Christmas in the Poldark World brought back (or forward) from December 2017

Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) singing, after Christmas dinner (2015 Poldark, episode 4) Someone — a Latin poet — had defined eternity as no more than this: to hold and possess the whole fullness of life in one moment, here and now, past and present and to come — last chapter of Ross Poldark) Ross (Aidan Turner) […]

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Winston Graham’s Poldark novels: Cornwall, history, & l’écriture-femme

Angharad Rees as Demelza (1975 Poldark, Jack Pulman’s adapted script the basis for the first four episodes) Friends, In early November of this year I began steadily reading the fiction of Winston Graham in chronological order, trying to gather salient points about each still extant text he wrote, beginning with the first The House with […]

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A feminist approach to Henry Fielding or the nature of historical fiction? — Anne Boleyn, Jenny Jones, Lady Townly & the Poldark extravaganza

Natasha McElhone and Jodhi May as Mary and Anne Boleyn (2003, BBC The Other Boleyn Girl, written and directed by Philippa Lowrthorpe) Dear friends and readers, I’ve just been watching the powerful 2003 BBC film adaptation of Philippa Gregory’s The Other Boleyn Girl, written & directed by Philippa Lowthorpe, with (most notably or memorably) Jodhi […]

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The new Poldark: the third season, another handy list; The Cult of Poldark …

Demelza and Ross Poldark (Eleanor Tomlinson, Aidan Turner, the last still of this year’s first episode, both looking grim or distressed) Demelza and Ross in front of fire. She: “If you do not challenge the corrupt and unjust, who will?” He: “What would you have me do? I am not that man, Demelza, I have […]

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The new Poldark: the 2nd season, a handy list

Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson), inquiring at Trenwith for Elizabeth Those who are left are different people trying to lead the same lives … Demelza to Captain MacNeil (Warleggan, Bk 1, Ch 4) There’s no to-morrow. It doesn’t come. Life’s an illusion. Didn’t you know. Let us make the most of the shadows … Ross to Elizabeth […]

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Poldark: the new incarnation & the old (wigs & male hats); a handy blog list & conference paper

Aidan Turner as Ross at the close of the 8th episode (2015) Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza, opening of 8th episode (2015) Courage shall grow keener, clearer the will, the heart fiercer as our force faileth … — Anglo-Saxon poem, The Battle of Maldon (as translated by Michael Alexander) Dear friends and readers, I had thought […]

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The state of the millinery: Poldark 1975

Demelza in characteristic hat delighted to look at a poster for a troop of actors come to Truro Dear friends and readers, As Anibundel suggests, the way to understand and enjoy costume dramas is to look at the costumes. What more indicative than hats? Spurred on by her fun discoveries of who wears what hat […]

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Mining (and smuggling) in Cornwall, with especial reference to the 18th century and Poldark novels

Chun Castle, West Penwith, 3rd ofr 2nd BC for that contains evidence of smelting Dear friends and readers, My Poldark class finally met on Monday and we had a good session. Spurred by this I thought I’d put onto my 18th blog a recommendation for books on mining and smuggling (they are linked) in Cornwall, […]

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Historical Fiction & Film Adaptation, 18th to 21st century (Poldark, Austen &c)

Verity Poldark and Captain Blamey dancing together Dear friends and readers, I know it’s absurd of me to come back to this listserv community on historical fiction and its film adaptations I’ve been trying to title, set up as a group and attract people to, but I’ve not given up. After my initial enthusiasm for […]

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Winston Graham’s last five Poldark novels & 18th century historical fiction

Romola Garai as Gwendoleth Harleth in Daniel Deronda (2002 scripted Andrew Davies, directed by Tom Hooper, George Eliot’s 19th century then contempoary masterpiece) — Garai is found in historical films from all sorts of sources Dear friends and readers, I’ve been meaning to report that I’ve written twice more about Winston Graham’s Poldark novels: a […]

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