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The Poldark Saga #7
The Angry Tide
Ross Poldark sits for the borough of Truro as Member of Parliament—his time divided between London and Cornwall, his heart divided still about his wife, Demelza. His old feud with George Warleggan still flares, as does the illicit love between Morwenna and Drake, Demelza's brother.
350 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
853 people are currently reading
5925 people want to read
About the author
Winston Graham
216 books1,160 followersWinston Graham was an English novelist best known for the Poldark series of historical novels set in Cornwall, though he also wrote contemporary thrillers, period novels, short stories, non-fiction, and plays. Born in Victoria Park, Manchester, he moved to Perranporth, Cornwall in 1925 and lived there for 34 years. Graham published his first novel, The House with the Stained Glass Windows, in 1934 and married Jean Williamson in 1939, who inspired the character Demelza in Poldark. During World War II, he joined the Auxiliary Coastguard Service. Graham became a member of the Society of Authors in 1945, serving as chairman from 1967 to 1969, and was a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, receiving an OBE in 1983. His Poldark series began with Ross Poldark in 1945 and concluded with Bella Poldark in 2002. He wrote 30 additional novels, short stories, and non-fiction works, including the acclaimed thriller Marnie, adapted by Alfred Hitchcock in 1964. Several other novels, including The Walking Stick and Fortune Is a Woman, were adapted for film. Graham also wrote plays, some adapted from his novels. His works have been translated into 31 languages, and his autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man, was published posthumously in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 551 reviews
February 11, 2019
Fantastic!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
April 26, 2018
"Life was such a gamble, and the safest, sturdiest man existed on such a tightrope of circumstance that the merest vibration could throw him. We lived, belonged, felt solidly based, important in the world – and then, flick, and we were nothing."
The Angry Tide was another splendid chapter in the Poldark saga. At number 7, it also marks the beginning of the last half of the series – something I don’t really want to think about too much! I will certainly be very heartsick when this glorious journey to late eighteenth century Cornwall has ended. However, I’m getting ahead of myself… I’ll stick to the bright side and try to remember that there still remain five more highly regarded installments I can devour.
It’s difficult to review a series without giving away plot pieces that may reveal what happens in earlier portions. So I will stick to the basics. Winston Graham continues to write with such care for his characters, the result of which causes the reader to become wholly wrapped up in the lives of each and every one. As in ‘real’ life, no one here is painted as a perfect individual. Your favorite characters will make you angry at times and yet you know that they are very human. You love them like family despite their flaws. The ‘bad guys’ are not just caricatures of your typical villain. They too are sketched with subtle shading that lends them an air of solid authenticity. Some of the ‘regulars’ continued on the scene in this book, while others that I adored from earlier books made brief appearances for which I was grateful. Once you get so absorbed in a saga like this, you do tend to miss them when they disappear for a book or two! Once again, characters get caught up in their emotions, with their feelings taking hold of the reins. Choices are made from the heart rather than the head, the results of which we know can be good or bad. You just never know. "…now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings that you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide."
Hope is sometimes restored; and on occasion tragedy strikes once again. There were some shocking developments in The Angry Tide! Winston Graham is like a magician – he never fails to astound! You cannot guess what may jump next out of that black hat. I enjoyed a little jaunt to London with Demelza and company in this book. A little change of scenery is nice, although Cornwall is still my preferred retreat. Learning about London society causes a bit of consternation on Demelza’s part… of course, trouble ensues. Additionally, a casual remark by a young man leads to a revival of old suspicions, thereby causing a choice that will have a ripple of effects with staggering consequences. I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 8!!
I can’t say enough about this magnificent and addictive series. If you have any interest in historical fiction and like the idea of getting hooked on a saga that will oftentimes leave you shouting for joy or weeping with remorse, then you really should get started… right now!
"The past is over, gone. What is to come doesn’t exist yet. That’s tomorrow! It’s only now that can ever be, at any one moment."
The Angry Tide was another splendid chapter in the Poldark saga. At number 7, it also marks the beginning of the last half of the series – something I don’t really want to think about too much! I will certainly be very heartsick when this glorious journey to late eighteenth century Cornwall has ended. However, I’m getting ahead of myself… I’ll stick to the bright side and try to remember that there still remain five more highly regarded installments I can devour.
It’s difficult to review a series without giving away plot pieces that may reveal what happens in earlier portions. So I will stick to the basics. Winston Graham continues to write with such care for his characters, the result of which causes the reader to become wholly wrapped up in the lives of each and every one. As in ‘real’ life, no one here is painted as a perfect individual. Your favorite characters will make you angry at times and yet you know that they are very human. You love them like family despite their flaws. The ‘bad guys’ are not just caricatures of your typical villain. They too are sketched with subtle shading that lends them an air of solid authenticity. Some of the ‘regulars’ continued on the scene in this book, while others that I adored from earlier books made brief appearances for which I was grateful. Once you get so absorbed in a saga like this, you do tend to miss them when they disappear for a book or two! Once again, characters get caught up in their emotions, with their feelings taking hold of the reins. Choices are made from the heart rather than the head, the results of which we know can be good or bad. You just never know. "…now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings that you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide."
Hope is sometimes restored; and on occasion tragedy strikes once again. There were some shocking developments in The Angry Tide! Winston Graham is like a magician – he never fails to astound! You cannot guess what may jump next out of that black hat. I enjoyed a little jaunt to London with Demelza and company in this book. A little change of scenery is nice, although Cornwall is still my preferred retreat. Learning about London society causes a bit of consternation on Demelza’s part… of course, trouble ensues. Additionally, a casual remark by a young man leads to a revival of old suspicions, thereby causing a choice that will have a ripple of effects with staggering consequences. I cannot wait to get my hands on Book 8!!
I can’t say enough about this magnificent and addictive series. If you have any interest in historical fiction and like the idea of getting hooked on a saga that will oftentimes leave you shouting for joy or weeping with remorse, then you really should get started… right now!
"The past is over, gone. What is to come doesn’t exist yet. That’s tomorrow! It’s only now that can ever be, at any one moment."
July 14, 2019
In this 7th novel (of a 12-book series), I was pleasantly surprised to find that the fast pace and high energy of this series has not flagged one iota. I found myself thoroughly involved in this portion of the Poldark saga.
This novel takes place in 1798-1799 in Cornwall 14 years after Ross and Demelza were married. Their quality of life, despite its two steps forward and one back pattern, is inching toward more prosperity and they never take it for granted. They also give back in any way they can and are heavily involved in improving the prospects of the poor. Yet progress in that mission also seems abysmally slow. Ross takes on an added responsibility with the hope of making faster, wider-spread change, but for the most part Ross and Demelza do what they can . . . one or two persons at a time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the historical details woven throughout this story. England and France at war, and a trip to London for Ross and Demelza where we encounter many other contrasts between the dreary and ridiculously wealthy – with only a scrawny, short middle path between the two extremes. There are also many other details of lifestyles and fashion – even of progress and invention. Here is one entertaining example:
[Ross speaking to Demelza of the “loo”]: ‘No doubt you found last night that there is always a bucket of water too in the Jericho down the passage. As well as one of sand. It’s the best indoor system I have come across.’
And the title is apt in so many ways. In this conversation between Ross and his cousin Verity, Ross is defending his propensity for hot-headed feelings that lead to irreversible actions: ’But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.’
There are more births, deaths, re-unions, and permanent departures from conciliation in the novel. All of them, in one way or another, are directly or indirectly linked to both the Poldark family and the Warleggan family. George Warleggan maneuvers his way into ever more wealth and power, and in a dramatic ending we discover that the most potent force tempering the worst of his greed for vengeance on the Poldarks is dissolved forever.
I am completely on pins and needles – anxious to discover where this saga will carry me next.
This novel takes place in 1798-1799 in Cornwall 14 years after Ross and Demelza were married. Their quality of life, despite its two steps forward and one back pattern, is inching toward more prosperity and they never take it for granted. They also give back in any way they can and are heavily involved in improving the prospects of the poor. Yet progress in that mission also seems abysmally slow. Ross takes on an added responsibility with the hope of making faster, wider-spread change, but for the most part Ross and Demelza do what they can . . . one or two persons at a time.
I thoroughly enjoyed the historical details woven throughout this story. England and France at war, and a trip to London for Ross and Demelza where we encounter many other contrasts between the dreary and ridiculously wealthy – with only a scrawny, short middle path between the two extremes. There are also many other details of lifestyles and fashion – even of progress and invention. Here is one entertaining example:
[Ross speaking to Demelza of the “loo”]: ‘No doubt you found last night that there is always a bucket of water too in the Jericho down the passage. As well as one of sand. It’s the best indoor system I have come across.’
And the title is apt in so many ways. In this conversation between Ross and his cousin Verity, Ross is defending his propensity for hot-headed feelings that lead to irreversible actions: ’But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.’
There are more births, deaths, re-unions, and permanent departures from conciliation in the novel. All of them, in one way or another, are directly or indirectly linked to both the Poldark family and the Warleggan family. George Warleggan maneuvers his way into ever more wealth and power, and in a dramatic ending we discover that the most potent force tempering the worst of his greed for vengeance on the Poldarks is dissolved forever.
I am completely on pins and needles – anxious to discover where this saga will carry me next.
May 15, 2016
After reading the latest book in this series "The Four Swans" I decided I needed to take a little break as I found the plot developments dark and depressing.
I began reading this book with a little trepidation as I didn't want to read anything depressing during the holiday season but I'm happy to report that The Angry Tide starts off with much vigor and energy - so much so that I found it difficult to put down.
I couldn't help but notice when reading how much slower time must have passed during that era.
Drake Carne is still heartbroken 3 or 4 years later after losing the love of his life and doesn't seem able to move on even though he's still in his early 20's.
Nowadays Drake could've gone to his family Dr. and been given a bottle of happy pills and been as good as new in no time.
The Angry Tide continues the tale of Ross and Demelza Poldark, George and Elizabeth Warleggan, Caroline and Dr. Enys, and Sam and Drake's unhappy romantic affairs.
I found the books conclusion heartbreaking and unbelievable and still can't believe what happened.
I began reading this book with a little trepidation as I didn't want to read anything depressing during the holiday season but I'm happy to report that The Angry Tide starts off with much vigor and energy - so much so that I found it difficult to put down.
I couldn't help but notice when reading how much slower time must have passed during that era.
Drake Carne is still heartbroken 3 or 4 years later after losing the love of his life and doesn't seem able to move on even though he's still in his early 20's.
Nowadays Drake could've gone to his family Dr. and been given a bottle of happy pills and been as good as new in no time.
The Angry Tide continues the tale of Ross and Demelza Poldark, George and Elizabeth Warleggan, Caroline and Dr. Enys, and Sam and Drake's unhappy romantic affairs.
I found the books conclusion heartbreaking and unbelievable and still can't believe what happened.
November 5, 2025
There were some uneven patches, but at its best, this book was as good as the first three & the sixth Poldark book, so I'm going to give it the full 5★.
At times I had trouble putting this book down - & snapped at my husband when he tried to interrupt my reading - always the sign of a good book! :D
As always Graham has created a complete world, so I was fully invested in Ross & Demelza's adventures & marital difficulties. Little details were fascinating to me, such as early mouth to mouth resuscitation use & the poor state of much of the country's roads. I hadn't thought of it before, but Demelza until
I had always thought of Regency women's dress starting from 1800, but no - late 1790's. An example from 1798 (public domain)
& now I could use some advice. The Poldark TV series finished with this book - sounds like the ratings were declining & there is a considerable time gap before #8 in the series. & I've also been told that the next book The Stranger from the Sea is the weakest in the series. Should I carry on with this series or just enjoy the memories of the satisfying reads I've had until now?
At times I had trouble putting this book down - & snapped at my husband when he tried to interrupt my reading - always the sign of a good book! :D
As always Graham has created a complete world, so I was fully invested in Ross & Demelza's adventures & marital difficulties. Little details were fascinating to me, such as early mouth to mouth resuscitation use & the poor state of much of the country's roads. I hadn't thought of it before, but Demelza until
I had always thought of Regency women's dress starting from 1800, but no - late 1790's. An example from 1798 (public domain)
& now I could use some advice. The Poldark TV series finished with this book - sounds like the ratings were declining & there is a considerable time gap before #8 in the series. & I've also been told that the next book The Stranger from the Sea is the weakest in the series. Should I carry on with this series or just enjoy the memories of the satisfying reads I've had until now?
February 20, 2025
Another unforgettable journey into 18th century Cornwall. I bloody love this series.
March 17, 2016
5 STARS
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Here I am yet again, at the end of another chapter in the life of Ross Poldark. Tears again flowing freely, lump in throat. I must say that this was the most painful book in the series so far. The title being very aptly named.
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But regardless of the pain, I am still hopelessly addicted to the series. I feel like I am living amongst these characters, sharing each an every emotion they experience. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with intensity of these books. I have to force myself to put them down sometimes. I have been neglecting my family, my job, and myself. Which of course is bad in real life… but spectacular to the reader.
Keep in mind these books are written in sequence and must be read in order. If you are thinking of starting the books, there is a series on BBC, that premiered in 2015, that you may want to watch in companion. It encompasses the first two books, and is brilliantly done. I highly recommend.
Anyway. I don’t want to got into the plot much. There are just too many possible spoilers. Better to discover as your read. So for now, I’ll leave you with some visual treats and a few quotes from the book.
On to book 8.
”Seeking perfection, Ross …in life it’s dangerous, for it makes the less than perfect seem less than enough.”
Here I am yet again, at the end of another chapter in the life of Ross Poldark. Tears again flowing freely, lump in throat. I must say that this was the most painful book in the series so far. The title being very aptly named.
”But one or two things have happened, Verity. Oh I know they are small things - small to set beside the great - and they are best forgot on both sides, and indeed many times are forgot. But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings that you should have - and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like - like and angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.”
But regardless of the pain, I am still hopelessly addicted to the series. I feel like I am living amongst these characters, sharing each an every emotion they experience. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with intensity of these books. I have to force myself to put them down sometimes. I have been neglecting my family, my job, and myself. Which of course is bad in real life… but spectacular to the reader.
Sometimes Demelza took out Hugh Armitage’s poems and read them over. Had ‘she’ inspired such passion?
She had heard people say that they didn’t want a future life, didn’t want to live again. This she could not understand. So far she had done so little, seen so little, She wanted and age, an icon of life to plumb it and savor it to the last drop.
Their relationship at this moment seemed the most impossible of resolution that had ever been. Everything they did, said, thought, took place behind endless barriers of hurt pride and misunderstanding.
Keep in mind these books are written in sequence and must be read in order. If you are thinking of starting the books, there is a series on BBC, that premiered in 2015, that you may want to watch in companion. It encompasses the first two books, and is brilliantly done. I highly recommend.
”Perhaps we must just go on living, and learning, Ross.” “And loving,” said Ross. “That most of all.”
Anyway. I don’t want to got into the plot much. There are just too many possible spoilers. Better to discover as your read. So for now, I’ll leave you with some visual treats and a few quotes from the book.
”…It is only now that can ever be, at any one moment. And at this moment, now, we are alive… and together. We can’t ask more. There isn’t any more to ask.”
On to book 8.
February 7, 2019
Actual review: 4.5
“Perhaps one aspect of arrogance lies in not being willing to accept what life sometimes expects one to accept.”
The Angry Tide is the seventh book in the Poldark series written by Winston Graham, and I must say, it was another great addition to a series that is complex and heartfelt.
This book explores dark undertones in a world where propriety is placed above decency and expectations of others are more important than one’s own life.
There is not much I can say without referencing the previous books, as it is all inter-connected, but I can say this much: Winston Graham surprises me with every installment of this series. The characters push the story forward in subtle and interesting ways. There is an element of surprise in how the story progresses, regardless of how well we know and understand its’ players.
I admit that some much loved characters annoyed me with their behaviour, while other characters who I didn’t care for have suddenly become my favourites. It has been a few decades since the story began and it feels like we are just beginning the next part of their journey in life.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book. The characters keep me guessing, which is rare in a series this long.
“Perhaps one aspect of arrogance lies in not being willing to accept what life sometimes expects one to accept.”
The Angry Tide is the seventh book in the Poldark series written by Winston Graham, and I must say, it was another great addition to a series that is complex and heartfelt.
This book explores dark undertones in a world where propriety is placed above decency and expectations of others are more important than one’s own life.
There is not much I can say without referencing the previous books, as it is all inter-connected, but I can say this much: Winston Graham surprises me with every installment of this series. The characters push the story forward in subtle and interesting ways. There is an element of surprise in how the story progresses, regardless of how well we know and understand its’ players.
I admit that some much loved characters annoyed me with their behaviour, while other characters who I didn’t care for have suddenly become my favourites. It has been a few decades since the story began and it feels like we are just beginning the next part of their journey in life.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book. The characters keep me guessing, which is rare in a series this long.
April 4, 2024
I’m always excited to return to Cornwall and immerse myself into the world of the Poldarks and the Warleggans to get an insider’s look at the drama and intrigue that comes with this saga. Book 7 is full of excitement, intensity, villainy, suspicion, and tragedy. Amid all of that, there is hope for the future for some of our beloved characters.
Ross: ’…I have no idea at this moment whether we shall ever laugh together again – in that way. I want you, I want you, but there’s anger and jealousy in it still, and they die hard. I can’t say more. I can’t promise that tomorrow it will be like this between us or like that. Nor can you, I’m sure. You’re right in saying I’m a stranger. But I’m a stranger who knows every inch of your skin. We have to go on from there – in a sense to start again.’
Ross and Demelza have continued to hit a rough spot in their relationship. Coming off of the last installment, Ross is holding on to jealousy and not giving in to the forgiveness he needs to give to his dear Demelza. She is a continued helper for him in all ways as she has always been. Ross learns how to let his unresolved feelings go as a new villain is introduced in the name of Monk Adderley who has set his sights on Demelza. This storyline proves rather exciting and heart-palpitating.
Tragedies abound as they always do in Cornwall. Deaths of several people as well as a mine tragedy are interspersed throughout. The pacing of the storytelling is perfect as we get every character’s story satisfyingly told. Drake is a successful blacksmith still mourning over Morwenna who has been married off to the horrid Vicar, Ossie Whitworth. His brother Sam is also unlucky in love. Dr. Ennis and Caroline suffer a loss. However, it is George Warleggan who suffers the most extreme loss.
Ross: ’…But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings that you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.’
This installment is chock full of plot lines and incidents that will leave you breathless and in shock. It feels as if it is an ending of sorts for this generation of folks I have come to know so well. Loose ends seem to be tied up to ready for a newer century as this one ends in 1799 and the end of the French Revolution as Napoleon is coming to the front in France. The feuds of old remain but I look forward to seeing how the next chapter will play out as new challenges will ensue and new battles will be fought.
Ross: ’…I have no idea at this moment whether we shall ever laugh together again – in that way. I want you, I want you, but there’s anger and jealousy in it still, and they die hard. I can’t say more. I can’t promise that tomorrow it will be like this between us or like that. Nor can you, I’m sure. You’re right in saying I’m a stranger. But I’m a stranger who knows every inch of your skin. We have to go on from there – in a sense to start again.’
Ross and Demelza have continued to hit a rough spot in their relationship. Coming off of the last installment, Ross is holding on to jealousy and not giving in to the forgiveness he needs to give to his dear Demelza. She is a continued helper for him in all ways as she has always been. Ross learns how to let his unresolved feelings go as a new villain is introduced in the name of Monk Adderley who has set his sights on Demelza. This storyline proves rather exciting and heart-palpitating.
Tragedies abound as they always do in Cornwall. Deaths of several people as well as a mine tragedy are interspersed throughout. The pacing of the storytelling is perfect as we get every character’s story satisfyingly told. Drake is a successful blacksmith still mourning over Morwenna who has been married off to the horrid Vicar, Ossie Whitworth. His brother Sam is also unlucky in love. Dr. Ennis and Caroline suffer a loss. However, it is George Warleggan who suffers the most extreme loss.
Ross: ’…But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings that you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.’
This installment is chock full of plot lines and incidents that will leave you breathless and in shock. It feels as if it is an ending of sorts for this generation of folks I have come to know so well. Loose ends seem to be tied up to ready for a newer century as this one ends in 1799 and the end of the French Revolution as Napoleon is coming to the front in France. The feuds of old remain but I look forward to seeing how the next chapter will play out as new challenges will ensue and new battles will be fought.
May 18, 2017
But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings
that you should have--and then thoughts and feelings
surge up in you like--like an angry tide.
And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.”
This installment of the Poldark saga is, like all the others, stellar writing and storytelling. You have lived with these characters so long by this stage that you know them by heart, and yet there is always something new and exciting and vibrant and alive about them.
There is heartbreak and redemption and confusion and sorrow to be found within these pages, and much that makes you reflect on what it means to just be human. The name is so appropriate, for it is the uncontrolled feelings of each of these people that brings them to their greatest impasses. There is stubbornness and tenacity and failure to release the past and the redemption that is possible when you finally do.
One theme that runs through the series, and that we see more and more clearly as the books progress, is that the things we do matter. They influence not only our lives, but those of others, perhaps in ways we cannot ever imagine they will. One moment of passion, of thoughtlessness, of lust for revenge, can lead to consequences that haunt us endlessly and reverberate even after our deaths...in the lives of our greatest loves and our children.
I have not had a moment of regret in taking on this series. Or, if I have, it is that I cannot just sit and read it end to end without life interrupting. This is book seven of twelve, so there is a lot more of Ross Poldark’s life to come, but I am already sure that when I close on the last page of the last book, my heart is going to scream at me to start all over again.
that you should have--and then thoughts and feelings
surge up in you like--like an angry tide.
And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.”
This installment of the Poldark saga is, like all the others, stellar writing and storytelling. You have lived with these characters so long by this stage that you know them by heart, and yet there is always something new and exciting and vibrant and alive about them.
There is heartbreak and redemption and confusion and sorrow to be found within these pages, and much that makes you reflect on what it means to just be human. The name is so appropriate, for it is the uncontrolled feelings of each of these people that brings them to their greatest impasses. There is stubbornness and tenacity and failure to release the past and the redemption that is possible when you finally do.
One theme that runs through the series, and that we see more and more clearly as the books progress, is that the things we do matter. They influence not only our lives, but those of others, perhaps in ways we cannot ever imagine they will. One moment of passion, of thoughtlessness, of lust for revenge, can lead to consequences that haunt us endlessly and reverberate even after our deaths...in the lives of our greatest loves and our children.
I have not had a moment of regret in taking on this series. Or, if I have, it is that I cannot just sit and read it end to end without life interrupting. This is book seven of twelve, so there is a lot more of Ross Poldark’s life to come, but I am already sure that when I close on the last page of the last book, my heart is going to scream at me to start all over again.
October 3, 2023
When I reached the end of book 6 of this magnificent series, I was so caught up in the characters; the plot and the landscape of my beloved Cornwall that I just had to carry straight on to the seventh instalment. This series has quite possibly got stronger as time has gone on, which I just did not think possible in the beginning . However , I should have trusted my GR friends with their impeccable taste and 5 * ratings!
Ross and Demelza’s relationship is as rocky as ever; George’s jealously reaches boiling point; Elizabeth risks everything to try and save her marriage and …… Drake and Morwenna FINALLY got their act together and ignored conventions and classes to become husband and wife!
I could go on and on with accolades but above all this series reminds me why I read. It has been pure escapism for me over the past month and nothing beats being able to open a book any time of day and just get transported to a different world, with a host of characters i have come to love so much. I will have to enforce a break now so that I eek this series out for as long as possible 😊
Ross and Demelza’s relationship is as rocky as ever; George’s jealously reaches boiling point; Elizabeth risks everything to try and save her marriage and …… Drake and Morwenna FINALLY got their act together and ignored conventions and classes to become husband and wife!
I could go on and on with accolades but above all this series reminds me why I read. It has been pure escapism for me over the past month and nothing beats being able to open a book any time of day and just get transported to a different world, with a host of characters i have come to love so much. I will have to enforce a break now so that I eek this series out for as long as possible 😊
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2024
Често игривите конструкции на историите, които просто се разказват на маса или край огън, задушевни, без да са обработени по високохудожествен калъп (което е условно, защото такъв “калъп” реално не съществува, освен за професионалната и понякога бюрократична литературна критика) носят смисъл и заряд, които минават през защитата (или по-скоро невежеството) на всеядния или отегчения или случайния читател. И остават. Греъм използва с удоволствие клишетата, за да си поиграе с тях, и накрая резултатът е повече от първоначалната им привидни семпла съвкупност.
С тази седма част приключва вторият (от общо три) цикъл истории за Полдаркови и техния Корнуол в навечерието на ХIX век. Тук вече никой от героите няма времето за случайни грешки. Грешките са умишлени, водят до незабавно поумняване и резултати, а класификацията им като грешки зависи от гледната точка. Някак в тази книга всички вече са се сдобили с повече познания, отколкото са искали, и трябва да живеят с наученото. Не е лесно, но когато намериш с кого да споделиш, става възможно, неизбежно и красиво.
Силна част, добър завършек, която не е лишена от някои нелогичности и леки забавяния. Не съм гледала сериала чак дотук, но е изключено сценаристите да са пресъздали Греъм в това му развихряне.
4,5⭐️
*****
▶️ Цитати:
“But if you take the emotion – the republicanism – the sense of violent revolution – out of them, do you not feel drawn to such ideals yourself?’
Falmouth smiled, tight-lipped. ‘Perhaps I have better trained myself, always to be governed by my head. Shall I say that I believe greatly in Fraternity, something in Liberty, and not at all in Equality.’
‘Which is precisely the opposite of what the French have now done,’ Ross said. ‘They have insisted so much on Equality, that there is no room left for Liberty and little for Fraternity.”
——
“Because what is civilized life but an imposition of unreal standards upon flawed and defective human beings by other human beings no less flawed and defective?”
——
“One cannot – must not – fear a certainty”
С тази седма част приключва вторият (от общо три) цикъл истории за Полдаркови и техния Корнуол в навечерието на ХIX век. Тук вече никой от героите няма времето за случайни грешки. Грешките са умишлени, водят до незабавно поумняване и резултати, а класификацията им като грешки зависи от гледната точка. Някак в тази книга всички вече са се сдобили с повече познания, отколкото са искали, и трябва да живеят с наученото. Не е лесно, но когато намериш с кого да споделиш, става възможно, неизбежно и красиво.
Силна част, добър завършек, която не е лишена от някои нелогичности и леки забавяния. Не съм гледала сериала чак дотук, но е изключено сценаристите да са пресъздали Греъм в това му развихряне.
4,5⭐️
*****
▶️ Цитати:
“But if you take the emotion – the republicanism – the sense of violent revolution – out of them, do you not feel drawn to such ideals yourself?’
Falmouth smiled, tight-lipped. ‘Perhaps I have better trained myself, always to be governed by my head. Shall I say that I believe greatly in Fraternity, something in Liberty, and not at all in Equality.’
‘Which is precisely the opposite of what the French have now done,’ Ross said. ‘They have insisted so much on Equality, that there is no room left for Liberty and little for Fraternity.”
——
“Because what is civilized life but an imposition of unreal standards upon flawed and defective human beings by other human beings no less flawed and defective?”
——
“One cannot – must not – fear a certainty”
November 15, 2015
Por qué no he cogido yo antes estas novelas?!?!?
Magnífico libro. Siguiendo en su línea, el escritor nos mete en una montaña rusa de situaciones y sentimientos narrados magistralmente, cuesta mucho dejar de leer. No sé qué pasará en el resto de libros pero con éste se puede terminar la historia perfectamente (creo que estos siete son los que se adaptaron en la serie de los 70). Creo que son unas novelas imprescindibles para un fan de las enaguas. Ya entiendo por qué todas adoran a Ross Poldark, un protagonista real, censurable, impulsivo, idealista y maravilloso.
Vamos, que leáis estos libros! Hombre ya!! XD
Magnífico libro. Siguiendo en su línea, el escritor nos mete en una montaña rusa de situaciones y sentimientos narrados magistralmente, cuesta mucho dejar de leer. No sé qué pasará en el resto de libros pero con éste se puede terminar la historia perfectamente (creo que estos siete son los que se adaptaron en la serie de los 70). Creo que son unas novelas imprescindibles para un fan de las enaguas. Ya entiendo por qué todas adoran a Ross Poldark, un protagonista real, censurable, impulsivo, idealista y maravilloso.
Vamos, que leáis estos libros! Hombre ya!! XD
August 2, 2016
I remember as a college freshman meeting in front of the TV to watch "Days of our Lives." The room was packed with yearning, learning, young girls who just had to see what happened to Hope and Bo and their wonderful romance. That was the ONLY soap opera I ever watched, but I feel the exact same way about these books. I just have to know what happens. I must know, must keep reading and am completely addicted to them.
Only certain writers can transport you to their place in history and their book. Winston Graham is a master. The minute you pick it up, you are right back in Truro, drinking tea with the neighbors (and you remember all of them which also says a lot for his great writing), checking on the pigs, seeing what the town drunk is up to now, and of course, following the lives of Demelza and Ross. Even though I would love to give these two a huge lecture on what a bit of fidelity might do for their marriage, I must keep going and rooting for them anyway.
Loved this quote by Ross: 284: Ross said: "I'll tell you what is best for the other man, always, and that's work. Work is a challenge. I've told you--I tried to drink myself out of my misery once. It didn't succeed. Only work did. It's the solvent to so much. Build yourself a wall, even at the end of the first day-you feel better. That's why you should go back to the shop. Even if you don't know quite what you're working for."
Did you see season two is on the way? Can't wait!
Bottom line: I am in deep here. Hook. Line. Sinker.
Only certain writers can transport you to their place in history and their book. Winston Graham is a master. The minute you pick it up, you are right back in Truro, drinking tea with the neighbors (and you remember all of them which also says a lot for his great writing), checking on the pigs, seeing what the town drunk is up to now, and of course, following the lives of Demelza and Ross. Even though I would love to give these two a huge lecture on what a bit of fidelity might do for their marriage, I must keep going and rooting for them anyway.
Loved this quote by Ross: 284: Ross said: "I'll tell you what is best for the other man, always, and that's work. Work is a challenge. I've told you--I tried to drink myself out of my misery once. It didn't succeed. Only work did. It's the solvent to so much. Build yourself a wall, even at the end of the first day-you feel better. That's why you should go back to the shop. Even if you don't know quite what you're working for."
Did you see season two is on the way? Can't wait!
Bottom line: I am in deep here. Hook. Line. Sinker.
March 25, 2017
DAMN.
Winston Graham is not playing around.
Winston Graham is not playing around.
July 30, 2018
Winston Graham has managed to keep this saga fresh, even though this is the seventh of twelve books. His characters are living, breathing people that I've come to know and love. I think his secret is allowing his characters to grow and change with the times. This one takes us to the brink of a new century, the 1800's, with many changes in the villages and towns of Cornwall. There are two deaths, one which had me cheering, another that made me sad. Even evil George Warleggen is experiencing change, inside and out. And as bad as he is, Reverend Ollie Whitmore is worse. A man of God with rotting insides. Another successful installment which has me looking forward to #8.
September 4, 2015
Having read the first two books in this series as a revisit to Winston Graham- I have skipped to #7. For a reason. It's because I have remembered all the intervening events and progressions from my 1975 Poldark BBC experience. After trying to read #5 and #6- I knew this was the one in which I wanted to read the peaks of crisis and reveals that I had experienced in the series drama.
Forty years is a big gap of time. But this one brought to mind the absolute, for me, crux of that entire 1975 series. The ending of this book was the ending of that first series. It's a long book, and it centers on 4 or 5 other characters, especially Demelza's youngest brothers. It also holds the progressions to Ross's first winning elections for the district seat and Demelza's first London experience.
This brings me to the point of not knowing what comes next. So I'll definitely read #8 next.
In print they bring Cornwall to life. The damp and sandy air! But I do think that the melodramatic language between our various lovers or haters does get heavily into soap opera territory in this particular selection. Some of the bad in this one are VERY bad, horrific. And they can sound like villains out of Batman or Superman comics. Only in proper English accents and manners.
This, time wise, brings us past the Admiral's vanquishing of Napoleon's fleet after his Egyptian foray and to the end of French conquest being in sight. I particularly enjoyed the women's gossiping and songs about the consistently changing fashions in gowns. And how the waist had risen to be under the bust and the fallout of having to change an entire wardrobe.
At the end of this book, I liked George much, much more than in the drama. He is definitely not all bad, nor is he in anyway stupid.
Forty years is a big gap of time. But this one brought to mind the absolute, for me, crux of that entire 1975 series. The ending of this book was the ending of that first series. It's a long book, and it centers on 4 or 5 other characters, especially Demelza's youngest brothers. It also holds the progressions to Ross's first winning elections for the district seat and Demelza's first London experience.
This brings me to the point of not knowing what comes next. So I'll definitely read #8 next.
In print they bring Cornwall to life. The damp and sandy air! But I do think that the melodramatic language between our various lovers or haters does get heavily into soap opera territory in this particular selection. Some of the bad in this one are VERY bad, horrific. And they can sound like villains out of Batman or Superman comics. Only in proper English accents and manners.
This, time wise, brings us past the Admiral's vanquishing of Napoleon's fleet after his Egyptian foray and to the end of French conquest being in sight. I particularly enjoyed the women's gossiping and songs about the consistently changing fashions in gowns. And how the waist had risen to be under the bust and the fallout of having to change an entire wardrobe.
At the end of this book, I liked George much, much more than in the drama. He is definitely not all bad, nor is he in anyway stupid.
May 17, 2017
I picked up this book with eager hands because at the end of The Four Swans the characters of this saga were left in an undercurrent of tension. The Angry Tide, which was aptly named,
plunges the characters into somewhat more conflict which fuels the inevitable - a very bad storm.
I loved the atmosphere that Winston Graham created here. Graham takes the characters to fever pitch and as events reach a climax, Ross and Demelza watch as gale-force winds churn up the sea. Graham cleverly reminds us that people too can be forces of nature, and absolutely unstoppable.
For the most part, it is the men in this series that are in the spotlight here. In The Four Swans, each of the women closest to Ross Poldark were forced to deal with a very serious crises and for a time, it seemed that the women had outmaneuvered the men. In this installment, Ross and George are not the only men in Cornwall ready to retaliate. I highly recommend this book to any fan of the Poldark series but hold on to your hat because you're in for stormy weather!
plunges the characters into somewhat more conflict which fuels the inevitable - a very bad storm.
I loved the atmosphere that Winston Graham created here. Graham takes the characters to fever pitch and as events reach a climax, Ross and Demelza watch as gale-force winds churn up the sea. Graham cleverly reminds us that people too can be forces of nature, and absolutely unstoppable.
For the most part, it is the men in this series that are in the spotlight here. In The Four Swans, each of the women closest to Ross Poldark were forced to deal with a very serious crises and for a time, it seemed that the women had outmaneuvered the men. In this installment, Ross and George are not the only men in Cornwall ready to retaliate. I highly recommend this book to any fan of the Poldark series but hold on to your hat because you're in for stormy weather!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2017
Pues nada, hemos llegado al fin de la serie, pero parece ser que si al final de estos personajes como protagonistas principales. No puedo decir si los voy a echar de menos porque igual los seguimos viendo, y esperemos que así sea. Al haber un considerable salto temporal podemos encontrarnos con algunas pérdidas.
Este libro concluye perfectamente todas las tramas que se han ido quedando abiertas a lo largo de los anteriores, y lo hace en un ritmo impresionante, solo comparable al de Warleggan. Ha sido una gozada leer las aventuras y sobre todo desventuras de estos personajes, y vivirlas casi en carne propia, y haberme llevado los mosqueos mas grande que me haya llevado jamás con unos libros.
Este libro concluye perfectamente todas las tramas que se han ido quedando abiertas a lo largo de los anteriores, y lo hace en un ritmo impresionante, solo comparable al de Warleggan. Ha sido una gozada leer las aventuras y sobre todo desventuras de estos personajes, y vivirlas casi en carne propia, y haberme llevado los mosqueos mas grande que me haya llevado jamás con unos libros.
July 3, 2018
''…It is only now that can ever be, at any one moment. And at this moment, now, we are alive… and together. We can’t ask more. There isn’t any more to ask.”
Wow....I think it was the most painful book of the series so far....
Wow....I think it was the most painful book of the series so far....
January 21, 2017
Madre mía, qué novela. No quiero decir mucho, pero me ha dejado con un cuerpo que... "Marea brava" es más bien "Bravo, Winston Graham". Y ahora quedan cinco más en inglés. AAAAAARG!!!!
November 25, 2018
Ross Poldark is turning 40 and going through a midlife crisis. He's depressed. Even though he's now a respectable man, an MP, a father, part of him longs for the adventures of his youth. George Warleggan's fortunes are on the rise both professionally and personally. Still, both men threaten to destroy their marriages with jealousy, suspicion and anger. Ossie Whitworth's marriage is not what it should be. Why his wife still refuses to perform her conjugal duties and threatens their son's life instead! Ossie must use the little wits he possesses to find a way through his problem, putting Morwenna through hell as he does. Sam receives some news that will change what he thought his future would hold, while Dwight and Caroline discover the joys and heartaches of married life.
I read the book and watched the show at the time time. I really like all the historical details the book adds in to really explain what is happening. The screenwriter is very skilled at taking the words on the page and translating them to screen. However, she adds a lot more action and drama than is in the novel. Some of the action in the novel is told after the fact so it's fun to see it appear on screen. Most of the dialogue comes straight from Winston's Graham's pen! The one thing Winston Graham did not know about the Georgian era was fashion. He included a lot of amazing details about Georgian London that not even Georgette Heyer put in her novels, but he should have consulted her before he began. There are some beautiful depictions of the dresses the ladies wear in London. The costume designer took notes. As annoying as Demelza's color palette is, in the book Caroline has auburn hair and frequently wears green because it makes her eyes stand out. In Cornwall, Winston Graham has Demelza wearing a blouse! That word didn't even exist to refer to a woman's garment at the time. Too bad Georgette Heyer wasn't alive any longer to set him straight.
The plot has lots of twists and turns even if it is a tad less dramatic than the show. I despise Ossie Whitworth with every fiber of my being and kept rooting for him to die. I don't think Morwenna's character was 100% true to the era. No one would care about her problems and even Elizabeth would urge her to be kinder to her husband and do her wifely duty. Elizabeth doesn't like it much but she puts up with it because she wants children. My very modern heart broke for Morwenna and her scenes were incredibly painful to read. Her sister Rowella is a minx. Where Morwenna is kind and soft hearted, Rowella is selfish and strong. She knows what she wants and how to get it and while I'd normally admire her for that, I don't care for how she goes about it. Her poor husband is weak and impoverished but he seems like a good man. I really really did not like the slight change in the sequence of events that follows. I know attitudes were different back in the Georgian era and even in 1977 but it still made me mad.
Ross annoyed the heck out of me in this book. His jealousy eats him up and he ends up sounding like George. WHY is it OK for HIM but not for Demelza? How do you think she has felt their entire marriage knowing he loved another? She suffers so much and puts up with all his crap and his reckless behavior and he thanks her very poorly indeed. I was shocked at his reaction. Demelza tries to stand up for herself a bit more than she does in the show but I would have reacted a lot more strongly. I felt so bad for her. Ross's continued thoughtless actions and reckless behavior have far reaching consequences beyond himself and he never ever stops to think about that. The consequences of his actions 7 years ago have become obvious and affect the plot all the way to the very end. It's such a tragedy. I love Demelza. She's so open hearted, kind and good. In every single book she's sexually harassed and still puts up with Sir Hugh Bodrugan's pinching and squeezing. I felt so horrible for her in this book. She's a miner's daughter and can fend for herself but it shouldn't happen.
There's a new character to love to hate in this novel, Monk Adderley. He's a rakehell who cares for nothing. He claims to have killed three men and enjoys fighting and making love all in the same day. He's George's new friend so needless to say, he causes trouble. I think Winston Graham's meticulous historical accuracy starts to fall down here. Why would this man be accepted everywhere? Duelling is illegal so why keep souvenirs? He did plead benefit of clergy once and you can only do that for the first offence. That is much more clear in the book than on the show. Why not flee the country? He strikes me as the type to follow the French Revolution if there was something in it for him. I also don't believe he would be considered "good ton" and thus not accepted and not worthwhile for George to be friends with. I can't blame Ross for disliking the man and allowing Adderley to push his buttons. (FYI Andromeda Page is his mistress not his ward).
George is as scheming and social climbing as ever. He is impatient for better things. However, he is mostly concerned with himself and less with revenge on the Poldarks. His uncle, Cary Warleggan, is more of a villain. At the end of the novel I actually felt sorry for George. He's a complicated character and more of an antagonist than a villain. I still can't stand Elizabeth. She's doing exactly what she's supposed to be doing as a Georgian woman. Her whole world revolves around her family and she is determined to create a better future for her children. Perhaps I would like her more if I were a mother. I can't relate to her or sympathize with her much.
The second generation seems to be turning out better than the first. Geoffrey Charles comes across as a bit flaky but he's young and stupid. His heart is in the right place and I think he will be a good squire some day. Little Valentine is sadly neglected by his Papa and overindulged by his Mama. He's not as spoiled as his older brother. I feel bad for little Valentine who is still young enough to want to be loved and love everyone. Jeremy and Clowance Poldark are sweet and mischievous like their mother. Hopefully Jeremy doesn't inherit his father's temper.
Caroline and Dwight are my favorite couple. They actually communicate about what they want out of marriage. They have some very modern conversations. Their story moved me a lot and I understood why Caroline made the decisions she did a lot better after reading the book. She's a well-bred lady and not supposed to show emotion. Ladies don't have feelings. Caroline seeks to hide her feelings behind her witty remarks and other actions.
I also really like Sam and Drake. Sam annoyed me with his preachy Methodist talk earlier but now I see how much he's like his sister. Both young men have the same good nature and open hearts as Demelza. This means they also feel very deeply. I was more involved in their plot lines than some of the others and hoping for happiness.
There's a little bit of humor in this story too. There's a very funny scene with the children and a pig that's almost laugh out loud funny. I wish that had been included in the show. Jud Paynter makes a cameo to infuse some lightness into this dark novel. I wish there was more of him.
If I say any more it will spoil certain plot twists. This may have been intended to be the final novel in the series but we know Winston Graham continued the saga for several more books!
I hear there's one final season of the show yet to come, not based on any novel but filling in the time gap between this one and the next.
Read this series if you like historical soap operas without smuttiness.
I read the book and watched the show at the time time. I really like all the historical details the book adds in to really explain what is happening. The screenwriter is very skilled at taking the words on the page and translating them to screen. However, she adds a lot more action and drama than is in the novel. Some of the action in the novel is told after the fact so it's fun to see it appear on screen. Most of the dialogue comes straight from Winston's Graham's pen! The one thing Winston Graham did not know about the Georgian era was fashion. He included a lot of amazing details about Georgian London that not even Georgette Heyer put in her novels, but he should have consulted her before he began. There are some beautiful depictions of the dresses the ladies wear in London. The costume designer took notes. As annoying as Demelza's color palette is, in the book Caroline has auburn hair and frequently wears green because it makes her eyes stand out. In Cornwall, Winston Graham has Demelza wearing a blouse! That word didn't even exist to refer to a woman's garment at the time. Too bad Georgette Heyer wasn't alive any longer to set him straight.
The plot has lots of twists and turns even if it is a tad less dramatic than the show. I despise Ossie Whitworth with every fiber of my being and kept rooting for him to die. I don't think Morwenna's character was 100% true to the era. No one would care about her problems and even Elizabeth would urge her to be kinder to her husband and do her wifely duty. Elizabeth doesn't like it much but she puts up with it because she wants children. My very modern heart broke for Morwenna and her scenes were incredibly painful to read. Her sister Rowella is a minx. Where Morwenna is kind and soft hearted, Rowella is selfish and strong. She knows what she wants and how to get it and while I'd normally admire her for that, I don't care for how she goes about it. Her poor husband is weak and impoverished but he seems like a good man. I really really did not like the slight change in the sequence of events that follows. I know attitudes were different back in the Georgian era and even in 1977 but it still made me mad.
Ross annoyed the heck out of me in this book. His jealousy eats him up and he ends up sounding like George. WHY is it OK for HIM but not for Demelza? How do you think she has felt their entire marriage knowing he loved another? She suffers so much and puts up with all his crap and his reckless behavior and he thanks her very poorly indeed. I was shocked at his reaction. Demelza tries to stand up for herself a bit more than she does in the show but I would have reacted a lot more strongly. I felt so bad for her. Ross's continued thoughtless actions and reckless behavior have far reaching consequences beyond himself and he never ever stops to think about that. The consequences of his actions 7 years ago have become obvious and affect the plot all the way to the very end. It's such a tragedy. I love Demelza. She's so open hearted, kind and good. In every single book she's sexually harassed and still puts up with Sir Hugh Bodrugan's pinching and squeezing. I felt so horrible for her in this book. She's a miner's daughter and can fend for herself but it shouldn't happen.
There's a new character to love to hate in this novel, Monk Adderley. He's a rakehell who cares for nothing. He claims to have killed three men and enjoys fighting and making love all in the same day. He's George's new friend so needless to say, he causes trouble. I think Winston Graham's meticulous historical accuracy starts to fall down here. Why would this man be accepted everywhere? Duelling is illegal so why keep souvenirs? He did plead benefit of clergy once and you can only do that for the first offence. That is much more clear in the book than on the show. Why not flee the country? He strikes me as the type to follow the French Revolution if there was something in it for him. I also don't believe he would be considered "good ton" and thus not accepted and not worthwhile for George to be friends with. I can't blame Ross for disliking the man and allowing Adderley to push his buttons. (FYI Andromeda Page is his mistress not his ward).
George is as scheming and social climbing as ever. He is impatient for better things. However, he is mostly concerned with himself and less with revenge on the Poldarks. His uncle, Cary Warleggan, is more of a villain. At the end of the novel I actually felt sorry for George. He's a complicated character and more of an antagonist than a villain. I still can't stand Elizabeth. She's doing exactly what she's supposed to be doing as a Georgian woman. Her whole world revolves around her family and she is determined to create a better future for her children. Perhaps I would like her more if I were a mother. I can't relate to her or sympathize with her much.
The second generation seems to be turning out better than the first. Geoffrey Charles comes across as a bit flaky but he's young and stupid. His heart is in the right place and I think he will be a good squire some day. Little Valentine is sadly neglected by his Papa and overindulged by his Mama. He's not as spoiled as his older brother. I feel bad for little Valentine who is still young enough to want to be loved and love everyone. Jeremy and Clowance Poldark are sweet and mischievous like their mother. Hopefully Jeremy doesn't inherit his father's temper.
Caroline and Dwight are my favorite couple. They actually communicate about what they want out of marriage. They have some very modern conversations. Their story moved me a lot and I understood why Caroline made the decisions she did a lot better after reading the book. She's a well-bred lady and not supposed to show emotion. Ladies don't have feelings. Caroline seeks to hide her feelings behind her witty remarks and other actions.
I also really like Sam and Drake. Sam annoyed me with his preachy Methodist talk earlier but now I see how much he's like his sister. Both young men have the same good nature and open hearts as Demelza. This means they also feel very deeply. I was more involved in their plot lines than some of the others and hoping for happiness.
There's a little bit of humor in this story too. There's a very funny scene with the children and a pig that's almost laugh out loud funny. I wish that had been included in the show. Jud Paynter makes a cameo to infuse some lightness into this dark novel. I wish there was more of him.
If I say any more it will spoil certain plot twists. This may have been intended to be the final novel in the series but we know Winston Graham continued the saga for several more books!
I hear there's one final season of the show yet to come, not based on any novel but filling in the time gap between this one and the next.
Read this series if you like historical soap operas without smuttiness.
June 5, 2019
At 4.5 stars, Graham still has me begging for more after reading this one. Plenty of intrigue, deaths and near death, lots of tragedy but little comedy.
I keep thinking about each book long after I finish them. The characters are so well fleshed, I look forward to each new day with them. And these people were tough, even and especially the women!
I keep thinking about each book long after I finish them. The characters are so well fleshed, I look forward to each new day with them. And these people were tough, even and especially the women!
May 22, 2018
Loved it as much or more as the first go around. I was not able to listen to this the first time I read it, but since that time the very talented Oliver J. Hembrough has recorded the remaining books in the series. He brings these stories to life!! Now I await season 4 of the tv adaptation to begin. Squee!!!
October 19, 2020
*loud groans that words cannot express*
This freaking series, man. Oh, my word. I just...ahhhh!
Winston Graham is a master of psychology. All of his characters are real. Even the ones I dislike--really, truly, dislike--I can still understand, as Graham explores their inner lives. Few other authors do that, favoring a sympathetic villain, whose motives may be explained but who remains villainous. Graham does not villainize anyone: actions and ensuing consequences are so complex that blame is never fully laid on one person. Instead, each character is treated with narrative dignity, so the motives and thought processes are laid before the reader. Even characters like Osborne Whitworth (the Whitworst™) somehow become understandable to me, if not sympathetic, because I can follow their self-deception through Graham's masterful writing, and grasp their thoughts and actions from their own perspectives. I put off reading this one for a few weeks because I was afraid of encountering my own vengeful feelings regarding Whitworth, but Graham's writing took over, and I found myself in an unexpected place.
Morwenna, my darling child and most beloved character, is treated with a rare respect in this narrative. Her suffering is completely validated by Graham, allowed to exist and fester and perhaps heal, never belittled nor tied up with a miracle cure. Would that all rape victims and those with PPD were treated as fully human in novels. Drake, my other darling child and most beloved character, reminded me so much of my husband. He loves deeply and permanently from a pure heart, without coercion or expectation beyond being allowed to love. What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.
It's hard for me to pick a favorite book in this series, and I have five more to go. I think I need to split it up by characters and think of my favorite book for each, because there are so many characters and narratives that any book will raise mixed feelings. The Angry Tide in particular is the highest-rated installment for me, because Graham truly impressed me with his literary skill. I sometimes fall into the trap of thinking series fiction/historical fiction is not as ~literary~ as other sorts of fiction, and then someone like Graham comes along and humbles all the English major nonsense out of me. A good book is a good book (even if I did unashamedly skip the portions on the French Revolution). The challenge with the Poldark series is that the quality partially lies in its breadth, and the commitment it takes to stick with a series of twelve very long novels is not right for every reader. Thank goodness it was adapted; my life is much richer for the reading, and I'd not have heard of the series without the adaptation.
And the closing chapters, again....my word. Graham. You did that. My heart is in little pieces all over the place, and I had no love for that character. Yet, you still made me feel for her. Wow. *Gomer Pyle voice* "How'd he do that?" I don't know, but I'm glad he did.
Content warnings: um, everything? Adultery, rape, foot fetishes, murder (more than one), death in childbirth...y'all, it's all here. You will likely be bothered by something. But Graham handles things so well that there are few readers I would turn away because of content.
This freaking series, man. Oh, my word. I just...ahhhh!
Winston Graham is a master of psychology. All of his characters are real. Even the ones I dislike--really, truly, dislike--I can still understand, as Graham explores their inner lives. Few other authors do that, favoring a sympathetic villain, whose motives may be explained but who remains villainous. Graham does not villainize anyone: actions and ensuing consequences are so complex that blame is never fully laid on one person. Instead, each character is treated with narrative dignity, so the motives and thought processes are laid before the reader. Even characters like Osborne Whitworth (the Whitworst™) somehow become understandable to me, if not sympathetic, because I can follow their self-deception through Graham's masterful writing, and grasp their thoughts and actions from their own perspectives. I put off reading this one for a few weeks because I was afraid of encountering my own vengeful feelings regarding Whitworth, but Graham's writing took over, and I found myself in an unexpected place.
Morwenna, my darling child and most beloved character, is treated with a rare respect in this narrative. Her suffering is completely validated by Graham, allowed to exist and fester and perhaps heal, never belittled nor tied up with a miracle cure. Would that all rape victims and those with PPD were treated as fully human in novels. Drake, my other darling child and most beloved character, reminded me so much of my husband. He loves deeply and permanently from a pure heart, without coercion or expectation beyond being allowed to love. What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.
It's hard for me to pick a favorite book in this series, and I have five more to go. I think I need to split it up by characters and think of my favorite book for each, because there are so many characters and narratives that any book will raise mixed feelings. The Angry Tide in particular is the highest-rated installment for me, because Graham truly impressed me with his literary skill. I sometimes fall into the trap of thinking series fiction/historical fiction is not as ~literary~ as other sorts of fiction, and then someone like Graham comes along and humbles all the English major nonsense out of me. A good book is a good book (even if I did unashamedly skip the portions on the French Revolution). The challenge with the Poldark series is that the quality partially lies in its breadth, and the commitment it takes to stick with a series of twelve very long novels is not right for every reader. Thank goodness it was adapted; my life is much richer for the reading, and I'd not have heard of the series without the adaptation.
And the closing chapters, again....my word. Graham. You did that. My heart is in little pieces all over the place, and I had no love for that character. Yet, you still made me feel for her. Wow. *Gomer Pyle voice* "How'd he do that?" I don't know, but I'm glad he did.
Content warnings: um, everything? Adultery, rape, foot fetishes, murder (more than one), death in childbirth...y'all, it's all here. You will likely be bothered by something. But Graham handles things so well that there are few readers I would turn away because of content.
April 9, 2020
Come sempre mi trovo arretrata con la lettura,e guardo la serie TV prima di aver letto il romanzo. Questo, tra parentesi, è il romanzo da cui è tratta la quarta serie, mentre io ho già visto la quinta... (cosa posso farci, non riesco a resistere!)
La serie è molto fedele (tranne che per il colore dei capelli delle due protagoniste femminili, Demelza, che dovrebbe essere castana e invece è rossa, forse in omaggio alla compianta Angharad Rees, l'attrice della prima riduzione televisiva degli anni '70, scomparsa nel 2012, che era rossa, appunto; ed Elizabeth, che dovrebbe essere bionda, e invece in questa serie è castana), per cui non riesco a trovare nulla di particolare da dire, tranne che
La serie è molto fedele (tranne che per il colore dei capelli delle due protagoniste femminili, Demelza, che dovrebbe essere castana e invece è rossa, forse in omaggio alla compianta Angharad Rees, l'attrice della prima riduzione televisiva degli anni '70, scomparsa nel 2012, che era rossa, appunto; ed Elizabeth, che dovrebbe essere bionda, e invece in questa serie è castana), per cui non riesco a trovare nulla di particolare da dire, tranne che
November 1, 2015
This is a re-read for me and I enjoyed every word of it. I always find it surprising when revisiting a novel or a movie as the years have past my attitudes to the stories has changed. Different things appeal and others fail to irritate. Even my moral compass seems to have shifted, perhaps I am less judgemental as i have aged. I certainly see things differently as a mother of adult children to when I was the mother of very young children.
And so it was with this book. Elizabeth, (and Ross) who I judged very harshley thirty years ago appears to me now in a much more favourable light. She is a beautiful woman with a lovely heart, who met a very untimely and avoidable fate.
Demelza, as always is my favourite character, with Ross a close second I enjoy the trials and tribulations of their relationship. They always return to their deep love of each other.
I'm taking a break from Cornwell for a while to read the latest Louise Penny book. Rest assured i'll be picking up the thread of the Poldark history in the near future.
And so it was with this book. Elizabeth, (and Ross) who I judged very harshley thirty years ago appears to me now in a much more favourable light. She is a beautiful woman with a lovely heart, who met a very untimely and avoidable fate.
Demelza, as always is my favourite character, with Ross a close second I enjoy the trials and tribulations of their relationship. They always return to their deep love of each other.
I'm taking a break from Cornwell for a while to read the latest Louise Penny book. Rest assured i'll be picking up the thread of the Poldark history in the near future.
July 22, 2012
Page 113:
‘My words are my own and my actions are my ministers’. - Charles II
Page 203:
But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings that you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.’
Page 410:
‘The importance of money is that it should always be treated as of no importance.’
I do love this Poldark series, one never gets bored with the developing plot of each book.
I’ve just heard that the Welsh actressAngharad Rees passed away. What a pity, I am going to miss you Demelza, rest in peace.
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‘My words are my own and my actions are my ministers’. - Charles II
Page 203:
But now and then you do not have all the control of your feelings that you should have – and then thoughts and feelings surge up in you like – like an angry tide. And it is hard, sometimes it is hard to control the tide.’
Page 410:
‘The importance of money is that it should always be treated as of no importance.’
I do love this Poldark series, one never gets bored with the developing plot of each book.
I’ve just heard that the Welsh actressAngharad Rees passed away. What a pity, I am going to miss you Demelza, rest in peace.
[image error]
November 12, 2017
Oh man! This installment of the Poldark saga does not disappoint. I just have to keep on reading these to see what happens next with my friends in Cornwall. :)
I keep asking my family to read these with me but everyone else is content to watch the series on tv. :( I try to explain how there is sooo much more than Aidan Turner's dark locks and stubble but I don't think they believe me, lol.
Winston Graham's writing brightens my day, even though events in his books might not always be so sunny. I have read that the series falters a bit after this one - I'm hoping it's untrue!
I keep asking my family to read these with me but everyone else is content to watch the series on tv. :( I try to explain how there is sooo much more than Aidan Turner's dark locks and stubble but I don't think they believe me, lol.
Winston Graham's writing brightens my day, even though events in his books might not always be so sunny. I have read that the series falters a bit after this one - I'm hoping it's untrue!
November 14, 2017
“The past is over, gone. What is to come doesn't exist yet. That's tomorrow! It's only now that can ever be, at any moment. And at this moment, now, we are alive--and together. We can't ask more. There isn't any more to ask.”
Ahhh the love affair continues! Them....with each other...and me....with them.
Ahhh the love affair continues! Them....with each other...and me....with them.
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