This 1970s version of the cover of Winston Graham's second Poldark novel, Demelza, keeps cracking me up. I wouldn't have touched it in a million years, with its emphasis on lustiness and defiant love and whatnot. I would though, have been missing out.As I observed recently, I was sold on the idea of reading these by the BBC TV adaptation (America's Grandest New TV Saga the little green label on this book cover says), but even so was not quite prepared for how much I would like these books, like Graham's writing, like the characters and their world.It's a small world, is late 18th Century Cornwall, populated by struggling tin and copper miners, struggling farmers and the odd ridiculous bastion of Georgian gentility, but it feels the effects of the wider world in its own way, as last novel showed us in the hard homecoming of Captain Ross Poldark after Britain's loss of its American colonies, and this one shows us in its tiny echoes of the nascent French Revolution happening just across the water from its wind-and sea-swept shores -- mostly in the form of food riots in the bigger towns, but still, rumblings all the same.But for our purposes, the biggest stirring is still Ross's decision to marry his kitchen wench Demelza, who has turned out to be the perfect wife for him and, in her own novel here, to be a fascinating character all on her own. Unbelievably happy in her marriage and motherhood, she thinks everybody should be so, and so a lot of the plot of Demelza spins out from her efforts to secure her kind of happiness for Ross's cousin Verity, long separated from her man by family and social disapproval of his past as a wife-beater, violent drunk and all-around less-than-ideal prospect for any daughter. But it's true love! Can't anyone see it but Demelza? No, apparently not, so off she goes on her errand, with surprising and far-reaching results.For while Demelza is off match-making, Ross is busy trying to do his bit as a social reformer, trying to keep his workers' offspring out of trouble, their livelihood from going belly-up, and to keep himself from decking every ponce in a powdered wig who winks at his wife, cheats him at cards, or outmaneuvers him in business. Oh, and to do all of this mostly in secrecy, which is hard to do in a small world with a busybody wife running around playing cupid and touching off family and social drama.And again, there are lots of lovely moments, poignant and well crafted, like when the great old Grambler mine, on which the Poldark fortune seems largely to have originally been built, closes down and the gentlemen gather around the huge steam pumps that keep its galleries more or less clear of water to watch their last ups and downs and Ross's cousin Francis chalks the word "Resurgam" ("I shall rise again") on the side of the biggest of them to express the hope that someday what's still down in the Grambler will be economically worth digging for again. I hope it will, I do! But those darn Warleggans, the upstart banking family who are always on the verge of becoming the Poldarks' nemesis but never quite manifest as same, seem destined to keep copper prices low and the mine owners and their employees poor and dependent, those bastards!Thrown into the mix is a High Romantic sub-plot involving a fancy lass who marries an honest, big-but-dim mining man and regrets it to the ruin of, well, just about everybody in some fashion or another. It's this sub-plot that raises a lot of modern eyebrows, because of course it all ends tragically, but then, oh, what's this? All of these characters we have come to love and sympathize with are loving and sympathizing the guy who killed his wife! To quite an extraordinary degree. Because the fancy lass had it coming, I guess? Um.So no, I didn't like that bit either, but such has been the way of the world. If there's one thing a reader of novels learns over and over again, it sure do suck to be a girl. But then again, it mostly seems to suck to be a guy, too, though the old saw about being laughed at versus being murdered still comes to mind. Or at least until everybody is up against bigger problems, like rampant deadly disease, economic ruin and shipwrecks with pickings for all to fight over!ALL THE MELODRAMA.
After reading the first book in the Poldark Saga, I was eager for more of the gritty, atmospheric world set along the Cornish coast in the late eighteen hundreds. The writing, tone, characters, dialogue and setting were of the finest I have read. I was not disappointed when I continued with the story in this second book of the series which really needs to be read in order.As the title states clearly, this is Demelza's book. She was a waif and an emerging woman in the first book, but this book shows her coming into her own through the trials of life as friend, lady of their lands, mother, and wife. She both errs and she grows, but her character does not alter.In the beginning of the story, Demelza desires to show herself ready to be the lady of a gentleman so she uses little Julia's christening as an opportunity to host a party. But ready to be lady or not, she still has her insecurities and it is up to Ross to reassure her:"Nothing else matters, but you," he said. "Remember that. All my relatives and friends- and Elizabeth, and this house and the mine...I'd throw them in the dust and you know it- and you know it. If you don't know it, then all these months I've failed and no words I can give you now will make it otherwise. I love you, Demelza... p. 6 Ross from DemelzaDemelza wants to make those she loves happy so she meddles and schemes even behind Ross' back. She learns that what she meant for good may have dire consequences even within her own marriage.Ross has his own worries what with the situation of the copper industry, the Warleggan strangle-hold on the financial power in their area of Cornwall, and trouble within his own family and people. He must find a way to steer his way through it all. In the end, tragedies and joys come and it is Demelza's sunny nature that soothes his dark Poldark one.This truly is a saga of the Poldark family, but also that of the Cornish people at the time. The story moves along steadily accumulating plot threads and players on the scene surrounding the key players. It's not hard to follow the story and very easy to become vested in the circumstances. I love that this historical is not about the upper classes, but the gentry and the working poor. Instead of their lives being bland; they are rich and emotions are engaged. Ross and Demelza's marriage and daily life are still center, but the dark clouds of low rates for the copper, tough times for their people, strained relations with their neighbors even family, and most of all, the rising conflict with the Warleggans make for continued page turning. Demelza's activities strained things and I can see storm clouds brewing as a continued result of what she set in motion. My emotions were gripped. I was both saddened and gladdened by events of the story. I would add that this is romantic storytelling without being a romance.The historical setting of Georgian era Cornwall continues to be a strength. The author waxes poetic a few times and nearly brought me to tears over a mine closure and later I was thrilled breathless by a shipwreck and a wrecker's party on the beach. The writing includes strong nods to the distinction of classes and society with local speech employed for miners and workers that is amusing to work out at times. All in all, the strength, depth, and richness of this story kept me reading on even when other claims on my time called to me. I loved getting lost in the Poldark world and I look forward to picking up the next book in the series. I heartily recommend this series to those who love historical fiction with drama.My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
What do You think about Demelza (1996)?
LOVELY WRITTEN CHARACTERS!!It was fun reading about Demelza'S growth from a street urchin into a lady of the gentry. Bk2 Demelza is the story of her married life with Ross Poldark and her motherhood. She and Ross have had a daughter Julia. The old characters written in bk1 are in bk2 with a few news ones. Life in the 16th century was certainly a very hard one for the cold miners in Cornwall. The story had a side story involving Ross Poldarks cousin Verity and Capt. Andrew Blamey. After a long separation for the couple in bk1 Ross Poldark, they finally realize they are meant to be together no matter what. Demelza is very instrumental in getting the two together. The other story that caught my attention was between the miner Mark Daniels and his new wife Keren Smith who we meet for the first time in this story. There is a threesome between Mark. Keren and Dr. Dwight Inis which winds up in murder!! Keren is a real peace of work and a user of men. What we refer to as a social climber. This was a very enjoyable story and I cant wait to see the new TV version tomorrow night on Masterpiece Theater 6/21/15!! I very good series so far. I didn't give this story 5 stars becasue I need a little more sensual romance in my stories. There is none in this story just the mention of it it in a vague way!!
—Edwina " I LoveBooks" "Deb"
The BBC's new version of Poldark ended this weekend with heartbreak and a literal cliff-hanger. Over the past eight episodes (which covered the first two books) I fell head over heels in love with Ross and Demelza, played by the ridiculously handsome Aidan Turner and the beautiful Eleanor Tomlinson. They had so much chemistry, conveying so much emotion, passion and confliction, and they turned me into a swooning pile of mush! After it finished, I wanted to immediately read the third book in the series to find out what happens next, but knew it made more sense to go back and read the first two, which I now have. I hate to say it but I much prefer the TV version to the books. The Ross and Demelza in the books just don't have the same spark, the same tingle as they do on TV. True, in Ross Poldark they shared some beautifully tender moments during their fledgling romance, but I didn't feel it as much in Demelza. Had I just read the books, I'd have gently enjoyed them but wouldn't be the slightly obsessed fangirl I am now because of the adaptation, and for that I'm really disappointed. As with all adaptations there are some tweaks to be had, but it mostly stayed true to Winston Graham's writing. The one big change though was towards the end when on TV there was a visitor to a sickbed, and Ross's response to it had me all but punching the air in delight; his words were exactly what I'd be wanting to hear and I couldn't wait to re-live that scene in the book, but it wasn't there, it was made up by the adaptation. Even though it obviously wasn't Graham's fault, I somehow felt cheated. Not fair of me I know, but the way I feel. I'm now in a dilemma. I really want to know how the story progresses, but do I wait for the second TV series next year with my Ross and Demelza, or do I carry on with the books that don't hold the same magic? Hmmm....
—Anna
What can I say. Demelza has been with me for the past few days and I feel so sad that it's come to an end.I found this book so engrossing the Sunday dinner was almost late.Jud made me laugh when he walked down the isle of the church during evensong a little worse for drink!It's made me chuckle and some parts were very moving with the plight of Mark Daniel.The ending was so very sad to and I did feel for Demelza!This book is so much better than the drama. You get a real feel for the charaters, the wonderful scenery and the troubles of the times it was set.I loved it and would recommend it.
—Mary
