Today is my 6th Shabby Sunday! To see all the Shabby Sunday books that I’ve chosen, please click on ‘Shabby Sunday’ under categories.
Shabby Sunday Meme
I have a lot of old vintage books and one of my plans when I first started blogging was to do a post every week or so that shared one of my cherished vintage books. Then, I thought that maybe there might be other book bloggers out there that have some vintage books, heirlooms, or maybe some old books from childhood that they might want to share. I decided to start a weekly meme titled ‘Shabby Sunday’ for those who would like to participate and share some of their old vintage books. Do you have some shabby books you’d like to share? Please feel free to participate. Feel free to use the picture I’ve provided if you’d like to. If you decide to do this meme, please consider linking back to me so that I can see the book you’re sharing.
Today’s shabby share is:
Poldark
by Winston Graham
Blurb: A gorgeous new release of the heartwarming and hilarious first novel in the Poldark series, the subject of the landmark BBC series
Ross Poldark is a heartwarming, gripping, and utterly entertaining saga that brings to life an unforgettable cast of characters and one of the greatest love stories of our age.
Ross Poldark returns to Cornwall from war, looking forward to a joyful homecoming with his family and his beloved Elizabeth. But instead he discovers that his father has died, his home is overrun by livestock and drunken servants, and Elizabeth, having believed Ross dead, is now engaged to his cousin. Ross must start over, building a completely new path for his life, one that takes him in exciting and unexpected directions . . .
Thus begins an intricately plotted story spanning loves, lives, and generations. The Poldark series is the masterwork of Winston Graham, who evoked the period and people like only he could, and created a world of rich and poor, loss and love, that readers will not soon forget.
I chose this book because I love the entire saga and my Poldark edition is 40 years old! The actual publication date of Poldark is 1945.
My Thoughts:
It’s 1783, and Ross Poldark is returning home after fighting in the American Revolutionary War. When he arrives he learns that his father is dead, his copper mine is failing, and his sweetheart Elizabeth, whom he loves, is engaged to his cousin Francis. Not only that, but the servants haven’t been keeping up with the estate, and it’s in shambles. His joyful homecoming is crushed and everything is a mess with chickens scattered around in his living room.

Ross plans to get back on his feet again, but his finances are a mess and he struggles to fit back into society. The future is looking fairly grim. He meets a fourteen-year-old girl named Demelza, rescues her from her abusive father, and gives her a job as a kitchen maid at Nampara where he resides. As time moves on, Demelza grows up into a beautiful young woman, their relationship changes, and they get married against everyone’s wishes. There’s hardly a single soul who approves of their marriage and Demelza will have to prove that she’s a worthy wife. Not only does she struggle with society, she struggles with herself because she knows Ross still loves Elizabeth and Demelza is the one who wants to be number one in Ross’s life.
The book is full of memorable characters with Demelza being my favorite. Winston Graham has a way of making the wind, sea, weather, and landscape connect to the feelings of the characters and the imagery of Cornwall pulls you in with all the vivid details.
“He felt he would like one more look at the sea, which even now was licking at the rocks behind the house. He had no sentimental notions about the sea; he had no regard for its dangers or its beauties; to him it was a close acquaintance whose every virtue and failing, every smile and tantrum he had come to understand.”
The book started off slow for me, but once I got into the story I loved it and couldn’t wait to read the other books in the series. I ended up reading every single book in The Poldark Saga and highly recommend it to all that enjoy reading historical fiction.
My rating on this is 5*****

Add it on Goodreads or find this edition on Amazon
You can find many editions of this series on Amazon, eBay, and many other sites.
- Mass Market Paperback: 347 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Ballantine Books Edition edition (April 12, 1977)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0345256549
- ISBN-13: 978-0345256546
Other blogs participating in Shabby Sunday:
Nicky@ An Introverted Bookworm
Probably the book is better, but I’ve considered watching this on Netflix. BBC gins up plots a bit much though.
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I actually enjoy both, the show and book. I haven’t seen the old BBC version, but the new one with Aiden Turner has been very good and close to the story. My only complaint is the speed. A person who’s pregnant will have the baby by the next episode. It’s a bit too fast. The first season covers the first two books. Hope you enjoy! ❤
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Never read the book, but ironically, this is next in my Netflix queue for streaming. Probably watch it tonight after I get my weekly dose of Outlander Season 3. I’ve heard great things about both the book and the series. Your retro book is very cool, too!
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Have you seen any seasons yet? I personally love them all. Season 3 is starting soon and I’m excited. 🖤
How are you liking season 3 of Outlander? I’m thinking about starting episode 1 tonight. 😊
Thanks and have a great day! ❤💜❤
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Not yet, but I might start tonight, or wait until I return from vacation so I can binge. I hear nothing but good things about the series, though. And how can you not love a name like “Demelza?” I’m enjoying the third season of Outlander very much, much more so than the two previous seasons. But it was that way with the books, too. Odd, I know. Voyager just hit the right groove, and it only continued. I’ve read every single book at least 5 times, and I have each book in hardcover, as you saw in the photo of the first book I sent you. Some are a bit more battered than others, but all have been read and reread and loved.
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I hope you love it like I do! Demelza is a favorite in the series for me. Season 2 got a little crazy though. I absolutely cannot wait for your thoughts on it. My only issue is the speed. With Outlander, it’s been a book a season, but with Poldark, it’s two. Outlander has more pages I suppose though. I love both casts for these shows.
I haven’t read the whole Outlander series yet! There are a few in the back I need to get to. I’d really like to go over Voyager again before starting the series, but will see. Happy that you have all the books and that you read them so many times. I hope to get mine complete one of these days and maybe find them at a book sale eventually. You’re definitely making me want to start season three!
❤💕😉
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You know I haven’t read any of the Poldark novels and I haven’t watched any of the TV series either. The Poldark phenomenon has totally skipped me over!
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You must try it, Claire! I haven’t watched the old BBC Poldark, but enjoy the new one. You’ll have to let me know if you decide to watch it. 🖤
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I love that you have old books too. I do as well, although they’re boxed up for now so I can’t even get them out to share the years, but they’re around the same years as yours. I saw the clips for Poldark but never watched it. I have a friend who recommended watching the series as well, but I never did. Perhaps this is the nudge that gets me to do it as the book sounded so interesting to me! Thanks for sharing! I wanted to let you know that I nominated you for The Mystery Blog Award today here https://authentically50.wordpress.com/2017/09/24/the-mystery-blog-award/
Congrats Mischenko!
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Thank you! ❤
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I haven’t read or seen anything Poldark related but I’ve heard nothing but good things about the show. I have to check it out someday considering I love BBC anything. Great share Mischenko!
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Thanks, Nel! 💖 I do believe you’ll enjoy it. 😊😉
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Awesome post! I love the show and really need to read the book at some point (just afraid of it not living up to my expectations 😉 ) Great edition by the way 😀
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Thanks! The books are great. I’d give them a try because the books are the show and they’ve stayed pretty true. 😉 💖
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Have never read this book but looks nice and vintage-y haha. But I love the idea for this meme and I participated this week. I’m loving all the love for vintage books.
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Thanks! I’m so excited that you did the meme! I did link up to your post. ❤
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Beautiful photo of Nampara. Great post. Will reread this one when I return.
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Thank you! No rush, James. Enjoy your vacation! 😉 ❤
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I love the series on Netflix and can’t wait til October comes(except for October being closer to winter, yuk!). I must take the time to read the book series also. I love the characters(except for a few, lol). Great choice for your ‘Shabby Sunday’ post. 🙂
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Thanks!
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