Poldark

Poldark is a series of historical novels by Winston Graham, published from 1945 to 1953 and continued from 1973 to 2002. The series comprises 12 novels: the first seven are set in the 18th century, concluding in Christmas 1799; the remaining five are concerned with the early years of the 19th century and the lives of the descendants of the previous novels' main characters. Graham wrote the first four Poldark books during the 1940s and 1950s. Following a long hiatus, he decided to resume the series and published The Black Moon in 1973.

The main character, Ross Poldark, is a British Army officer, who returns to his home in Cornwall from the American Revolutionary War only to find that his fiancée Elizabeth Chynoweth, having believed him dead, is about to marry his cousin Francis Poldark. Ross attempts to restore his own fortunes by reopening one of the family's derelict tin mines. After several years he marries Demelza Carne, a poor servant girl, and is gradually reconciled to the loss of Elizabeth's love.

Poldark (TV series)

Poldark (TV series) can refer to:

Poldark (2015 TV series)

Poldark is a British drama television series that was first broadcast on BBC One on 8 March 2015. The eight-part series (in the UK, seven parts in the USA), based on the first two Poldark novels by Winston Graham, was adapted by Debbie Horsfield and directed by Edward Bazalgette and Will McGregor. An earlier television series of the same name, based on Graham's first four Poldark novels, was broadcast by BBC One between 1975 and 1977. On 8 April 2015, the BBC announced that a second series had been commissioned.

Plot introduction

In the late 18th century, Ross Poldark returns to his Cornish tin mines after spending three years in the army to avoid charges of smuggling, leaving behind his sweetheart, Elizabeth. On his return, having fought in the American War of Independence, he finds his father dead, his estate in ruins and Elizabeth engaged to his cousin Francis. He rescues a young woman, Demelza, from a beating, and takes her on as a kitchen maid and attempts getting control of the mines sought after by a rival, the greedy and arrogant George Warleggan.