"My girls #Poldark" Tweet from Ruby Bentall! |
But first, I would like to introduce Miss Verity Poldark!
In the Masterpiece Classic PBS series, Poldark, Verity is brilliantly played by the talented Ruby Bentall. You may remember Ruby from Lark Rise to Candleford or The Paradise. She is fantastic as Verity and I look forward to seeing more of her as the season continues. You can follow Ruby on twitter!
The lovely Ruby Bentall as Verity Poldark |
Verity is the dutiful daughter of Ross's uncle, Charles Poldark. She is described as "small and dark and sallow" with fluffy brown hair, on course to becoming a spinster. When Ross Poldark returns from the American Revolutionary War, alive and well, Verity seemed to be the only one genuinely thrilled to see him.
Only Verity came often. She was his [Ross'] contact with the rest of the family, bringing him gossip and companionship. They walked miles together...He would stride on, sometimes listening to her, more seldom talking himself, while she walked swiftly beside him and her hair blew about her face and the wind stung color into her cheeks.
She is kind and generous and spends her time helping to run her father's household. At her brother's wedding banquet she barely had time to sit down and eat because she was so attentive to guests and helping the household staff out. Naturally, I was surprised and happy when she attends an assembly with her cousin Ross and fumbles over her words when the quiet and weathered Captain Andrew Blamey notices her.
Verity learns some new words such as Mizzenmast, gaff and spanker boom. |
Clearly struck with butterflies, she giggles over nautical terms and blushes prettily when Blamey asks to see her again. But the mysterious Captain has some skeletons in his closet (think season 3 Mr. Bates from Downton Abbey). Her family disapprove, so she asks her dear cousin Ross if he could help, and she isn't messing around when she asks...
All is going so well for Verity and her sea Captain until her father, Charles, and brother, Francis, find out that they are secretly meeting. When her father and brother arrive at Ross' house to confront the couple, things quickly escalate. Read what happens in this Verity excerpt from the book.
Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall
From Chapter 13
When he reached the house Francis was already in the parlor. He could hear the raised voices as Charles slid laboriously from his horse.
When they got inside, Captain Blamey was standing beside the fireplace, one hand on Verity’s sleeve, as if to stop her from coming between him and Francis. He was in his captain’s laced coat of fine blue cloth with a white wing collar and black cravat. He wore his most self-contained look, as if all unruly passion were locked away, bolted and unreachable, guarded by all the controls of his own choosing and testing. He looked sturdy and middle-aged against the flushed handsome arrogance of Francis’s youth. Ross noticed that Charles was carrying his riding whip.
“…no way to speak to your sister,” Blamey was saying. “Any hard words you’ve a mind to speak can come to me.”
“Dirty skunk!” Charles said. “Sneaking behind our backs. My only daughter.”
“Sneaking,” said Blamey, “because you would not meet to talk over the matter. Do you think—”
“Talk it over!” said Charles. “There’s nothing to talk over wi’ wife murderers. We don’t like ’em in this district. They leave a nasty stink in the nostrils. Verity, get your horse and go home.”
She said quietly, “I have a right to choose my own life.”
“Go, dear,” said Blamey. “It’s no place for you now.”
She shook off his hand. “I stay.”
“Then stay and be damned!” said Francis. “There’s only one way of treating your sort, Blamey. Words and honor don’t count. Perhaps a thrashing will.” He began to take off his coat.
“Not on my land,” said Ross. “Begin any brawl here and I’ll throw you off it myself.”
There was a moment’s nonplussed silence.
“God’s name!” exploded Charles. “You have the impu-dence to take his side!”
“I take no one’s side, but you won’t change the issue with horseplay.”
“One skunk and another,” said Francis. “You’re small matter better than he is.”
“You heard what your sister said,” Captain Blamey interposed quietly. “She has the right to choose her own life. I have no wish to quarrel, but she is coming away with me.”
“I’ll see you in hell first,” Francis said. “There’ll be no cleaning of your boots on our family.”
Captain Blamey suddenly went very white. “You insolent puppy!”
“Puppy, is it now!” Francis leaned forward and smacked Captain Blamey with an open hand across his cheek.
The red mark showed, and then Blamey hit Francis in the face and Francis went to the floor.
There was a brief pause. Verity had backed away from them both, her face small and sick.
Francis sat up and with the back of his hand wiped a streak of blood from his nose. He got to his feet.
“When will it be convenient for you to meet me, Captain Blamey?”
Having found outlet, the seaman’s anger had ebbed. But somehow his composure was not the same. If only for a moment, the controls had been broken.
“I leave for Lisbon by tomorrow’s tide.”
Francis’s expression was contemptuous. “That, of course, is what I would have expected.”
“Well, there is still today.”
Charles stepped forward. “Nay, there’s no call for these damned Frenchie methods, Francis. Let’s thrash the beggar and then go.”
“There’ll be none of that, neither,” said Ross.
Francis licked his lips. “I demand satisfaction. You can’t deny that. The fellow once laid claims to be a gentleman. Let him come outside and meet me—if he’s got the guts.”
“Andrew,” Verity said. “Don’t agree to anything—”
The sailor glanced at the girl distantly, as if her brother’s hostility had already separated them.
“Fight it out with fists,” said Charles stertorously. “The skunk’s not worth the risk of a pistol ball, Francis.”
“Nothing else will discourage him,” said Francis. “I’ll trouble you for weapons, Ross. If you refuse them I’ll send over to Trenwith for my own.”
“Send over, then,” snapped Ross. “I’ll be no party to your bloodletting.”
“They’re on the wall behind you, man,” said Blamey, between his teeth.
Francis turned and took down the silver dueling pistols with which Ross had threatened Demelza’s father. “Will they still fire?” he said coldly, addressing Ross. Ross did not speak.
“Come outside, Blamey,” Francis said.
“Look, boy,” said Charles. “This is stuff and nonsense. It’s my quarrel and—”
“Nothing of the sort. He knocked me down—”
“Come away and have no truck with the varmint. Verity will come with us, won’t you, Verity?”
“Yes, Father.”
Francis looked at Ross. “Call your man and get him to see these pistols are properly primed.”
“Get him yourself.”
“There are no seconds,” said Charles. “There’s no suitable arrangements.”
“Formality! One needs no formality when stalking a crow.”
They went outside. It was easy to see that Francis was determined to have his satisfaction. Blamey, white about the nostrils, stood apart, as if the business didn’t concern him. Verity made a last appeal to her brother, but he snapped at her that some solution to her infatuation must be found and he had chosen that one.
Jud was outside so there was no need to call him. He was visibly interested and impressed by the responsibility thrust on him. He had only seen such a thing once before and that thirty years before. Francis told him to act as referee and to count out fifteen paces for them; Jud glanced at Ross, who shrugged.
“Yes, sur, fifteen, did ye say?”
They were in the open space of grass before the house. Verity had refused to go indoors. She held to the back of the garden seat.
The men stood back to back, Francis an inch or more the taller, his fair hair glinting in the sun.
“Ready, sur?”
“Aye.”
Ross made a movement forward but checked himself. The headstrong fool must have his way.
“Then go. One, two, three, fower, five, six—”
As Jud counted the two men paced away from each other, and a swallow dipped and swerved between them.
At the word fifteen they turned. Francis fired first and hit Blamey in the hand. Blamey dropped his pistol. He bent and picked it up with his left hand and fired back. Francis put up a hand to his neck and fell to the ground.
Title: Ross Poldark: A Novel of Cornwall, 1783-1787
Author: Winston Graham
Genre: Historical Fiction
Book 1 of The Poldark Saga
New tie-in edition to the Masterpiece Classic PBS series airing 6/21 – 8/2, 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (June 09, 2015) reprint of 1945
Length: 400 pages
Trade paperback & eBook ISBN: 9781492622079
Win One of Three Fabulous Prizes
In celebration of the re-release of Ross Poldark and Demelza, Sourcebooks Landmark is offering three chances to win copies of the books or a grand prize, an Anglophile-themed gift package. Two lucky winners will each receive one trade paperback copy of Ross Poldark and Demelza, and one grand prize winner will receive a prize package containing the following items:
- (1) DVD of season one of Poldark
- (2 ) Old Britain Castles Pink Pottery Mugs by Johnson Brothers
- (1) Twelve-inch Old Britain Castles Pink Pottery Plater by Johnson Brothers
- (1) London Telephone Box Tin of Ahmad English Breakfast Tea
- (1) Jar of Mrs. Bridges Marmalade
- (1) Package of Duchy Originals Organic Oaten Biscuits
- (2) Packets of Blue Boy Cornflower Seeds by Renee’s Garden Heirloom (1) Trade Paperback Copy of Ross Poldark & Demelza, by Winston Graham
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I love this drama i watch every sunday evening i would love all of the prizes i tell all my friends to watch and i got them hooked on it to. denise smith
ReplyDeletelove that teaset!
ReplyDeleteThat's such an exciting scene. I love Verity. She is a great character, sort of the family glue that keeps everyone together. Loved the way she helped Demelza in last week's episode.
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying the Poldark series! I would love to read the books. Thank you for shining the spotlight on Miss Verity. She is a character.
ReplyDeleteThis new series would be a great reason to visit the books and the previous tv series. Also, I love the actress who plays Verity. She's always great to watch.
ReplyDeleteWow! Fabulous post on Verity Lauren. I think you have surpassed even your superior standards. Thanks for sharing the excerpt and images. Best, LA
ReplyDeleteIt's a good series with good acting. My mom squeals every time Ross Poldark appears on the screen.
ReplyDeleteOoooh this would be AMAZING to win - love this series! Thanks for the chance to win such a lovely prize!
ReplyDeleteheatheranne99 at gmail dot com
I just started using the hashtag #iamgoingtohavetostartreadingthis while live tweeting the TV series. This giveaway comes at a perfect time. Thanks for having it!
ReplyDeleteI love Verity!! She's so kind and genuine. I'm thoroughly enjoying the new show on Masterpiece and hope to read the books soon too! Thanks for sharing such a good excerpt!
ReplyDeleteI've been loving Poldark and Verity is my favorite character!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great series! I watched an episode a couple of weeks ago, probably the 3rd or 4th. . .and was instantly riveted by the characters and story line. I then needed to go online to catch up with the beginning. This is a sweet give-away. . .one I would love to win.
ReplyDeleteLove this series. I'd love to win this. Thanks for the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I too have been watching the new show and am enjoying it but would like to read the books as well.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! What an exciting scene. Now, will Verity still want Blamey? I can't wait to read the books and see the series.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! What an exciting scene. Now, will Verity still want Blamey? I can't wait to read the books and see the series.
ReplyDeleteThe 3rd novel in the series, "Jeremy" is out for those who want to read more about what happens to the Poldarks...
ReplyDeleteKyle Soller, the actor who plays Francis, is a native of Alexandria, VA! If you've watched the bonus online videos, you can hear what he sounds like in real life.
Loving this series and would love to read the books as well. Thank you for hosting in the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI love the series (and the books). I'm finding it hard to separate Verity from her character in Lark Rise to Candleford though.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Loving this Poldark! Have read the first two books on my Kindle but would love to have printed copies! Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteRuby Bentall was great in Lark Rise to Candleford, so I was thrilled to see her in Poldark, too. Can't wait to read these books!
ReplyDeleteVerity is like the voice or reason and kindness; love the excerpt. :)
ReplyDeletecaliwillette(at)gmail(dot)com
Glad someone is talking about Verity! She is as important a character as Ross or Demelza, and is an example of how women were treated - and perceived - during the late 18th c.
ReplyDeletelol love the excerpt
ReplyDeleteAwesome excerpt! The TV series stayed so true to this scene. I basically just re-watched that scene in my head as I read! :)
ReplyDeleteI watched the 70's version in stone age and I prefer this current incarnation. Verity's mysecond favorite character and I hope she her happy ending; Love your blog. Pease enter me.
ReplyDeleteannfesATyahooDOTcom
Thanks for the giveaway chance! I would like to read the books
ReplyDeletecricketlady29@hotmail.com
I loved Ruby in Larkrise to Candleford. I appreciated her spunk. I'm so pleased with the insight you gave to her character. Well done!
ReplyDeleteIt's been a great season!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE Verity and that entire duel scene! Such a good show! Waiting for next season is going to be hell! Dying to read the books to hold me over XD Thanks for posting such a great giveaway !
ReplyDeleteI love Poldark! I can't wait to see Season 2. The finale was incredible!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great series! I love Verity and feel for her. She's really at the whim of her brother and family.
ReplyDeletedonnyandshelly at yahoo dot com
Hi, I am besotted with the series, especially Captain Poldark and Demelza. All the actors are superb. Thank you for the chance to enter this wonderful giveaway. Maureen
ReplyDeletenew to me series
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
my daughter & I love Sunday nights watching PBS, this show is amazing and we look forward to next season-it can't come soon enough!
ReplyDelete