Ross Poldark: a novel of Cornwall by Winston Graham

The Poldark series, originally published in the 1940s, is the basis for a gritty PBS series about Cornwall in the 1780s.  Ross Poldark, a member of the gentry, returns from fighting for the British in the war for American independence to find that the woman he loves, Elizabeth, is now engaged to another.  He now has to pick up the pieces of his life and try to make a living on the small family farm he has inherited.  Graham creates a great moody atmosphere for Cornwall and vividly depicts both the struggles of the poor villagers and the tensions among the landowners and gentry.  I don't know if I would have enjoyed this as much if I had read the book first, as the actors gave very strong performances and rooted the characters in my mind.  The videos follow the story pretty closely, but included more emphasis on the broken romance between Ross and Elizabeth and the relationships with other members of the large Poldark family.  Ross is not afraid of bucking the conventions of his class and unexpectedly develops a love relationship with his kitchen maid, Demelza, and marries her to the astonishment of his family.  Demelza is a strong character in her own right, unschooled but a quick study, and Graham vividly describes the awkward scenes of her trying to fit into refined society and the cruelty of the gossip and hurtful remarks wielded by the other women.  The next volume in the series focuses on Demelza, and should be a fun read.  376 pages