Secrets and Lies and a Man to Despise

I've now read six of Winston Graham's twelve Poldark novels, the latest being 'The Four Swans' and I'm already chomping at the bit for both the next book and BBC series.

'The Four Swans'
by Winston Graham
(2008, Pan Macmillan)

Still waters run deep in 'The Four Swans'.  While his mine's prosperity should mean the end of all Ross Poldark's worries, instead the political machinations of others and a naval officer's infatuation with his wife Demelza give him much cause for concern.  George Warleggan looks like he's reaching the heights of power and influence, but Aunt Agatha's final curse has made him doubt the woman he prized and married.  Meanwhile, Demelza's unfortunate brothers Sam and Drake are naively trying to live quiet lives and the lecherous Rev. Osborne Whitworth is failing to practise what he preaches.  As truth, love and lies tangles each relationship, will anyone break free to find happiness?

By its very nature, a series of books must be populated by a swathe of characters otherwise there just aren't enough plot lines to go around.  But it does make summarising what happened in one particular novel quite challenging!  The paragraph above barely hints at what's going on, but, to be fair, all you really need to know is that if you enjoyed the previous books, you'll enjoy this one.

Although...  If you thought Rev. Whitworth couldn't get any worse, it turns out he can.  Never have I wanted a character to come to a sticky end as much as Rev. Whitworth.  I keep being told by people who've read the whole series that he'll get his comeuppance, but I'm not sure how much longer I can wait for it to happen!  I know that Graham is representing 18th century attitudes to women, but rarely has a character made me so angry.  Goodness knows how the BBC are going to cope with his plot line in series three bearing in mind what happened with 'that scene' in series two!

Anyway, overall, 'The Four Swans' is of the same, high quality as the previous Poldark novels and will give fans much to mull over.  It's as engrossing as the other books and progresses the stories of all the key characters.  I ended it wanting more, but that's fine because there are another six books to go!

Now, back to the shelves!

Related Posts

'Ross Poldark' (Book One)
'Demelza' (Book Two)
'Warleggan' (Book Four)
'The Black Moon' (Book Five)

Moon, Light, Shadow

It's been a while since I last read a Poldark novel ('Warleggan' back in July 2014).  I knew that I wanted to read them all, preferably before they're all filmed by the BBC, but was so appalled and shocked by Ross' behaviour in book four that I couldn't quite bring myself to do it.  I have now, however, finished 'The Black Moon' by Winston Graham.  It was so good, I've pretty much gone straight on to book five.

'The Black Moon' begins with Elizabeth, lost love of Ross Poldark and now wife of his enemy George Warleggan, giving birth to a baby boy.  While George rejoices at having

'The Black Moon' by
Winston Graham
(Pan Books, 2008)

 a son, the ancient Aunt Agatha quickly points out that the child has been born under an ominous black moon, a very bad omen.  But for the time being the bad luck shadows others in the household.  Elizabeth's cousin, Morwenna, tutor to Elizabeth's son from a previous marriage, falls in love with Drake Carne, brother of Ross' wife Demelza, sparking a new enmity between the Poldarks and Warleggans.  And Ross has much on his mind already, including the fate of the unfortunate Dr Enys imprisoned in revolutionary France...

This, like the other Poldark novels I've read so far, is absolutely absorbing.  Reading Winston Graham's work is like being launched through time and space into rural Cornwall, but without the travel sickness and overcrowding by holiday-makers.

Having said that, there's always a risk with family saga novels that, as they progress, the number of characters becomes a bit overwhelming and you start needing a list in order to keep track.  I did begin to feel a bit like this when reading the first few books, but Graham seems to have recognised the potential problem and there was enough explanation of who's who to jog my memory without over doing it.  To be fair, there were 20 years between 'Warleggan' and 'The Black Moon', so original readers would have needed some help too!

'The Black Moon' had me on the edge of my seat.  I laughed at Demelza's encounter with French exiles at a dinner party, I sighed at Drake and Morwenna's falling in love, I cheered as Ross sought justice once more, I cried and I gasped at... well, I don't want to give all the details away.  Suffice it to say the fact I couldn't stop myself heading straight for the next book says a lot.  I'm just relieved that I don't have to wait as long as fans in the '70s!

Your Place or Mine?

Last week, I finished 'Warleggan' by Winston Graham, the fourth in the highly popular series of novels about the fortunes and misfortunes of the Poldark family.  Many people will know the name from the successful 1970s TV series, but with a new one due for broadcast later in the year, I decided now was a good time to get back into the books.

'Warleggan' by Winston Graham
(Pan, 2008)

Breaking hearts and looming bankruptcy mean it's not looking good for Ross and Demelza Poldark.  Unexpected moves by Ross's first love and cousin-by-marriage Elizabeth and the arrival of a dashing Scots soldier have left them emotionally confused and distanced, while the failing mine, Wheal Leisure, is draining their money.   Scenting blood in the water, it's not long before the avaricious Warleggans are circling their prey.  Fortunately, they are not the only ones drawn to the Poldarks in their hour of need.  But will the unexpected good will of others be enough to save them?

The great strength of the Poldark novels is their characters. They are not heroes, they are people and this is clearer in 'Warleggan' than in any of the first three novels.  I don't want to give anything away, but I was genuinely shocked by Ross during this book, more so than George Warleggan, who is clearly being built up as the villain of the piece.  The fact that his actions could be both somehow understandable and abhorrent is testament to the complexity of the people that Graham created.

One character that I missed in this novel, though, was Jud Paynter.  The plot of 'Warleggan', with its death, failure and disappointment, is quite miserable and Jud can be relied upon to bring humour to even the most bleak moments.  Life has laughter as well as tears, so I feel that it always makes a story feel more real if it has elements of both.  About three quarters of the way through this book I did find myself wondering whether Graham hated the Poldarks and what on Earth he was going to throw at them next.  It does pick up a bit towards the end, but if I'd cared any less about the characters, I doubt I would have made it to the final pages.

Over all, if you've enjoyed the previous Poldark novels, you'll enjoy this one.  There are times when it will break your heart, but it's impossible to desert these characters when they are in such straits.  I just hope that things start looking up for them in book five, although with a title like 'The Black Moon', maybe I shouldn't hope too much..

Related Posts

'Ross Poldark' (Book One)
'Demelza' (Book Two)
'Jeremy Poldark' (Book Three. For some reason, I didn't write a review of this! Sorry!)