The Twisted Sword

A Novel of Cornwall 1815 (Poldark, Book 11)

By: Winston Graham

Narrated by: Oliver J. Hembrough

The 11th audiobook in Winston Graham's classic Poldark saga, now a major TV series from Masterpiece PBS.

Cornwall, 1815

Demelza sees a horseman riding down the valley and senses disruption to the domestic contentment she has fought so hard to achieve. For Ross has little option but to accept the summons - and travel to Paris with his family as an "observer" of the French armed forces.

Parisian life begins well with an exhilarating round of balls and parties. But the return of Napoleon brings separation, distrust, and danger to the Poldarks...and always for Demelza, there is the shadow of the secret she does not even share with Ross.

In his Poldark series, Winston Graham explores the complications of love lost and the class struggle of early 19th-century England with a light comic touch. The Twisted Sword is followed by the 12th audiobook in the Poldark series, Bella Poldark.

©2017 Winston Graham (P)2017 Macmillan Digital Audio

love this series

The historical aspect of this book was very central to thiestory. I can't say I knew nothing of the Napoleonic Era before listening to this book but this story did bring the final days of it into focus. I knew that Napoleon had ruled long and at some point was supposedly defeated and sent to exile on Alba, an island in the Mediterranean. Then he escaped and took control of France again until his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.

Central tot his story is that in the interval to Napoleon's two reigns of power, Ross gets sent to Paris on a government mission to assess the mood of the French army. Ross takes the family and they are all enjoying life in Paris a lot. The royal family was reinstated to power. They immediately return to their lives of privilege with the common man and woman in France again getting the short stick on life. So when Napoleon came back, the masses were happy. So, the Poldark's time in France was with this background. They were in Paris when Napoleon escaped and began his resurgence. The Poldark's get separated and the adventure is on in a very intense way.

The Battle of Waterloo was very brutal with both sides fighting bitterly to the end, Over 100,000 soldiers on both sides died. The history books tell us the British won but there were terrible prices to be paid on both sides. The aftermath was a matter of licking your wounds and getting on with life.

I'm a bit sad at the end of this book as I know there is only one more book in the series and since the author is dead you know it is truly the last one. I do look forward to it, though. I have thoroughly enjoyed this whole series and the writing of author Winston Graham. I also have enjoyed the narration.

My second favorite in the Poldark series

I loved this installation in the Poldark series. I still think the first book is the best, but Graham's progression as a writer is really highlighted here in The Twisted Sword. The story is extremely complex, the characters are very well written, even if the main character, Ross Poldark's involvement in every storyline is still somewhat over the top it is fitty and works best in The Twisted Sword. Whereas some of the previous books lacked some focus, or distinctive plots, The Twisted Sword brings everything full circle. I loved it and I'm sad I only have 1 more in the Poldark series left to listen to.

Excellent narrator

I love the books series and especially enjoy the Audible narration, with the narrator’s clear, excellent voice and large range of regional accents

Joy and Sorrow

An enjoyable novel with joyful and tragic moments. I am sad it's the penultimate.

Get the tissues ready!

This book had twists and turns not in the other stories. I don’t remember crying in any other Poldark book, but I did in this one. Also more historical connections drove me to look up some history I didn’t know. Such a good read.