Saints & Sinners

This is a true story. About survival. A Breton soldier who fought at Hastings returns to his family's ancient Celtic roots in theWest County. Nicholas St Aubyn follows his family's tenuous path over the next onethousand years, describing those they loved, the many wars they fought, and their role inCornish rebellions. His story also features a host of remarkable women, from the Countess ofOxford in the 14th century to Honor Basset at the 16th century Tudor court and Vita Sackville-West, amemberof the 20th century Bloomsbury Group. He shows how the St Aubyns acquired St Michaels' Mount during the Civil War, the Jacobiteconspiracy plotted by Sir John St Aubyn, and the love between his grandson Sir John andlocal farmer's daughter, Juliana, who inspired Winston Graham's Poldark novels. The storymoves from medieval battles, and shipwrecked treasure in Mount's Bay, to love at the Courtof Henry VIII, and the political fortunes of fourteen family MPs since 1283. The diary of one illegitimate son reveals the life of a Regency rake, as another builds aproperty empire in Devonport, while a third shocks his parishioners. In the First World War,St Aubynswere found on the Western Front, and during the Second, they served on the PQ17 ArcticConvoy and at the Battle of Arnhem. The gift of the family castle to the National Trustseventy years ago is one of many events that give this history its unique and increasinglypersonal perspectiveas the family identity evolves.