this study guide includes the following sections plot summary chapter summaries analysis characters objectsplaces themes style quotes and topics for discussion cornwall 1790 ross poldark faces the darkest hour of his life he is to stand trial for the wrecking of two ships despite their stormy married life demelza has tried to rally support for her husband but ross poldark has many powerful enemies high on a czechoslovak hill the landauer house has been built for newlyweds viktor and liesel landauer a jew married to a gentile but when the storm clouds of ww2 gather the family must flee accompanied by viktors lover and her child but the houses story is far from over as it passes from hand to hand from czech to russian