In the years 1790–91 the mining village of Sawie in the County of Cornwall has a peaceful air, but under its quiet surface feelings run high, particularly in the Poldark Family. In "Venture Once More," Winston Graham continues the narrative of this family to whom he has devoted two previous novels. Essentially, this is the story of Ross Poldark, "a small farmer squire with a mining interest" and his wife Demelza, a miner's daughter. Theirs is a story typical of that time and place, one of pride versus poverty, of feuds and reconciliations.

Charged by the Crown with having instigated the plunder of two ships wrecked in the harbor and for the ensuing riot with the excise men, Ross is facing trial at the summer assizes….

From this hamlet, the scene shifts to Bodmin, "a town of 3,000 inhabitants and twenty-nine public houses" where the elections and assizes are held...