Literary associations

Dorset and The New Forest is rich in literary associations. Its most famous son is the 19th century novelist and poet Thomas Hardy, who was born at Higher Bockhampton and lived for much of his life in Dorset, which formed the heart of the 'Wessex' setting for his best known works. Many of the settings for his novels, as well as his idyllic thatched cottage birthplace (now owned by the National Trust) can be visited today. There are many books and leaflets containing trails around Hardy country, as well as a long-distance hiking trail; each take the visitor on a timeless trail into Hardy's rural Dorset, which is in so many ways little changed.  www.hardysociety.org

Other famous literary associations include Jane Austen, who set part of her novel 'Persuasion' at Lyme Regis, a setting also more recently used by John Fowles' in his famous 'French Lieutenant's Woman', which strongly featured the fossils of the Jurassic coast.

The many other literary associations include Vera Britten, author of 'Testament of Youth', who lived at Allum Green, Lyndhurst; Lord Tennyson, who spent much time in the New Forest; Alice Liddell, Lewis Carroll’s inspiration for  'Alice in Wonderland', who is buried in Lyndhurst; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes stories, lived and is buried in Minstead Churchyard; Robert Louis Stevenson who stayed in Bournemouth recovering from tuberculosis; the famous children’s books writer, Enid Blyton, lived for many years in the Purbeck area and the poet Shelley’s heart is buried with his wife Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, author of Frankenstein, at St. Peter’s Church Bournemouth.  The Powys brothers all lived in and wrote about Dorset and the classic novel Moonfleet by John Meade Faulkner was based in Chesil Beach area.

The area's other most famous resident was probably TE Lawrence, 'Lawrence of Arabia', who lived the final years of his life at his tiny, picturesque home Cloud's Hill near Bovington Camp, where he was posted and near where he met with his tragic death on his motorcycle. His home, now owned by the National Trust, can be visited today, as well as his grave at nearby Moreton Churchyard, and other places associated with his life. A 'Lawrence of Arabia' trail is available at Tourist Information Centres.