Scenes from Guernsey
Setting for Island Magic by Elizabeth Goudge
“Now they were slipping along beside the Island. It lay on the sea like a sleeping animal, the rocks at its northern end stretched out like claws. Then gradually, as it emerged from the sunset mist, trees, houses, churches and forts became faintly visible. In the half light it took on the semblance of a faerie land, a withdrawn, unreal country, a mirage in the midst of the sea, showing a little and no more of its beauty, holding the rest jealously locked away…”
🌿 Elizabeth Goudge, Island Magic
Welcome to a photographic tour of the isle of Guernsey!
There are just too many beautiful spots on Guernsey, the chief of the Channel Islands, to pass up a bit more of a ramble around its foamy coasts, steep old cities and green countrysides. (See the maps of Guernsey’s location in our Intro to Island Magic.)
While we read Goudge’s first novel this month and view this photographic tour, we are also preparing for our September read, Green Dolphin Street!
Enjoy this tour lead by the tourist site, Visit Guernsey, and by local Guernsey photographer, Peter Tiffin. It is interesting to see the sights of Guernsey both through the eyes of their tourist bureau and the eyes of a local resident. Which do you prefer?
Town: St Peter Port
“The fogs of August writhed away behind the arched dome of the September sky, tipped like a shining bowl over an earth and sea clear and unsullied and bright as polished enamel. It never rained very much on the Island in summer, yet so richly stored with water was its earth that the wells were always brimful, and the water-lanes musical with their impatient little streams hurrying to the sea…”
🌿 Elizabeth Goudge, Island Magic
Paths & Countryside
“…Rich and lush was the grass around the wells and the ferns in the lanes were of an almost savage green, framing in their plumes patches of sky of so deep a blue that, gazing at it, one thought of the coolness of lake water rather than a limitless depth of sun-warmed space. Only on the cliff edge the short grass was dry and brown, panting for the autumn rains…”
🌿 Elizabeth Goudge, Island Magic
Coasts & Beaches
“Nature was perhaps aware of coming weariness, a little conscious that spring was a long time ago, but before the storms of winter overwhelmed her she was determined to flaunt a still vivid beauty before the eyes of men…”
🌿 Elizabeth Goudge, Island Magic
Which photos are most inspiring to you?
Which ones connect you most to Goudge’s Guernsey story?
Love to hear!
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Oh, my. Such profound loveliness it makes me ache. I prefer Peter Tiffin's photography to the tourist photos, myself. And almost all the photos you picked connect me to Island Magic, but perhaps the one that helps me the most is the one that has water lanes (this week's, not the first one you shared). In some ways these photos remind me of being at Acadia, except with much more color and drama. Thank you so very much. Oh, and I love the quotes you choose and I find that reading a fragment from Goudge is often more satisfying than reading several pages - it is easier to take in the full scope of her beautiful, poetic writing than when I am reading to take in the story. Her poetry makes me ache, too.
I have to say that these photos are what I’ve envisioned when reading Green Dolphin Street. A testimony to EG’s magnificent writing ability. I am looking forward to joining you in reading this favorite.