The Black Moon is the fifth of twelve novels in "Poldark", a series of historical novels by Winston Graham. After an 18-year hiatus from the Cornwall novels, it was published in 1973. While Ward Lock published the first four novels in the series, publishing house Collins took over the reins with the fifth entry.
Two children are born in the novel: A son, Valentine, to George and Elizabeth Warleggan; and a daughter, Clowance, to Ross and Demelza Poldark. Dwight Enys, captured by the French and held as a prisoner-of-war, is rescued by Ross Poldark and a crew of Cornishmen. Two of Demelza's brothers, Sam and Drake Carne, enter the story and become major figures, as does Elizabeth's cousin Morwenna Chynoweth. Ray Penvenen dies, making Caroline an heiress. Aunt Agatha also dies, in dramatic circumstances. Wheal Grace starts yielding a decent payoff for Ross and Demelza. The Warleggan clan goes from financial success to financial success and George becomes a magistrate. The novel ends with George wondering whether he really is the father of Valentine.
Synopsis.
Book One.
Book One, with twelve chapters, opens in February 1794 with the birth at Trenwith of Elizabeth's second son. He is named Valentine Warleggan. He is born on the day of lunar eclipse, also called a "black moon". The book closes in September 1794.
Book Two.
Book Two, consisting of eight chapters, opens in November 1794 with the birth of a daughter to Demelza. The girl is named Clowance.
As Book Two closes, it is late spring of 1795, and Drake Carne learns from Geoffrey Charles that the Warleggans are pressuring Morwenna to marry Ossie Whitworth.
Book Three.
Book Three, consisting of thirteen chapters, begins in late May and ends in early August 1795.
Key events are the failed Royalist expedition to France, the rescue of Dwight Enys, the death of Aunt Agatha, Morwenna's marriage to Ossie Whitworth and George's dawning realization that the paternity of his son, Valentine, may be in question.
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"So supper ended, and in a panic she complained of sickness after the ride, and asked if tonight she might go early to bed. But the time of waiting, the time of delay was over; he had already waited too long. So he followed her up the stairs and into the bedroom smelling of old wood and new paint and there, after a few perfunctory caresses, he began carefully to undress her, discovering and removing each garment with the greatest of interest. Once she resisted and once he hit her, but after that she made no protest. So eventually he laid her naked on the bed, where she curled up like a frightened snail. Then he knelt at the side of the bed and said a short prayer before he got up and began to tickle her bare feet before he raped her."
– Book 3, Chapter 12
Television adaptations.
The events chronicled in the novel "The Black Moon" are covered in episodes 1–7 of season 3 of the television adaptation that commenced in 2015.
Citations.
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