Granite Island by Dorothy Carrington.
Get away from here before you're completely bewitched and enslaved...' Dorothy Carrington was told, while sitting in a fisherman's cafe at the magically quiet midday hour. But enslaved she was. Granite Island, much more than a travel book, grew out of years spent in Corsica and is an incomparably vivid and delightful portrait. For the first time Corsica is brought to light as a vital element in Europe: a highly individualistic island culture whose people have nurtured their love of freedom and political justice, as well as their pride, hospitality and poetry.
This beautifully written book is a gem for anyone with a love for the people and the landscape of Corsica. Dorothy Carrington lived in Corsica from 1948 and with the help of mountain guides Jean Bianchetti and Jean Angelini crossed the island to the very remote inland. Dorothy looked at the Corsicans as decedents from an era straight from the prehistoric times. She digs deep in the rural customs and beliefs, the vendetta and the witchcraft .She sees the beauty in the maquis and the granite villages.
When she published the book in 1971 she thought that it was all over. Thousands of poor Corsicans fled the county to leave the inland almost inhabited. Corsica would be overwhelmed by foreigners and become a tourist scenery filled with hotels and campsites. Old customs matured in ages would be forgotten in just one generation.
But she was wrong. After the publishing of this book a strong nationalistic movement emerged witch resulted in a revival of Corsican music and customs the teaching of the Corsican language at schools and later with the opening in 1981 of the University in Corte. A little later with more self-government for the Corsicans. She lived to see it all for she died in 2002.
Portait of Dorothy Carrington by Mim Hain.
Granite Island by Dorothy Carrington.
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