Demelza (The Poldark Saga #2) by Winston Graham
Genre: Historical Fiction
Read: 21st October 2017
★★★★★ 5 stars
“When something happens,” she said, “like what has just happened to us, it makes all our quarrels seem small and mean, as if we were quarreling when we hadn’t the right. Didn’t we ought to find all the friendship we can?”
“If friendship is to be found!”
“Yes. But didn’t we ought to seek it? Can’t all our quarrels be buried and forgotten, and we can live in friendship and not hatred while there’s time.”
Ross was silent. “I believe yours is the only wisdom, Demelza.”
*************************
"Demelza" builds beautifully on the first book, "Ross Poldark". In this second book we see Demelza grow from the girl she was into the woman she's become as Ross' wife.
Ross is a rugged, tormented man searching for peace in life and land in his home in Cornwall, yet beautiful Demelza is a free spirit who often leads from the heart.
Whilst it appeared he married her more out of duty than of love, Demelza leading with her heart, becomes the stronghold of his life and a beacon to his unruly moods. Despite her humble and rough beginnings, she sees the world differently. As we watch her grow, we see a nervous Demelza meet Verity, Francis and her husband's beloved Elizabeth (who married his cousin Francis). We see her become a mother, attend her first ball in society and again leading with her heart, plot to bring her dear friend Verity the happiness for which she longs. We meet her father and 5 brothers and see the strength she has to stand up to them, whilst being the "Mistress Poldark" to the tenants and villagers and their tragedies. The Demelza we met in the first book, the Demelza Ross rescued from a fair with her beloved Garrick, grows into a more lovely Demelza with this installment.
"Demelza" begins with hope, trails into tragedies and ends in a promise of hope. I can't wait to begin the next...."Jeremy Poldark".
