Jeremy Poldark

The third book in the Poldark series. The farther into the series I go the deeper my feelings become for these marvelous characters. Demelza Poldark is one of the most finely drawn, enthralling women ever put to paper. She has become the heart of the books for me, and I feel that Winston Graham must have felt the same. She is open and honest and leads with her heart, and she puts the gentry to shame.

In this book we become better acquainted with Dwight Enys, a doctor ahead of his time, who feels for his patients and despairs when he cannot provide for them the basic services they so sorely need. And, there is, of course, the villain, George Warleggan, whose villainy springs from all to recognizable human traits: greed, jealousy, and show more feelings of his own insecurity. I love his repartee with Caroline Penvenen that is charged with both humor and an undercurrent of sexual tension.

Ross Poldark walks the tightrope that is life, and he does it without a net. He faces risks with bravado but without arrogance. He knows he might lose at any moment and that what he bets on is precious and irreplaceable, but he is unwilling to let someone else pulls his strings. You cannot help admiring him, even when he is so headstrong and wrong-headed that you want to shake him.

I cannot imagine what more one would want from a story of this nature than that it holds you, involves you, and pleases you. Winston Graham does all three. I am anxious to begin Book Four.

”Human beings were blind, crazy creatures, he thought, forever walking the tightrope of the present condemned to ever changing shifts and expedients to maintain the balance of existence, not knowing even as far ahead as tomorrow what the actions of today would bring. How could one plan a year ahead, how influence the imponderables?” show less

Book three of the Poldark series is a lull after the excitement of the first two novels. A lot happens, of course - Winston Graham always manages to cram the whole of the human condition into every book - but the action is slow to start. Ross's trial, following on from the climax of the previous novel, is drawn out, and both he and Demelza are still grieving their loss. Other characters follow the Poldarks to Bodmin - Dwight Enys meets the imperious Caroline Penvenen there, and Francis hits rock bottom. The cousins later agree to bury the hatchet, and extend the truce to form an uneasy reconciliation with Verity and her husband Andrew. Verity also meets Andrew's children, the surly Esther and wonderfully exuberant James. Ross grows show more closer to Elizabeth, which doesn't bode well, fights with the obnoxious George Warleggan, and sets up a new business venture with Francis. And of course the novel ends on a positive note, with the birth of Ross and Demelza's son, Jeremy.

Once the trial began in earnest - the talk of elections went over my head - I enjoyed this charged continuation of the epic Cornish saga. Caroline is a delight, forthright and witty, and George Warleggan is building steadily into a detestable enemy. I know there are supposed to be shades of grey in all of Winston Graham's characters, but I have always hated George's superficial charm and stubborn, underhand ways. Also, his illicit courting of Elizabeth is nauseating. The ending was perhaps a little rushed - skipping over Demelza's difficult labour - but now the fun really starts! show less

This sees Verity marrying the love of her life, although I think waters will be choppy because of her step children, which she has yet to meet. Jeremy is the new born son of Ross, and although the book is named after him, he didn't make an appearance until the last 1/3 of the book. I've seen Ross make a few bad calls in judgement during this book and I hope that turns around as the next book in the series is entitled the name of his nemesis.

Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham is the third book in the Poldark series. Not that they are a chore - they are lots of fun to read.

This novel is set in 1790-91 on the coast of Cornwall. The French Revolution is heating up and smuggling along the coast of Cornwall is too. Ross is hauled before the court on a trumped up smuggling charge, probably at the behest of his arch enemies the Warleggen family. His marriage is going south due to a misunderstanding between he and his wife and his continued fascination with Elizabeth the wife of his cousin. All of this while he watches his tin combine company go down the tubes at the hands of the same family. And so the adventure of the beginning of the Industrial Revolution continues with a great show more cast of characters and good tight writing.

This novel comes out of the tradition of great sweeping epic historical fiction that was popular in the 1950's and 60's. Even though the scope is huge this is a prime example of good editing and the good sense to break this story up into manageable sized and readable novels. This is how epic novels should be done instead of 1,000 page wristbreakers. Or the equivalent in digitized books. show less

As Ross faces the realities of a public trial for his alleged role in scavenging of two shipwrecks and the murder of a Warleggan cousin he must come to grips with the possibility that he might leave his wife a highly indebted widow. Meanwhile, Demelza uses all of the charm at her disposal to attempt to ensure a positive ruling at Ross's trial. But even after the ordeals of the trial are over, all of the Poldark clan have challenges to face.

Not the strongest entry in the series so far but still a riveting read. The characters remain as enthralling as ever and I'm highly invested in the fates of these fictional people overcoming all that Cornwall and life throws at them. While there's a bit less action in this entry as almost half of the show more novel is taken up with the quiet maneuvering before the trial and then the trial itself, there's still plenty of plot to drive the narrative along. And as with the previous books in the series, while the book doesn't end on a cliffhanger, there are still plenty of loose plot threads that leave me eager to pick up the next book. show less

Graham is a talented author who knows how to keep readers turning passages. Dealing with grief, Ross incites a raid on two ship-wrecked boats that lands him in trouble with the law. Admits this storm, and the ever looming threat of poverty, Captain McNeil enters the scene and makes a play for Demelza's heart.

What makes a book good enough to read again, and again? Is it the development of characters, the intriguing storyline, or something else?

In Winston Graham's Poldark series he has given us both people and their lives, men and women ordinary yet extraordinary, living in times foreign, yet much like our own. Sorrows and celebrations, betrayals and alliances abound in this third installment of the Poldark saga, yet never does the tale feel tawdry, contrived. The author shares with us the lives of folk, as flawed as we are, and draws us into their world, shows us that neighbors from 300 years ago are much like the ones we know today.

I've read this saga several times, and do not doubt I'll visit with the Poldarks again in the future. Highly show more recommended. show less