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Winston Graham’s series of novels set in Cornwall follows the lives of the Poldark family and their friends, neighbours, rivals and enemies.

This story (Book 9 in the famous series of novels) rejoins the characters in 1812 – about ten years after the point where ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ TV’s hugely popular series concluded.

Abridged in ten parts by Jill Waters and Isobel Creed.

Read by Richard Goulding.

Ross Poldark is now 52 and still happily married to Demelza, who is ten years younger than him. Their eldest son Jeremy is approaching 21 and their eldest daughter Clowance is 17, both of them navigating the changeable weather of first love.

The Poldark family is completed by young Isabella-Rose although neither Ross nor Demelza will ever forget the grief of losing their first born, Julia, before her third birthday.

A series of courtships begins their complicated dance, some fuelled by lust and others by love, money or ambition.

All this takes place against a backdrop of England’s continuing military campaign against Napoleon’s army in Spain and Portugal. The damage that war has done to the nation’s commerce and those who rely on it gives rise to political tensions which are played out in complex schemes of power and influence amongst the governing classes in London.

A world which seems so far away from the pressing concerns of Cornish life and which nevertheless beckons Ross to attend to his duties in parliament as an MP.

Take the chance to return to Cornwall and the passions of the Poldarks, reflecting on what marriage and courtship are really about and whether love can ever hope to conquer all.

Producer: Jill Waters

A Waters Company production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4, first broadcast in August 2020.

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