With once frantically busy lives on hold, more and more of us are finding time to read during lockdown. Picking up an awesome book to loose ourselves in soon passes the time and leaves us captivated, knowledgeable and satisfied.
The New Forest may seem a novel story destination for book lovers, but the National Park’s towns, villages, woods and landscapes have inspired many a great author. There’s a sense of completeness seeing the names and places you have heard and read about in books. When it’s safe to travel, book a stay in a gorgeous New Forest Cottage and immerse yourself in the literary credentials, hearts and minds of amazing authors and discover why the New Forest is the inspiration behind so many good books and iconic novels.
Literary Line Up of Famous Authors
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known as the creator of the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes. After he had finished his Sherlock Holmes novels, Sir Arthur spent much of his time in the New Forest at the Montague Arms Hotel in Beaulieu researching his next book, The White Company, which is said to be one of his favourite works. He and his second wife Jean bought a second home as a country retreat from their main residence (in Crowborough) close to the village of Minstead, which plays an important role in The White Company. When they died, Sir Arthur and his wife were originally buried in Crowborough, but when estate was sold outside the family, his relatives asked for their remains to be reburied in the graveyard of Minstead Church.
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Capt. Frederick Marryat author of The Children of the New Forest
Hailed as one of the first historical story books for youngsters, The Children of The New Forest was written during the 1840’s as a last novel by the retired Naval Captain, and has been adapted for TV no less than four times. The story chronicles the trials and tribulations of the Beverley children who hide out in the New Forest at the time of the English Civil War. Much of Marryat’s time researching and writing the book was spent at his brother’s house in the New Forest, which is now the famous Chewton Glen Hotel.
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Alice in Wonderland
New Forest local Alice Liddell was the young girl who inspired Lewis Carroll’s literary classic, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Alice Hargreaves (nee Liddell) lived in Lyndhurst with her family and was just four years old when she first met family friend Charles Dodgeson (aka Lewis Carroll). Carroll spent many hours with Alice and her siblings creating fantastical stories, which went on to form the basis for his famous classics.
Alice married and lived at Cuffnells, a country estate in the forest. She bore two sons who were tragically lost in WWI, soon followed by the death of her husband in 1926. She grew tired of her association with ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and upon struggling with the expense and upkeep of Cuffnells she sold a lot of her ‘Alice’ keepsakes from Lewis Carroll, including a manuscript of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground which sold for an enormous amount of money at the time, some £15,400. Alice died in 1932 and her ashes are laid to rest in the family grave at the church of St Michael and All Angels in Lyndhurst.
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The New Forest as a Backdrop for Literary Heroes
Wild woods, vast landscapes of heather, tales of witches and smuggling all go to provide an ample cauldron of intrigue and mystery for authors. The New Forest has featured in popular fiction and best sellers in recent years. Here’s our round up of some you may like to read.
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Down to the Woods by M J Arlidge
Crime fiction and grizzly. It’s a scary read but truly gripping – you might not want to go camping for a while! Is DI Helen Grace up to catching a serial killer on the loose?
The Forest by Edward Rutherfurd
The bestselling author of historical novels aces with his tales of folklore mashed with fact, fiction and strong storylines spanning centuries. A fantastical read, earning well-deserved rave reviews.
The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey
It’s listed as one of the top 100 UK best crime novels of all time. The book is set in and around Milford on Sea during the 1940s. Based on a true story, Tey recounts the tale about a woman who alleges to have been abducted and held captive by a mother and daughter duo in a house called ‘The Franchise’.
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The Magic Cottage by James Herbert
Esteemed horror-writer Herbert tells the woes of Mike and Midge as they move into their new home in the forest. The book is best described as an atmospheric, fiendish fairy-tale.
Find a self-catering cottage for a short break in the New Forest with New Forest Cottages. They have a portfolio of more than 140 cottages, houses, apartments, beach houses and cabins in the area. Click here to find out more.