WARNING: For anyone who hasn't read the previous 11 Poldark novels, this review contains spoilers for the earlier installments of this series.


After a 12-year draught of Poldark stories, Author Winston Graham has released the 12th installment of his historical cult series, Bella Poldark. The cover boldly states that this volume, like the last, concludes the Poldark series. This just proves that when ideas run through a writer's head, nothing relieves the creative instinct until they're down on paper.

This novel begins three years after the last one ended, demonstrating how the Poldarks are coping after the deaths of Jeremy and Steven Carrington. Cuby and her baby daughter have moved in with Trevanions and Clowance enjoys the independence of widowhood by taking over the small shipping business her husband had started. Valentine Warleggan's marriage is in crisis when one of his extramarital lovers visits his wife, then is found murdered. When Bella's fiancé gives her slight nudge to go for a singing career, she fiercely grabs it and takes London and France by storm. More of Demelza's family comes to the stage when her niece, Esther, through her brother Luke, takes a job as a nursemaid at Trenwith.

Despite this 2002 novel's name, the focus spreads further than Bella. Ross and Demelza are still the central figures in the series, although any major character growth on their parts occurred during the first seven novels. They both find themselves in mortal perils in this book, but their troubles create no major changes in how they approach their lives.

To be sure, Bella is a prominent character in this novel. As she pursues her ever-increasing passion for singing and the theatre, the loneliness of Clowance's independent life finally loses its appeal and she considers the offers of two suitors. Valentine adopts a pet ape, which brings on peculiar problems. Ben Carter, in the meantime, finally accepts that his tender feelings for Clowance will never be reciprocated and develops a taking for another young lady.

The plot does takes an unusual turn in genre when it initiates a serial murder case. In those days before the organization of Scotland Yard, it is interesting to see how Graham handles the crisis. A new character, Philip Prideaux, is introduced to handle the investigation.

Readers have to give Graham credit. This series loses most of its intrigue after the death of Elizabeth Warleggan, but on the other hand, it's still hard to set the post-Elizabeth books down. Like any good serial, it keeps one wondering what is going to happen next. When Geoffrey Charles and his Spanish wife, Amadora, have a party at Trenwith, Ross has the opportunity to become better acquainted with Harriet Warleggan, to George's chagrin. In some respects, Ross is the bigger manipulator this time around, since he suspects Valentine is his biological son (a question that was clearly answered for the readers in the seventh novel, if not for the characters). When Valentine and his wife, Selina, produce a son, Ross does what he can to prevent George from having influence over him.

One of the things about the later Poldark books is that they tend to focus more on the politics of the period. This one takes place 1818-1820. Princess Charlotte has died from childbirth complications and the nation wonders who the heir apparent will be on the Prince Regent's death. There is a flutter when George III dies. Canning remains friends with Ross. It is a far cry from those earlier adventures where Ross and Demelza were doing what they could to help out the local villagers when any of them were in serious trouble.

Graham's writing style has never been the most impressive. His narrative could use more imagery and description. In settings that readers have little familiarity, many of the scenes in this novel give the reader little feel of the physical surroundings the characters are in. There were at least a couple of scenes where this reviewer lost track of who was speaking. Adding attributives to each every line spoken by character would show a definite lack of skill, but attaching the dialogue to movements of the character could have helped as well as open an opportunity to insert more background detail.

Regardless of these flaws, Graham actually does many things right. Having lived in Cornwall for around 30 years, he really, really knows the locale well. He absorbed its culture, landscape, and has even done what he could to preserve it from overdevelopment and excessive tourism. He knows how these people talk, work, and live, along with their provincial attitudes.

Graham's characterizations are incredible. Each one feels so real. They all have their own motivations and way of speaking that makes them all believable. He has always been excellent at plotting, always taking a violent hold of any potential for good conflict. Some of the ironic points he adds, such as when Valentine decides to name his son George, always compel a reader to keep going.

Overall, fans should enjoy reading the continuing adventures of the Poldarks in Bella Poldark. Those who have been away from the series for a while should be pleased that the front matter includes a review of the major cast characters to present. This comes in extremely helpful in catching up with the story thus far in how it relates to this new novel. However, this reviewer won't believe the Poldark series has ended until Winston Graham dies. After all, there was an 18-year interim between the fourth and the fifth novels.


PS 25 July 2003: Winston Graham died Wednesday, 9 July 2003, at the age of 93. The fact he managed to put together such a complicated project in his advancing years is very impressive. Rest well, Mr. Graham.


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My other Poldark reviews:

The Stranger from the Sea
the eighth Poldark novel

Poldark
the 1996 made-for-TV movie based on The Stranger from the Sea

Poldark's Cornwall
a small coffee table picture book, with Graham's memoirs of his Poldark series

Making Poldark
Robin Ellis's memoirs of filming the BBC TV series

Recommended: Yes