The following is a guest blog post written by my mother, a self-confessed Poldark Tragic. She has quickly consumed the first four of the Poldark books with great enthusiasm. So I invited her to write about the books and why she enjoys them so much.
Back in 1975 I watched with
great delight the BBC television series Poldark, all 29 episodes, starring
Robin Ellis in the lead role of Ross Poldark and Angharad Rees as Demelza
Carne. Robin Ellis was the pin up of the moment as the dashing Ross Poldark.
Too busy travelling, and with
motherhood and family taking up much of my time, I never did get to read the
books by Winston Graham that the series was based on. And overtime, I completely
forgot all about them.
Fast-forward forty years to
2015 when BBC One aired the first series of a new Poldark drama. Remembering how much I enjoyed the series in
1975 I could not wait to view this new adaptation of Winston Graham’s novels.
Playing the role of the
protagonist is the charismatic and handsome heartthrob Aidan Turner along with
charming Eleanor Tomlinson as the spirited Demelza Carne. Aidan Turner has
drawn in the viewers helping BBC One record one of its highest ratings in a
decade and he has certainly cast his spell over the female audience, myself
included. As series two drew to a close towards the end of 2016 I found myself
wondering how I would manage without Ross Poldark in my life until series three
aired sometime in 2017.
I need not have worried. A
very thoughtful gift was found under the Christmas tree – the first four books
of Winston Graham’s wonderful novels, the saga set in the time period 1783 to
1820. In order they are Ross Poldark,
Demelza, Jeremy Poldark and Warleggan. Winston
Graham wrote twelve Poldark novels in all, the first four were written between
1945 and 1953, the remainder from 1973 to 2002.
The books tell the story of
Captain Ross Poldark who returns home to Cornwall from the American
Revolutionary War to find his life greatly changed. His father has died during
his absence, the girl he had hoped to marry was now engaged to marry his cousin
and his beloved home, Nampara, was in a state of disrepair to say nothing of
his financial situation with the failing of the copper mine that he inherited
in his father’s estate. 
In essence he must begin afresh and the novels cover
his struggles as he goes about building a family and home and improving his lot
in life. Ross Poldark is a decent landlord who is on very good terms with his
tenants and believes in fairness and kindness. He is a caring man, particularly towards the local mining
community where he goes to bat for the poor and impoverished, at times
regardless of how he may be adversely affected by the outcome.
Winston Graham’s Cornwall
looms large in these books. Many years ago while living in England I was
fortunate to visit Cornwall to see the picturesque smuggling coves dotted along
the dramatic coastline, the rugged seashores and impressive cliffs, the beauty
of the moorlands and the remains of the copper and tin mines. Graham’s mention
of places such as Falmouth, Truro, and Bodmin bring back memories from long
ago.
His descriptive writing style
is easy to read and his characters breathe life into every page. Graham’s story
lines keep me turning page after page and now that book four is finished I find
I still have a few months to go before series three of the television series
goes to air.
I do not usually read the
book after I have seen the movie/television series but this case is different.
The 2015 television series is very true to Winston Graham’s books and I look
forward to ploughing my way through all twelve novels and of course watching
the remaining television series.