Synopses & Reviews
The Forsyte Saga is John Galsworthy's monumental chronicle of the lives of the moneyed Forsytes, a family whose values are constantly at war with its passions. The story of Soames Forsyte's marriage to the beautiful and rebellious Irene, and its effects upon the whole Forsyte clan,
The Forsyte Saga is a brilliant social satire of the acquisitive sensibilities of a comfort-bound class in its final glory. Galsworthy spares none of his characters, revealing their weaknesses and shortcomings as clearly as he does the tenacity and perseverance that define the strongest members of the Forsyte family.
This edition contains the three original novels -- The Man of Property, In Chancery, and To Let -- and their connecting interludes, Indian Summer of a Forsyte and Awakening.
Synopsis
As the 19th century gives way to the 20th, the Forsytes, presided over by the patriarchal Soames, must face the disintegration of the society that has upheld their family's position for generations. This beloved family saga, with its huge and lively cast of characters, remains a classic of popular literature.
About the Author
John Galsworthy (1867-1933) was educated at Oxford, where he prepared to go into law, but later decided to devote himself to writing. The Man of Property (1906), the first of the three novels that became The Forsyte Saga, established his reputation as an author and a keen observer of society. Galsworthy was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932.
Table of Contents
Book I
The Man of Property
Part I
I. 'At Home' at Old Jolyon's 3
II. Old Jolyon Goes to the Opera 20
III. Dinner at Swithin's 35
IV. Projection of the House 49
V. A Forsyte Menage 59
VI. James at Large 66
VII. Old Jolyon's Peccadillo 75
VIII. Plans of the House 83
IX. Death of Aunt Ann 91
Part II
I. Progress of the House 100
II. June's Treat 107
III. Drive with Swithin 114
IV. James Goes to See for Himself 124
V. Soames and Bosinney Correspond 134
VI. Old Jolyon at the Zoo 148
VII. Afternoon at Timothy's 154
VIII. Dance at Roger's 166
IX. Evening at Richmond 174
X. Diagnosis of a Forsyte 185
XI. Bosinney on Parole 194
XII. June Pays Some Calls 199
XIII. Perfection of the House 207
XIV. Soames Sits on the Stairs 215
Part III
I. Mrs. Macander's Evidence 219
II. Night in the Park 229
III. Meeting at the Botanical 233
IV. Voyage Into the Inferno 246
V. The Trial 256
VI. Soames Breaks the News 264
VII. June's Victory 274
VIII. Bosinney's Departure 282
IX. Irene's Return 291
Interlude: Indian Summer of a Forsyte 299
Book II In Chancery
Part I
I. At Timothy's 345
II. Exit a Man of the World 354
III. Soames Prepares to Take Steps 365
IV. Soho 370
V. James Sees Visions 376
VI. No-Longer-Young Jolyon at Home 382
VII. The Colt and the Filly 391
VIII. Jolyon Prosecutes Trusteeship 396
IX. Val Hears the News 403
X. Soames Entertains the Future 411
XI. And Visits the Past 415
XII. On Forsyte 'Change 420
XIII. Jolyon Finds out Where He is 431
XIV. Soames Discovers What He Wants 437
Part II
I. The Third Generation 440
II. Soames Puts it to the Touch 449
III. Visit to Irene 457
IV. Where Forsytes Fear to Tread 463
V. Jolly Sits in Judgment 470
VI. Jolyon in Two Minds 478
VII. Dartie Versus Dartie 482
VIII. The Challenge 492
IX. Dinner at James' 497
X. Death of the Dog Balthasar 503
XI. Timothy Stays the Rot 507
XII. Progress of the Case 514
XIII. 'Here We Are Again!' 519
XIV. Outlandish Night 528
Part III
I. Soames in Paris 531
II. In the Web 537
III. Richmond Park 541
IV. Over the River 548
V. Soames Acts 550
VI. A Summer Day 553
VII. A Summer Night 559
VIII. James in Waiting 562
IX. Out of the Web 566
X. Passing of an Age 574
XI. Suspended Animation 584
XII. Birth of a Forsyte 591
XIII. James is Told 597
XIV. His 602
Interlude: Awakening 607
Book III To Let
Part I
I. Encounter 631
II. Fine Fleur Forsyte 647
III. At Robin Hill 654
IV. The Mausoleum 661
V. The Native Heath 670
VI. Jon 679
VII. Fleur 684
VIII. Idyll on Grass 690
IX. Goya 694
X. Trio 704
XI. Duet 710
XII. Caprice 716
Part II
I. Mother and Son 725
II. Fathers and Daughters 730
III. Meetings 743
IV. In Green Street 752
V. Purely Forsyte Affairs 757
VI. Soames's Private Life 764
VII. June Takes a Hand 773
VIII. The Bit Between the Teeth 778
IX. The Fat in the Fire 784
X. Decision 792
XI. Timothy Prophesies 796
Part III
I. Old Jolyon Walks 807
II. Confession 815
III. Irene 821
IV. Soames Cogitates 825
V. The Fixed Idea 832
VI. Desperate 836
VII. Embassy 844
VIII. The Dark Tune 852
IX. Under the Oak-Tree 857
X. Fleur's Wedding 860
XI. The Last of the Old Forsytes 869