Today–30th June 2019–Winston Graham would have been 111!
I’m re-reading the Poldark saga books at the moment and being reminded of why this story still resonates.
WBGH Boston–home of Masterpiece, showcase for the majority of British TV drama in the States–is producing a series of podcasts to run with the showing of the fifth and final series of Poldark, stateside.
Mining Poldark is an epic undertaking–40 half-hour segments. I’m co-hosting with Barrett Brountas.
It involves watching each episode–old and new– and re-reading the original books.
Barrett and I then spend a half-hour dissecting each episode–agreeing and disagreeing in an agreeable fashion.
The team: Susanne Simpson (Exec Producer), me, Barrett (co-host), Nick Andersen (Producer)
We are nearly half-way through–and it’s a pleasure!
His wonderful writing lives on and is again a source of joy as well as–in this case–employment!
He wrote Ross Poldark, the first in the saga, in 1945 when he was 37 and bringing up a family of his own with his beloved wife–Jean at their home in Cornwall.
He finished the twelfth and last book, Bella Poldark, in 2002 at the age of 92!
This last tells the story of Ross and Demelza’s youngest child who becomes an actress–and with whom I’m sure Winston fell in love, as he’d done with Demelza–11 books earlier!
There’s as much PASSION in the last of the saga as there is in Ross Poldark.
He felt a loyalty to his characters–and this he passed on to his readers.
He was a supremely talented story teller.
Bonne Anniversaire, Winston!
Robin Ellis 
Winston Graham, such an inspiration, I was unaware that he began his story at age 37 and continued until 92. Impressive! You are so fortunate to be part of it all. Have to say… I can’t wait for Mining Poldark.
AS ALWAYS SEND THANKS
AND A BIG THANK YOU FOR THE BLAST FROM THE PAST!!!!
I’ll never forget I read the first or second Poldark book in the 70s. I didn’t know there was a TV series. But my cousin called me and said “You have to watch this show. OMG. The guy in the boots!” So I watched it awhile and thought “Wait a minute. I know these people. I know this story!” It was such a thrill to see it so perfectly brought to life. The best adaptation! Perfect casting.
Happy birthday and thank you for so many hours of pleasure, reading, watching and visiting parts of Cornwall linked to the stories, hope you are in a good place x
Delighted to have found this blog today—from a link on goodreads.com—which I visited to look up “Making Poldark”—about which a member of a Poldark fan group had posted to facebook. And already I have learned something new—the “Mining Poldark” podcast!
Winston Graham wrote other books too: “Marnie”, for example. I have not yet read all of his books but enjoyed all the ones I have read. Nancy in Alabama
Hello, Nancy.
Thank you, Robin, for reminding us all about this extraordinary and wonderful man. His friendship meant more to me than I can ever tell. I remember the day he telephoned to tell me that he had changed the name of his book from Valentine to Bella Poldark. Just as you say, he had fallen for the character and she forthrightly took over the book while he was writing.
Last fall I attended the Metropolitan Opera premiere of Marnie, along with members of Winston’s family. How he would have loved it! Winston was a huge opera fan, and I can only imagine the joy he would have felt at knowing that one of his novels served as the basis for an opera. We began the evening with a toast from Andrew, short and direct: “To Winston Graham!” It’s a toast that will resound as long as I live. Winston will be dearly, dearly remembered.
Something nice to look forward to. I first encountered Ross Poldark about 1958 as a young mum using the public library in our village, which was then just a few boxes of books brought out once a week at the vicarage, how times have changed. Such great stories of well written characters and so much social and political history. Delighted that you are still involved.
Congratulations, Robin – and the very best of luck! A worthy enterprise, as well as fun.
I’m hoping to e-publish a book I’ve written, set in and around the BAstide in 1355 – the 100 Years War. It’s for teenagers – four kids get caught up with the Black Prince, etc etc. All fantasy, but the history and locations are totally accurate. That, too, has been fun. Maybe PBS would like to option it as a drama!!!
Love to you both, M
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Thanks, Mark–what’s the title? It sounds fascinating. Did the Black Prince stay a night in the tower?
Love to you and Vicki.
Thanks for the interesting and informative information. I love your new glasses!
Thank you!
Absolutely can’t wait for Mining Poldark…..hey Robin I still prefer your series…
There was more humour, and in the original Demelza, Jud and Prudie could all make us laugh out loud…and of course you were way more attractive than that usurper upstart whatisname!! Happy Days….Happy Memories.
Steady!
Hi Robin. Please do tell us when we can hear this in the UK. I have just finished reading all 12 books yet again. What a fabulous saga x
Online quite soon, I guess, Heidi.
I’m looking forward to viewing the new program when you finish it. Thanks for letting us know. I own all 12 Poldark novels, including one signed by Winston Graham. They are a delight to read and to re-read as I do. He was a great historical novelist and so aware of the foibles of human nature. Happy 100th, dear Winston.
A wonderful reminder of the talent of Winston Graham. My family were always huge fans of Poldark, we even went to a charity cricket match in the 1970s, Poldarks against the Warleggans! We also called our Golden Retriever ‘Poldark’ as he came from an area where the first series featured many scenes. Many years later, on 3rd April 1992, a friend came to my parents house for dinner bringing his friend, Winston Graham! I had the privilege of cooking that night for the dinner as well! He was such a delightful gentleman with a marvellously kind disposition. At that time we lived between Truro and Falmouth in Cornwall. Wind on many years later and now living in Scotland our love of Poldark is undiminished so much so that my wife and I called our three sons Poldark associated names! They are Hugh, Ralph and Francis. Their boy cousin incidentally is Ross. Our 7 month old, Francis, will be taking his first visit to Cornwall in a few days. Thanks for your lovely posts Robin, they are always so heart warming to read.
Lovely story–thank you.Can you remember what you cooked for Winston?!
Nothing too exotic I have to admit! I remember it was haddock rolled up with a layer of cheese, parsley and breadcrumbs. I did a sauce with it but can’t remember what! Pudding was I recall cranachan. I remember saying about my love of Robert Browning poems and when Winston wrote to thank my mum for some flowers picked from our garden that she had sent his wife, who was unwell at that time, he advised me to read ‘Love in the Valley’ by George Meredith. We still safely have the letter that he sent.
Thank you for mining your memory!
Fascinating account – and stores – about a writer I learned of from the “first” and “best” Poldark series with one Robin Ellis and the beautiful Anghard Rees. Only later did I discover that he was also the author of “Marnie.” What a contrast. I watched only a portion of the Met Opera’s production of “Marnie,” but thought the best thing about it were the costumes!
Nancy
New Mexico
Hello Robin,
I have enjoyed reading about your work co-hosting Mining Poldark. I don’t expect this series will be shown on British TV, although I would be very interested in watching it. I loved reading Winson Graham’s Poldark series.
All the best to you and Meredith
Helen Hargest
Thanks Helen.
Wonderful. I have first editions of the books and have begun re-reading them this Summer. After months of studying Shakespeare, Donne, Hardy, Dickens, Yeats, Joyce etc (currently studying English/Lit at Oxford as a mature student), it’s a joy to take up Winston Graham again. There is heart and soul in his work, and his deep understanding of human nature, his gift for dialogue and his meticulous historical research give his work exceptional authenticity. His characters live and breathe for the reader and encourage a lifelong devotion.
I agree–he allows his characters room.
I so agree with you about the Poldark books. I have just downloaded the books onto my kindle to take on holiday with me. My original books are well worn as I have read them all many times. I’m sure my love of Cornwall stems from the books, which I read after the first series on TV all those years ago. It’s great to see you again in the current series.
Thank you Roz–it has been fun to be involved.
I cannot wait for this Robin the stories your voice telling them and the analysis If I have read your synopsis correctly I went to Perranporth last summer and sat on Winston’s bench My holiday fulfilled a dream begun in the 1970’s by I reconnected with the stories all over again Thank you Winston Thank you Robin
How lovely to sit in that chair.
So enjoying listening to “Mining Poldark” – so much insight! Has made me go back to watch the original series & the remake in preparation for this series’s finale. Thanks Robin for your input.
Pleasure, Fran. Barrett and I enjoyed it enormously.
Wonderful to find a post at last. It’s been too long.
I much prefer the “old” Poldark and its cast to the “new” one.
Best wishes for a tasty and joyous holiday season.
Nancy Dennis
Santa Fe, NM
Thanks, Nancy.
I first watched Poldark (and you!) when it first aired in the US-late 70’s. I was 13 years old. I read the first 7 books many times before I left for college and, despite my mother telling me about the last 4 books (she died before the publication of Bella), I did not pick them up again until the second series was shown on Masterpiece – nearly 40 years later!
I held off reading the last five books until season five of the second TV series and just finished Bella last night…. it is so sad to say goodbye to the characters I’ve known most of my life. I loved the final books (Winston just got better and better) and wish these could be filmed.
I have the original series on VHS and DVD and watched them prior to the new series. When I read the books, I see your face, Robin, as Ross. I grew up knowing you as Ross and you will always be the face of this character. Thank you for that! Because of this I was especially delighted that you stayed involved in the second series! And, your last scene in season 5 just made me cry. Thanks to Winston for sharing this story with us and to you for bringing Ross to life!
Your servant,
Leslie Sattler,
Boston, MA US
So right, Leslie. He was “on form” for Bella–well over ninety!
I remember reading those books with joy, and anticipating the later books, during the series.
Marina in the Valley of Heart’s Delight CA