Winston Graham is almost certainly best known for his series of twelve novels set in Cornwall at the
end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries and which were televised as Poldark by the BBC in
the 1970s with Angharad Rees, Robin Ellis and Ralph Bates in the main roles. The Poldark novels are
being republished by panmacmillan in June 2008.
end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries and which were televised as Poldark by the BBC in
the 1970s with Angharad Rees, Robin Ellis and Ralph Bates in the main roles. The Poldark novels are
being republished by panmacmillan in June 2008.
At the centre of the Poldarks are five main characters: Ross Poldark, Elizabeth Chynoweth, Francis Poldark
(Ross‘ cousin), George Warleggan and Demelza Carne. Winston Graham once said he could have written
the story-line — the loves and hates of these characters — on the back of a postcard. In the end it took
him twelve novels written over a span of fifty-seven years to complete this fascinating and compelling
historical saga. In addition to their romantic power, the novels depict with great accuracy the fluctuating
fortunes of mining, the conditions of the time in the countryside and in the fishing communities and the
great rivalries between the competing banking and mining families (represented in the novels by the
Poldarks and the Warleggans).
(Ross‘ cousin), George Warleggan and Demelza Carne. Winston Graham once said he could have written
the story-line — the loves and hates of these characters — on the back of a postcard. In the end it took
him twelve novels written over a span of fifty-seven years to complete this fascinating and compelling
historical saga. In addition to their romantic power, the novels depict with great accuracy the fluctuating
fortunes of mining, the conditions of the time in the countryside and in the fishing communities and the
great rivalries between the competing banking and mining families (represented in the novels by the
Poldarks and the Warleggans).
Winston Graham wrote many other books, plays, short stories, and screen plays (over 50 works in all
including the Poldarks). The early books, written in the 1930s and during the war, were thrillers and
Winston Graham often described them as ‘deservedly out of print’. In the 1950s and 1960s he started
writing sophisticated suspense novels. Many of these were filmed, the most famous being Marnie. Other
works included a history of The Spanish Armadas, an historical novel, The Grove of Eagles, an
autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man and another ‘semi’ autobiography about his life in Cornwall and
the making of the Poldarks — Poldarks Cornwall — with wonderful photos by Simon McBride. But it was
only after the televising of the Poldarks that he felt his name became familiar to the public. Before that he
was frequently heard to describe himself somewhat wryly as the most successful unknown author in
England.
including the Poldarks). The early books, written in the 1930s and during the war, were thrillers and
Winston Graham often described them as ‘deservedly out of print’. In the 1950s and 1960s he started
writing sophisticated suspense novels. Many of these were filmed, the most famous being Marnie. Other
works included a history of The Spanish Armadas, an historical novel, The Grove of Eagles, an
autobiography, Memoirs of a Private Man and another ‘semi’ autobiography about his life in Cornwall and
the making of the Poldarks — Poldarks Cornwall — with wonderful photos by Simon McBride. But it was
only after the televising of the Poldarks that he felt his name became familiar to the public. Before that he
was frequently heard to describe himself somewhat wryly as the most successful unknown author in
England.
Many of Winston Graham’s books were selected as dollar book club choices in the USA. The first of these,
and the one that gave him most pleasure, was Cordelia a novel set in the late 19th century against the
backdrop of the rising middle classes in the north of England, a milieu he knew well from his mother and
the stories she told him as a young man.
and the one that gave him most pleasure, was Cordelia a novel set in the late 19th century against the
backdrop of the rising middle classes in the north of England, a milieu he knew well from his mother and
the stories she told him as a young man.
Winston Graham Literary Agents: A.M. Heath & Company Ltd.
