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Mike Cuthbert

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The Twisted Sword (Poldark, #11)

by Winston Graham

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Mike Cuthbert said: " In one of the most action-packed of the eleven volumes of the saga I have read so far, this one ends with far fewer cast members to continue in Volume 12, the ultimate entry in this wonderful series. It is to be expected because running under the rad In one of the most action-packed of the eleven volumes of the saga I have read so far, this one ends with far fewer cast members to continue in Volume 12, the ultimate entry in this wonderful series. It is to be expected because running under the radar throughout the entire work is the looming Battle of Waterloo. We have reached the year 1815, after all, and Napoleon makes his triumphant return to France, installs a new ruling code, wins friends but also alienates the Allies who corner him in Belgium and end his reign. The Poldarks are not left unscathed. It would be a spoiler indeed, to tell you which of the clan survives, but the odds are against all making it through since Jeremy, Geoffrey Charles and Ross are all involved, in one way or another, in the action. The effects of the various losses are heavy indeed with the women suffering the suspense as well as the actual losses. Graham keeps the tension high and the action continuous throughout in some masterful passages that linger long in the memory. Remarkable in the entire series is Graham’s consistency: it seems as if the books were all written in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He never veers into the vernacular of the 20th. The women change as well with the most interesting changes in Katie Porter and Music Thomas who conduct one of the oddest, yet most rewarding love affairs imaginable. Throughout, Dwight Enys is the anchor for them all. His constant attention to his friends’ physical and mental well-being is the only possible hint of 20th century attitudes in the novel. Once again, Graham’s intense and vast research pays dividends as the dictionary gets a workout, trying to decode the 19th century terms for the most ordinary of foodstuffs, actions, attitudes and feelings. This is part of his ability to stay within the period and adds to the richness of the story. You will find less steam-engine talk in this novel than in previous ones. Jeremy decides to enter the army, giving up on Cuby as a lost cause to the rich and famous Valentine so much of the impetus for the steam talk is gone. There are some moments of financial finagling because George Warleggan is up to his usual dastardly dealings with Stephen Carrington, married to Clowance, a Poldark. That marriage is reason enough for George to wage war against Carrington. Late pages of the novel give George a shock and it is, indeed, a delightful one for readers like me who detest the sniveling, sneering, vengeful villain. Ross and Demelza both evolve smoothly with rich references to their past errors and indiscretions echoing through the chapters. Now that Bonaparte is taken care of and the rubble is clearing, it is time to wrap the series and I must admit I cannot imagine what twists and turns Graham can construct to keep the momentum to the end. I am pleased to have reached this far in the series but dread the end of it. Volume 12 is the largest of them so it will take some time to finish. I count that a blessing. ...more "

Mar 15, 2018 03:58PM · see review