Jonathan Cox
Writer
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Available here
Synopsis
After thirty years abroad, a Cornishman and former journalist returns to Cornwall to study at Falmouth University, accompanied by his Swiss wife.
The Cornwall Sabbatical is a humorous chronicle of their experience as they explore picture-perfect fishing villages and coastal coves and crisscross a granite landscape of rugby posts, old mine stacks and the barely discernible ruins of an ancient Celtic nation. The gritty Cornwall of his childhood has gentrified into one of the most desirable locations in the UK and become a magnet for Michelin restaurants even as obvious inequalities remain.
A touching story about a lost way of life, The Cornwall Sabbatical reveals how Cornwall’s unique geology, climate, natural history and position as the end of the known world for much of antiquity has created a pioneering libertarian spirit and distinctive culture that is timeless.
Testimonials
"Wry, humble, and compelling. The tales about Cornwall are well told and informative and weaved together by the journey of the protagonists who provide a poignant and very amusing narrative arc. Well written by a very good new author. I also had a walk on part in the book, which I always like as well."
Helen Lederer -- Comedy legend and author (Losing It)
"A poignant and informative take on Cornwall and what has helped shape its unique character. An excellent debut. The terse prose reminds me of Norman Levine who a neighbour to the family home in St Ives. The Cornwall Sabbatical describes a very personal journey with humour and along with history and geography captures a very Cornish sense of being, identity and place."
Linda Taylor – Leader of Cornwall Council
"Jon has cleverly observed and tells the reader some very perceptive and witty insights into Cornwall, the Cornish as well as those that have moved to Cornwall to make it their home. As someone who was born in 1955 and brought up, educated and worked a lot of my working life his retrospective is very poignant reflection I found amusing and thought provoking."
Malcolm Bell, MBE - Interim chair, Visit Cornwall
About the Author
Born in Penzance, Jonathan Cox is a former Fleet Street journalist and international news agency correspondent. He recently completed a postgraduate writing degree at Falmouth University with a first class honours degree (distinction). The Cornwall Sabbatical is his first, but hopefully not last, book. To make ends meet as a writer, he also works as a consumer analyst.
Press
Interview with BBC Radio's Julie Skentelbery:
Listen to the full radio broadcast, starting 2:11:08
Interview with Big Bearded Bookseller:
Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) book?
"A long pent up demand – I wrote my first, unpublished book, in my early 20’s, a Martin Amis-esque bonk and booze buster, got rejected a lot, lost heart and it toom me another thirty years to build up courage to have another go. I took a sabbatical, doing a writing programme at Falmouth university in Cornwall, where I was born, and that led onto the book about Cornwall, my first love."
Interview with Radio Europe's Selina MacKenzie:
Listen to the full radio broadcas, starting 27:45) here