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Ross Poldark (Poldark, #1)

Winston Graham

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Ross Poldark - #1

Why did Ross and Demelza marry?
By Tanya , Moderator/Hostess · 37 posts · 580 views

last updated Aug 24, 2018 11:44AM

Wedding proposal? (SPOILER)
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last updated Jul 19, 2018 04:37AM

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Jan 10, 2017 QNPoohBear rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: georgian-romance, historical-fiction, clean-romance

By now all of my faithful followers should know about the hit TV series based on this series of novels. In case you live under a rock (might I politely suggest you crawl out from under the rock and get on Amazon or get a copy of the DVD and watch the series?), this story is a saga about a family of Cornish gentry, the Poldarks. Returning home after fighting the rebels in America, Captain Ross Poldark discovers his home in ruins, his family mine shut and his people in need of help. He also learns By now all of my faithful followers should know about the hit TV series based on this series of novels. In case you live under a rock (might I politely suggest you crawl out from under the rock and get on Amazon or get a copy of the DVD and watch the series?), this story is a saga about a family of Cornish gentry, the Poldarks. Returning home after fighting the rebels in America, Captain Ross Poldark discovers his home in ruins, his family mine shut and his people in need of help. He also learns his sweetheart, Elizabeth, has not waited for him but has agreed to marry his more prosperous cousin Francis. Ross has a strong sense of justice and is determined to set things to rights ASAP, but with no money and a tapped out mine, it will not be an easy task.

This story spans many years and many books so the pace of this first novel is fairly slow. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much without having first seen the show. The first season of the show is so fast paced that it makes the slow pace of the novel seem nice. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and setting better. Also the book provides the reader with historical background knowledge and the inner thoughts of some of the characters. I really liked reading what was going on inside their heads. That is the only limitation of the TV series! The historical background seems well researched and true, given the little I know of this time period.

Ross is an admirable character. He has a strong sense of not just noblesse oblige but also of what is right. He doesn't suffer fools gladly and has a wonderful way of putting someone down without them knowing it. He's a bit too brooding for me but so far, he is not as much of a loose canon, temper wise, as he is in the TV series.

There is one dark subplot that was left out of the TV series that I found disturbing. It made the story of the miners a little darker than it needed to be. This plot involves a creepy stalker of a teenage girl and some violence.

My favorite character is Ross's cousin Verity. She's physically strong, sweet, kind and good. I normally hate those types of characters but she's just so genuinely nice, that I can't help but love her and want the best for her. She is basically Ross's best friend for the first few months he is home. They're as close as siblings or closer. I also love Demelza but not as much as TV Demelza. Book Demelza doesn't quite come into her own yet. She is still very young but she's sweet and sassy at the same time. Her youthful energy would wear out anyone half as strong as Ross. Jud and Prudie Payntr, the old family servants, provide the comic relief here. Jud is especially comical. If you like Twister in the TV series Larkrise to Candleford, you'll probably enjoy Jud. Great-Aunt Agatha also provides some comic relief.

The characters in the novel are a little more complicated than in the TV series. Elizabeth is a little more likable, so far. Francis is a little less likable. George is still mostly an unknown. He hangs with the gentry but isn't one of them. That doesn't make him a bad person. I neither like him nor dislike him.

This series is best suited for older teens and adults. There is some violence, language, dialogue and love making. The love scenes are all tasteful, fade to black without any body parts (except face) mentioned. They're implied rather than explicit.

I can't wait to read Demelza next. Hurry up library patrons and return your books! ...more

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Nov 01, 2017 Evelyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I have never been so possessed by an author before. I confess. I have read this book three times. I know, I sound crazy. I have enjoyed every reading and found something I missed before. That may be because I read at bedtime :). After reading the entire series twice, I just couldn't put it away. Graham's writing is soothing and moving at the same time. You get to know many characters, not just one or two. You get to observe and contemplate so many human traits in these characters. My favorites a ...more

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Apr 12, 2020 Natasha Ricketts rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

I was introduced to the world of Poldark through the BBC adaptation starring Aidan Turner and was originally unaware of the books behind the story. I have to shamefully admit that I have always shied away from reading books written by male authors as I've always found their depictions of female characters infuriating, however, I would like to apologise profusely - this book has proven me wrong. In my late teens, I had watched the first two seasons of the TV show, and now approaching my mid-twent ...more

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