Did You Know…Poldark!

Did You Know…Poldark!

This is the first in a new series of monthly postings that will offer fun bits of info on books, TV series and movies that you can check out at the library!

The Did You Know series of posts will come out in the first day of each month.

And our debut positing is on the new Poldark TV series!

So perhaps you’ve enjoyed the first three seasons of the swashbuckling romantic TV series Poldark? If you haven’t gotten to it yet, here’s a brief description: The series is set in 18th Century Cornwall, England, and stars Aidan Turner as Captain Ross Poldark, Eleanor Tomlinson as his wife, and the venerable heroine of the series, Demelza Carne Poldark, Heida Reed as Elizabeth Poldark Warleggan and Jack Farthing as George Warleggan.

And on to the Did You Know items!

Did you know…

• That the TV series is based upon a series of books written by the British author Winston Graham that were published between 1945 and 2002?

You read that right! Mr. Graham published 13 books in the series over the course of 57 years!

The first Poldark novel was originally titled The Renegade. Graham later changed the title to match the name of the hero of the book – Ross Poldark. Mr. Graham was inspired to write the Poldark novels after he moved to Cornwall as a youth and had the chance to take in the breath-taking beauty of Cornwall along with a dose of local history.

And although Graham wrote many other novels, including several that were turned into popular movies*. The Poldark series remained close to his heart. In fact, the very last book he finished in his life was the final book in the Poldark series, titled Bella Poldark, it was published in 2002 just a year before he died at age 95.

Did You Know…

• That the current TV Series, which made its debut in 2015, was preceded by TV series that ran from 1975 – 1977?

It was!

The original series featured Robin Ellis as Ross Poldark, Angharad Rees as Demelza Carne Poldark, Jill Townsend as Elizabeth Poldark Warleggan and Ralph Bates as George Warleggan. Like the current series the original TV series was shown on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre and I remember watching it with my mother when it was original broadcast on American television. Like the current series, the original Poldark series was great fun to watch.

Did You Know…

• Robin Ellis, the actor who portrayed Ross Poldark in the 1970s series, is also in the new series?

He is!

Robin Ellis portrays the grouchy clergyman and Justice of the Peace the Reverend Doctor Halse in the new Poldark series.

About The Books:

On another interesting note, this one a book note, the one thing the original TV series didn’t have that the new series does – is access to the complete Poldark series of books!

When the original series was filmed in the seventies the author had only written the first seven books in the series, and those books chronicled the lives of Captain Ross Poldark and his family from his return to Cornwall after the American War (on our side of the pond The American Revolution) in 1783 through December of 1799. From the eighties through the early twenty first century the author wrote five more Poldark novels which take the Poldark Family all the way to 1820! So the makers of the new series have five more books, that span twenty more years, to base stories upon!

All the Poldark books, the complete seventies TV series and the first three seasons of the new Poldark TV series  can be requested through StarCat.

The fourth season of the new Poldark TV series will be shown on PBS this fall.

And here is a list of all the Poldark books and videos, which you can request from the library.

To request a title click on the photo of the book or video.

First the books in order:

Ross Poldark

Demelza

Jeremy Poldark

Warleggan 

The Black Moon

The Four Swans

The Angry Tide

The Stranger From The Sea

The Miller’s Dance

The Loving Cup

The Twisted Sword

Bella Poldark

Here are the links to request the videos in the 1970s series starring Robin Ellis:

Poldark, Series 1

Poldark, Series 2

And here are the links to request the first three video sets in the new series starring Aiden Turner:

Poldark: The Complete First Season

Poldark: The Complete Second Season

Poldark: The Complete Third Season

And just as an FYI you can also request the series in ebook and downloadable audio book formats through the Digital Catalog which you can access by clicking on the photo below:

Have a great day!
Linda, The Librarian (a tip of the hat to The Librarian in the old Hilarious House of Frightenstein TV series – I always wanted to type that!)

* The Graham novels that were filmed for the big screen are: Take My Life (1947), Night without Stars (1951), Fortune is a Woman (1957), Marnie produced by Alfred Hitchcock (1964) and The Walking Stick (1970).

References:

Because I’m a librarian and we’re big on citing sources!

Online Sources:

Reverend Dr. Halse day in court with Captain Poldark by Robin Ellis. Robin Ellis Actor, writer cook and author. (12 May, 2014). Online. Accessed March 21, 2018.
https://robin-ellis.net/2014/05/12/reverend-dr-halses-day-in-court-with-captain-poldark/

Obituary Winston Graham written by Dennis Baker and published in The Guardian (14 July 2003). Online. Accessed March 21, 2018.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2003/jul/14/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries

Poldark Novels & Writing. The Official Winston Graham Site. Online. Accessed March 21, 2018.
http://www.winstongraham.org/novels1/novels1.htm

Print Sources:

Poldark’s Cornwall written by Winston & Andrew Graham. Published by Macmillan in London in 2015.

The World of Poldark by Emma Marriott. Published in New York by St Martin’s Press in 2016

Daily Print & Digital Suggested Reads: Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Hi everyone, here are our suggested daily recommended titles in print or media and digital formats.

Our digital suggestion for today is the e-book:

Bella Poldark by Winston Graham:

The story of the Poldarks draws to a close in the 12th and final installment of this much–admired historical saga.

Cornwall 1818. We continue the tale of Ross and Demelza; of the wayward Valentine Warleggan, whose existence keeps open the old wounds of the feud between Ross and George; of Bella, the Poldark’s youngest daughter, whose precocious talent as a singer is encouraged by her old flame, Christopher Havergal, and by a distinguished French conductor, who has more in mind than Bella’s music; of Clowance, the Poldark’s widowed daughter, who considers remarriage to one of two rival suitors; and of a murderer who stalks the villages of west Cornwall.

‘From the very first lines we tingle with the sense that we are in good hands, transported by Graham’s atmospheric prose back to 1818 and the treacherous coast of craggy Cornwall’ Daily Mail

For your convenience, here is a list of all the books in The Poldark Series:

1. Ross Poldark
2. Demelza
3. Jeremy Poldark
4. Warleggan
5. Black moon
6. Four swans
7. Angry tide
8. Stranger from the sea
9. Miller’s dance
10. Loving cup
11. Twisted sword
12. Bella Poldark

Here’s a link to the checkout page in the Digital Catalog:

https://stls.overdrive.com/media/325972

And the physical item for today the print book:

Ominous by Lisa Jackson & Rosalind Noonan:

New York Times bestselling authors Lisa Jackson, Nancy Bush, and Rosalind Noonan join together in a gripping novel of suspense, as a long-guarded secret plunges three friends into a new nightmare. NO WARNING In the photograph, three teenaged girls splash in the lake on a sweltering summer evening. Shiloh, Kat, and Ruth are unaware of the man who spies on them from the woods. They have no idea how their lives will be changed by the brutal violence that follows–and the vow of secrecy they take. CAN PREPARE YOU Fifteen years later, Ruth and Shiloh have both returned to Prairie Creek, Wyoming, where Kat is deputy sheriff. Though they’ve tried to leave their shared past behind, each has the feeling that someone is lurking in the shadows. When a local girl vanishes, Kat is convinced there’s a connection to that long ago night. But as the friends unite to find the missing teenager, a killer sends a chilling message. FOR A KILLER’S VENGEANCE He’s still there. And he hasn’t forgotten. For so long he’s made do with other victims, but they can’t compare to the ones who got away. The ones who keep searching for him, blind to the terrifying truth that they are not the hunters, but his prey…

Here’s a link to request the book:

https://goo.gl/cVRr9m

You can also request items by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. http://starcat.stls.org/

The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/

Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/

Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony

About Library Mobile Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Daily Print & Digital Suggested Reads: Thursday, December 22, 2016

Hi everyone, here are our suggested daily recommended titles in print or media and digital formats.

Our digital suggestion for today is the classic streaming video:

jack-frost

Jack Frost:

A 1979 Rankin-Bass, stop-motion animated program similar to Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Jack Frost is a classic winter tale of good and evil, hope and despair, and love and sacrifice that will captivate viewers 5 and older. Narrated by Pardon-me-Pete Groundhog (Buddy Hackett) and framed as an exploration of the tradition of Groundhog Day, the music-filled Jack Frost is actually the story of young sprite Jack Frost who, under Father Winter’s leadership, is responsible for bringing winter weather to the world. Felt, but never seen, a lonely Jack begs to become human when he falls in love with January Junction resident Elisa. Father Winter grudgingly grants Jack Frost a winter of humanity, warning that in order to remain human forever, he must acquire the four essentials of a home, horse, bag of gold, and wife by springtime. Finding these essentials requires that Jack Frost overthrow the evil King of the Cossacks Kubla Kraus, a mission that is difficult and dangerous. Even with the help of fellow sprites Snip the snowflake maker and Holly the snowflake gypsy, Jack must make a very significant personal sacrifice in order to remove Kubla Kraus from power and ensure the continued well-being of Elisa and January Junction. Bonus features include three “Totally Cool Crafty Creations” with Francine Flake (cutting snowflakes, making a snow globe, and creating instant snow) and the three sing-along-songs (“Jack Frost,” “Just What I Always Wanted,” and “The Groundhog Song”) accompanied by movie footage and onscreen lyrics. –Tami Horiuchi, Amazon.com review.

Here’s a link to the checkout page in the Digital Catalog:

https://stls.overdrive.com/media/2366557

And our physical format suggestion for today is the print book:

world-of-poldark

The World of Poldark: The Adventure & Romance Explored, The Secrets & History Uncovered by Emma Marriott

The World of Poldark explores the characters, the compelling stories and the era that Winston Graham’s Poldark novels- and the television series – set out to recreate, the England that Ross Poldark returned to from the American War of Independence. England, and especially Cornwall, was then marked by social unrest and a deep division between rich and poor. It was a place of tin mines and shipwrecks, of new money versus old, of harsh justice and great kindness.

Amid the turmoil of eighteenth-century Cornwall, Ross comes back to a home in ruins, his father dead and his childhood sweetheart engaged to another – his own heart as battered as the country around him.

Experience the great houses and the glorious landscapes and follow the cast of characters as their stories play out against the backdrop of Cornwall’s wild beauty, through interviews with the actors, behind the scenes insights and in-depth information on costumes, props and locations. Packed full of behind the scenes photographs, The World of Poldark is the ultimate guide to the popular series.

You can request the title by clicking on the following link to StarCat:

https://goo.gl/l2gak4

Or by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!
Linda, SSCL

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc. http://starcat.stls.org/

The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/

Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/

Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony

About Library Mobile Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.

Daily Print & Digital Suggested Read & Listen: Thursday, August 11, 2016

Hello everyone, here are our suggested daily recommended reads/listens in both print and digital formats.

Our suggested daily Digital Catalog item for today is the audiobook Jeremy Poldark.

And just a precursor alert!

This audio book, an adaptation of the book Jeremy Poldark, is the third in Winston Graham’s Poldark series and the basis for the first part of season 2 of the new PBS version of Poldark which makes its US debut on PBS on Sunday, September 25 – so if you want to hear if the new season is as faithful to the books as the first season – check it out!

Here’s the info on the audio book itself:

Poldark

Jeremy Poldark written by Winston Graham

Narrated by Oliver Hembrough:

Ross Poldark faces the darkest hour of his life in this third novel of the Poldark series. Reeling from the tragic death of a loved one, Captain Poldark vents his grief by inciting impoverished locals to salvage the contents of a ship run aground in a storm-an act for which British law proscribes death by hanging. Ross is brought to trial for his involvement, and despite their stormy marriage, Demelza tries to rally support for her husband, to save him and their family.

But there are enemies in plenty who would be happy to see Ross convicted, not the least of which is George Warleggan, the powerful banker whose personal rivalry with Ross grows ever more intense and threatens to destroy the Poldarks.

And into this setting, Jeremy Poldark, Ross and Demelza’s first son, is born…

The Poldark series is the masterwork of Winston Graham’s lifework, evoking the period and people like only he can and creating a work of rich and poor, loss and love, that you will not soon forget.

Here’s a link to the description page in the Digital Catalog:

https://stls.overdrive.com/media/2100651

And just as an FYI here is a listing of the books in the Poldark series should you wish to read them all!

  1. Ross Poldark (AKA The Renegade)
  2. Demelza
  3. Jeremy Poldark
  4. Warleggan
  5. The Black Moon
  6. The Four Swans
  7. The Angry Tide
  8. The Stranger From The Seas
  9. The Miller’s Dance
  10. The Loving Cup
  11. The Twisted Sword
  12. Bella Poldark

Typist disclaimer: Yes I am a big Poldark fan!

And our print book suggested read for today is:

Blood Flag by Steve Martini:

Defending a client accused of killing her father, attorney Paul Madriani is drawn into a treacherous conspiracy dating to World War II in this enthralling installment in the New York Times bestselling series.

Paul Madriani and Harry Hinds have a new client: Emma Brauer, a woman accused in the “mercy killing” of her aged father, Robert Brauer. Insisting she’s innocent, Emma tells Paul about a package sent to her father shortly before he entered the hospital. Bequeathed to him by a member of his unit from World War II, the box contains a key and a slip of paper. Emma fears that this package is connected to her father’s death.

When Paul’s young assistant Sofia is murdered, Madriani is blindsided by the realization that Emma’s fears are well-grounded.

Digging into Robert’s military history, Madriani discovers that other members of the Army unit Robert served with have recently died—under similarly suspicious circumstances. When he finds that the box sent to Brauer relates to a mysterious talisman that went missing at the end of the war—a feared Nazi relic known as the “Blood Flag”—Madriani and Hinds realize they are in for the fight of their lives.

With Emma’s life on the line and their own safety in jeopardy, Madriani must uncover the truth before the evil of the Blood Flag is allowed to spin a new web.

You can request the book by clicking on the following link to StarCat:

http://goo.gl/gjm3Ox

Or by calling the library at: 607-936-3713 x 502.

Have a great day!

Linda, SSCL

 

Online Catalog Links:

StarCat: The catalog of physical materials, i.e. print books, DVDs, audiobooks on CD etc.  http://starcat.stls.org/

The Digital Catalog: The catalog of e-books, downloadable audiobooks and a handful of streaming videos: https://stls.overdrive.com/

Freegal Music Service: This music service is free to library card holders and offers the option to download, and keep, three free songs per week and to stream three hours of commercial free music each day: http://stlsny.freegalmusic.com/

Zinio: Digital magazines on demand and for free! Back issues are available and you can even choose to be notified by email when the new issue of your favorite magazine is available: https://www.rbdigital.com/stlschemungcony

About Library Mobile Apps:

You can access digital library content on PCs, Macs and mobile devices. For mobile devices simply download the OverDrive, Freegal or Zinio app from your app store to get started. If you have questions call the library at: 607-936-3713 and one of our Digital Literacy Specialists will be happy to assist you.