Author’s Note
Many years ago I wrote four novels about the Poldark family and eighteenth-century Cornwall. But after finishing them the modern world, and particularly the techniques of suspense, came to interest me more. Although thinking vaguely that some time in the future it might be enjoyable to pick up the Poldarks again, I gradually drifted further and further away from them in mood and in style. One does not grow older without development and change. Eventually the idea of writing another book about them came to be something not really open to serious consideration.
But sometimes the totally unexpected occurs, and one day, for no discoverable reason, it became necessary for me to see what happened to these people after Christmas night, 1793. I became very preoccupied with finding out, and it appeared to me, rightly or wrongly, that to return to an old mood was as much of a challenge as creating a new one. The Black Moon is the result.
But do not expect it to ‘solve’ everything, to tie up loose ends or to leave no new ones trailing. That isn’t the way it happened at all.
First published 1973 by William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd
This edition published 2008 by Pan Books
This electronic edition published 2011 by Pan Books
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Copyright © Winston Graham 1973
The right of Winston Graham to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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