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Ross Poldark

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Ross Poldark

By: Winston Graham
Narrated by: Oliver J. Hembrough
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About this listen

Set in 18th century Cornwall, Ross Poldark is the first novel in Winston Graham's hugely popular Poldark series. Now a television phenomenon, it has been adapted for twice by the BBC as Poldark, most recently starring Aidan Turner.

Cornwall in the 1780s – when powerful forces of revolution and reaction are at large in the world.

Tired from a grim war in America, Ross Poldark returns to his land and his family. But the joyful homecoming he has anticipated turns sour, for his father is dead, his estate is derelict and the girl he loves is engaged to his cousin.

But his sympathy for the destitute miners and farmers of the district leads him to rescue a half-starved urchin girl from a fairground brawl and take her home – an act which alters the whole course of his life . . .

Ross Poldark is followed by Demelza, the second novel in this evocative series.

'From the incomparable Winston Graham . . . who has everything that anyone else has, then a whole lot more' – The Guardian

 Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Romance

Critic reviews

Ross is one of literature's great heroes . . . [with] elements of Darcy, Heathcliff, Rhett Butler and Robin Hood (Debbie Horsfield, writer of BBC One's Poldark)
From the incomparable Winston Graham . . . who has everything that anyone else has, then a whole lot more
The plot roars along as the sea crashes, rain lashes and wild winds whip up the spume. I swear you can almost hear the screaming gulls
Die-hard Poldark fans take note: if the TV series is not enough for you, there are 12 (yes, 12) novels in the original series . . . Love rivalry, war, class struggles - it's a rich soup of discontent, and there are some blistering lines in the books
Steeped in humour, romance, passion and tragedy, the Poldark books are as exciting and fresh as they are timeless and memorable. Don't miss them!
All stars
Most relevant
Really well read. Know the story like the back of my hand but wonderful to listen to the audio book which brings it alive.

Fabulous

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Really enjoyable, can't wait to read/listen to the rest or the series. Love the Tv series had to read the book

Love series have to read the books

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Would you listen to Ross Poldark again? Why?

This book brings into focus the life of the different classes and their ways of life and the rigidity as well as the hypocrisy. I enjoy the determination of Ross to do the right thing regardless of the social norms in all aspects of his life from standing up to the magistrate for his employee held as a poacher to marrying Demelza rather than seeing her as a fallen woman as well as helping his cousin to right the wrong done to her b y the family in judging the man she wanted to marry..

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ross Poldark?

Rescuing a child from bullying

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Demelza in the blue silk dress and her manipulation of Ross

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Sad as Ross realizes he has lost his love to his cousin.

Any additional comments?

The way of life is well described as is the countryside especially the flowers Demelza brings into the house.

Round peg in a square hole

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I'm pretty sure that my high rating of the Poldark series of books has something to do with the 70s TV series, which I was allowed to stay up and watch on Sunday night as a child - I LOVED IT!

I actually read these books somewhere in the 80s and devoured them all several times over in a 10 year period, I found them well written and engrossing. When I saw that Audible had them all available recently (no doubt as a result of a ressurgence of interest due to the modern remake of the TV series, which I thought was truly awful, even though the scenery wasn't shaky and it was visually well done, unlike the 70s version!), I assumed that I wouldn't enjoy them so much at such a remove - but I did!

Not at all sure if my love of the books is down to wearing rose tinted glasses, but I found myself just as engrossed in the story again on the latest re-read, so Mr Graham deserves his rating in my book - LOL!

Engrossing!

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Captures era perfectly. Would make excellent English Lit curriculum set text. So many critical themes

I loved this book!

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