworth, many have speculated that Mary Ann Evans (better known as George Eliot) used the town’s backdrop for her famous novel, Adam Bede.
Snowfield, the town in the novel, is said to be based on Wirksworth whilst nearby Haarlem Mill – which still exists today as a hospitality venue – is reputedly the inspiration behind one of Eliot’s other novels, The Mill on the Floss.
D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930)
The only author on the list who actually spent time living in Derbyshire, D.H. Lawrence resided at Middleton-by-Wirksworth for a short time in the winter of 1918-19.
It was here that he wrote A Wintry Peacock, whilst Wingfield Manor features in glowing terms in his novel, Sons and Lovers.
‘It was past midday when they climbed the steep path to the manor. All things shone softly in the sun, which was wonderfully warm and enlivening.
‘Celandines and violets were out. Everybody was tip-top full with happiness. The glitter of the ivy, the soft, atmospheric grey of the castle walls, the gentleness of everything near the ruin, was perfect.’
These days, our county remains a hotbed of literary talent with countless books published each year by Derbyshire writers.
Many of these books are either set in, or inspired by, our county – further highlighting the power of Derbyshire and the wider Peak District to influence wonderful literature, such is its diversity and pull.
