REVIEW: The Four Swans by Winston Graham

The Four Swans (The Poldark Saga #6) by Winston Graham

Genre: Historical Fiction

Read: 21st November 2017

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Purchase: Amazon

★★★★★ 5 stars

This is the sixth book in the Poldark series and named The Four Swans for the four women - Demelza, Caroline, Morwenna and Elizabeth - focused on respectively throughout. Often featured in this story are four beautiful white swans fed by Morwenna, dismissed by the hateful Osbourne and reflected on by Ross as he ponders the four swans in his life.

The story also expands on the lives of Demelza's brothers, Sam and Drake, and their loves and losses. Though it begins with George's suspicions about Valentine and of Elizabeth's virtue. And in his warped mind that, and every other doomed circumstance that came his way, was in his view orchestrated solely by Ross purely to thwart him. Oh the arrogance of that man! He and Elizabeth are well suited. I really don't like her. Declaring her love for Ross at a dinner party whilst still married to Francis some years before, all because Francis did not live up to her expectations and she, as Ross simply puts it, was merely "the tragedy of a woman who could not make up her mind".

This book is heartfelt and tragic in many ways...and for each of the swans. Only Elizabeth seemed to remain somewhat unscathed but her tragedy is the hardening of her heart. I felt sad for Caroline, who is normally larger than life and rather forward, finding life somewhat different to how she imagined. I felt a heartfelt sorrow for Demelza and yet at the same time disappointed (how could you, Demelza?). But the one I felt the most heartache for was Morwenna. Trapped in a loveless marriage to a most horrid self important man while her heart continues to yearn for another. Hers is the biggest tragedy in this story - and the saddest. And Ross? It took him all this time to realise he no longer loves Elizabeth but did he lose Demelza in the process?

A beautiful yet sad sad "chapter" in the Poldark series. And yet I cannot wait to begin the next one...