Rating: 
Summary: The Final Poldark
Review: ...I have always been disapointed in them. Yes, it's interesting to know "what happened" to Ross, Demelza et al. but I still feel, having read this and every sequel since "The Angry Tide", that Graham should have ended the series with "Angry Tide". This one, in general, is better than the prior 3 sequels (Stranger from the Sea, The Miller's Dance and I can't remember the other title). I think Valentine's story held my interest the most. But as for the rest of the plot(s)of this book, (I felt) why bother? And why have Bella have an affair with Maurice when he doesn't turn out to be a serious contender for her love?
Rating:
Summary: WHY do I read the sequels to the first eight Poldarks?
Review: ...I have always been disapointed in them. Yes, it's interesting to know "what happened" to Ross, Demelza et al. but I still feel, having read this and every sequel since "The Angry Tide", that Graham should have ended the series with "Angry Tide". This one, in general, is better than the prior 3 sequels (Stranger from the Sea, The Miller's Dance and I can't remember the other title). I think Valentine's story held my interest the most. But as for the rest of the plot(s)of this book, (I felt) why bother? And why have Bella have an affair with Maurice when he doesn't turn out to be a serious contender for her love?
Rating:
Summary: WHY do I read the sequels to the first eight Poldarks?
Review: ...I have always been disapointed in them. Yes, it's interesting to know "what happened" to Ross, Demelza et al. but I still feel, having read this and every sequel since "The Angry Tide", that Graham should have ended the series with "Angry Tide". This one, in general, is better than the prior 3 sequels (Stranger from the Sea, The Miller's Dance and I can't remember the other title). I think Valentine's story held my interest the most. But as for the rest of the plot(s)of this book, (I felt) why bother? And why have Bella have an affair with Maurice when he doesn't turn out to be a serious contender for her love?
Rating: 
Summary: late 80's and still writing exceptional material
Review: Five years ago I wrote the author, Winston Graham urging him continue the Poldark saga. Having read the books and watched the BBC Videos I fell in love with this series years ago. Mr. Graham responded to my letter that he was 80 years old and had always written his series three or four books at a time. this way he could have sub plots that revolved around the lives of his main characters Ross and Demelza. He further informed me that he doubted if he had enough remaining time to do another three books.I was very pleased to see that he had enough energy and intellect to provide us with this final book. It is an excellent finish to a great saga. I highly recommend this book. Would anyone like to visit Cornwall? I would.
Rating:
Summary: late 80's and still writing exceptional material
Review: Five years ago I wrote the author, Winston Graham urging him continue the Poldark saga. Having read the books and watched the BBC Videos I fell in love with this series years ago. Mr. Graham responded to my letter that he was 80 years old and had always written his series three or four books at a time. this way he could have sub plots that revolved around the lives of his main characters Ross and Demelza. He further informed me that he doubted if he had enough remaining time to do another three books. I was very pleased to see that he had enough energy and intellect to provide us with this final book. It is an excellent finish to a great saga. I highly recommend this book. Would anyone like to visit Cornwall? I would.
Rating:
Summary: A quiet ending to the Poldark saga
Review: I fell in love with the Poldark saga through the Masterpiece Theater series in the 70s and found that I preferred the books to the teleplay. I read paperback copies of the first seven books to pieces. This 12th and, presumably, final Poldark novel is a must for any fan of the series. A caution: it lacks the narrative richness and detail of the preceding books. Promising plot lines and character developments bob to the surface briefly, only to plunge back into the depths without ever being fully explored, such as Clowance's dislike of Cuby, Cuby's future, Clowance's own courtships. It feels as if there were material enough here for more than one book, but perhaps Graham felt compelled to finish off the saga. Some of the plot is creaky and out-of-joint. There is a subplot regarding a serial killer; Graham is an accomplished suspence writer, but the subplot feels dreadfully out of place here, and there is never any serious doubt as to the killer's true identity. Valentine's story develops in a way that felt, to me, forced and false. Clowance's choice of a second husband is resolved too quickly and too easily. And, finally, it's hard for me to believe that even parents as easy going as Ross and Demelza would have let their daughter embark on a stage career, or that Ross would have reacted with such control to the realization that his unmarried teenage daughter was having an affair with her French orchestra conductor. For me, the best book in this series was The Four Swans: quiet, insightful, with surprising plot twists that nonetheless grew naturally out of what we knew of the characters. This book is closer to, say, The Twisted Sword, in that it covers a great deal of plot ground without showing us a great deal about the characters. If you're not a fan of the Poldark saga, you may find this book confusing; too much of the past history has been left out for the book to be truly enjoyable for the new reader. If you are a fan of the Poldark saga, you may find the book not quite up to Graham's past standards, yet it will be irresistible and not totally unsatisfying.
Rating:
Summary: A quiet ending to the Poldark saga
Review: I fell in love with the Poldark saga through the Masterpiece Theater series in the 70s and found that I preferred the books to the teleplay. I read paperback copies of the first seven books to pieces. This 12th and, presumably, final Poldark novel is a must for any fan of the series. A caution: it lacks the narrative richness and detail of the preceding books. Promising plot lines and character developments bob to the surface briefly, only to plunge back into the depths without ever being fully explored, such as Clowance's dislike of Cuby, Cuby's future, Clowance's own courtships. It feels as if there were material enough here for more than one book, but perhaps Graham felt compelled to finish off the saga. Some of the plot is creaky and out-of-joint. There is a subplot regarding a serial killer; Graham is an accomplished suspence writer, but the subplot feels dreadfully out of place here, and there is never any serious doubt as to the killer's true identity. Valentine's story develops in a way that felt, to me, forced and false. Clowance's choice of a second husband is resolved too quickly and too easily. And, finally, it's hard for me to believe that even parents as easy going as Ross and Demelza would have let their daughter embark on a stage career, or that Ross would have reacted with such control to the realization that his unmarried teenage daughter was having an affair with her French orchestra conductor. For me, the best book in this series was The Four Swans: quiet, insightful, with surprising plot twists that nonetheless grew naturally out of what we knew of the characters. This book is closer to, say, The Twisted Sword, in that it covers a great deal of plot ground without showing us a great deal about the characters. If you're not a fan of the Poldark saga, you may find this book confusing; too much of the past history has been left out for the book to be truly enjoyable for the new reader. If you are a fan of the Poldark saga, you may find the book not quite up to Graham's past standards, yet it will be irresistible and not totally unsatisfying.
Rating:
Summary: Winston Graham, Thank You for a Wonderful Series
Review: In this novel, the lives of the Poldark Family come full circle. As the title suggests, the novel is centered on the youngest daughter, Bella, who has her heart set on becoming an operatic singer. As in all the preceding 11 novels of the series, Graham brings to life here the feelings and sensibilities of early 19th century Cornwall, and by extension, England and Europe in the immediate post-Napoleonic era. The characters are well-drawn and you find yourself, as you read this novel, wanting to know how they'll fare at journey's end. While I enjoyed this novel, and the other 3 novels of the series I have read (I'm now reading "ROSS POLDARK", the first of the series), I felt sad to know that this is the last of the series. (As some of you may already know, Winston Graham passed away at the age of 93 this past July.) Next to James Clavell, Graham has been able to create characters in the Poldark Series - Ross & Demelza & their children, George Warleggan, Valentine Warleggan, Verity, Geoffrey-Charles, Cuby - who could take on the lives of REAL PEOPLE. Love or hate them, you could never be indifferent about these people while reading any of the Poldark novels.
Rating:
Summary: Winston Graham, Thank You for a Wonderful Series
Review: In this novel, the lives of the Poldark Family come full circle. As the title suggests, the novel is centered on the youngest daughter, Bella, who has her heart set on becoming an operatic singer. As in all the preceding 11 novels of the series, Graham brings to life here the feelings and sensibilities of early 19th century Cornwall, and by extension, England and Europe in the immediate post-Napoleonic era. The characters are well-drawn and you find yourself, as you read this novel, wanting to know how they'll fare at journey's end. While I enjoyed this novel, and the other 3 novels of the series I have read (I'm now reading "ROSS POLDARK", the first of the series), I felt sad to know that this is the last of the series. (As some of you may already know, Winston Graham passed away at the age of 93 this past July.) Next to James Clavell, Graham has been able to create characters in the Poldark Series - Ross & Demelza & their children, George Warleggan, Valentine Warleggan, Verity, Geoffrey-Charles, Cuby - who could take on the lives of REAL PEOPLE. Love or hate them, you could never be indifferent about these people while reading any of the Poldark novels.
Rating:
Summary: I can't believe it's all over!
Review: No more Ross and worse, no more Demelza. No more feud with the Warleggans. Although Graham easily has material for a whole new generation of Poldarks, apparently this is the last one. Fortunately, there's a ton of Poldark books to go back and start reading again. I can't wait. There's such a true sense of place in this series; Cornwall in the 17th/18th century is alive and so appealing. The characters are appealing, even as they appall, like Ross's enemy George Warleggan. The PBS series was grand too, but the books are better. Such a diverting relief from too much war TV. If you like the very different novels of Daphne du Maurier or, even more distinctly, the veterinary tales of James Herriot in Yorkshire, you'll find something to like here.
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