Jeremy Poldark by Winston Graham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This novel is what we refer to as a “bridge” book or a “filler” book. There is very little plot that happens, but it wraps up story lines from the previous two novels as well as sets up some events that will resonate in the remainder of the series.
Still both reeling from the loss of their daughter, Ross and Demelza are at odds with each other due to a serious lack of communication. Pregnant, Demelza thinks Ross will hate the new baby, and so she doesn’t tell him and distances herself from him. This distance does not go unnoticed by Ross, who is confused as to what he did wrong. Angst ensues. If they had both been open about their problems, all of the anguish could have been avoided. Instead it leaves Ross feeling justified in flirting with Elizabeth. Ugh… Meanwhile, Dwight Enys meets the beguiling, but socially unavailable Caroline, and his world will never be the same.
And…that’s about all that happens. Seriously. Ross is on trial for his involvement in the looting of two shipwrecks the previous winter, and the trial lasts for half of the book. Meanwhile, Francis battles depressive/suicidal thoughts, which evaporate through the course of the book, and Verity worries about meeting her step-children, which ends up going fairly smoothly. So everything is wrapped up in a neat bow as the Poldarks and Dwight celebrate the birth of Jeremy Poldark and the opening of Wheal Grace.
I can understand why the TV series got through the books so quickly when you have so little story line to deal with. Internal monologues about fear and guilt or love and loss do not translate to the screen. Oh well, more drama is sure to happen in the next book, as if the title Warleggen wasn’t a big enough clue.
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