What are the best known books set on the Channel Islands and Isle of Man? (And Gibraltar?)

[nwhyte]

See note on methodology

Since I started this series with the component parts of the United Kingdom, I guess I should also note those books set in dependent British territories (and Francis specifically asked about the Isle of Man). A later post will cover the Faroe and Åland Islands.

JerseyA clear win for the first book of a Second World War

Comments

[frandowdsofa]

What about Check out this book on Goodreads: Appointment with Venus http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/626775.Appointment_with_Venus

[nwhyte]

Which island do you think it's meant to be? If Sark, the others are clearly ahead; if Alderney or Herm, there may be a good case.

[frandowdsofa]

It's a fictional island, but it was filmed mostly on Sark, I believe.

[redfiona99]

I know it's not specifically set there, but Sodor in Thomas the Tank Engine is based on the Isle of Man. I'm also amazed that none of the TT books are that well read, but then again, I'm have an skewed view of the world due to motorsport.

[nwhyte]

I'm afraid the TT books are definitely a minority interest!

Also it's clear that Sodor is adjacent to and separate from the Isle of Man, though they share a number of common features.

[gareth_rees]

Sad to see no mention of Victor Hugo's Toilers of the Sea, set on Guernsey.

[nwhyte]

Guernsey is a surprisingly popular setting!

[alexmc]

Why select Akrotiri and Dhekelia, but not Episkopi? Frankly I can't imagine any book being set on one of the cypriot sovereign base areas not also being a book about Cyprus as a whole.

[alexmc]

Akrotiri would also appear in lots of novels which require some kind of air strike in the Mediterranean

[nwhyte]

The official name of the Sovereign Base Areas is "Akrotiri and Dhekelia", Episkopi being subsumed under the former. I agree, it's unlikley that you could set anything more than a very short story there which didn't overflow to the rest of the island! But my criterion is semi-sovereign territories, and they count on that basis.

[coughingbear]

I wondered if any of the Chalet School books that are set on Guernsey are shelved as such in Goodreads, but it seems not (I know they wouldn't be popular enough to make the list anyway). Same with Paul Gallico's Scruffy.

[nwhyte]

I did check out the Chalet School ratings, but indeed they are swamped by the Potato Peel Society and many others.

I still find it a bit surprising that Guernsey has such rich literary appeal, in comparison with Jersey.