Customer Reviews (40) 
Galsworthy's whole opus.
John Galsworthy (never "Sir John" only by his own choice, though he did accept the Order of Merit), one of the notable British writers of the first quarter of the 20th century, has subsequently faded somewhat from the canon of British writers in the 20th century, despite his winning the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932.Galsworthy was a very traditional Victorian/Edwardian writer in his style, despite making his books social criticisms of Victorian/Edwardian values; his best work coincided with the rise of artistic modernism, which has tended to overshadow his more traditional approach."The Forsyte Saga", a collection of three novels linked by two short stories, is Galsworthy's magnum opus, and has been twice adapted by the BBC into major miniseries (first and most famously in 1967, and again in 2002); it has lingered moreso in the public consciousness than its author.This large volume collects the entirety of the original quintology (some spoilers follow).
The first (and, originally planned to be the only) novel in the series, "The Man of Property", was published in 1906, and set in the high Victorian period, focussing on the Forsyte family, the numerous long-lived sons and daughters of Jolyon 'Superior Dorset' Forsyte, and their own descendants.There is Old Jolyon ('Superior''s eldest son), who has estranged himself from his son Young Jolyon for the latter's scandalous affair, and has raised his daughter June, who is engaged to an architect; and Soames Forsyte, the son of Jolyon's brother James, who is married to Irene, and commissions the architect to build a house that he hopes will help revive the passion in his relationship with Irene.
Galsworthy's twin focuses, which carry on through the whole series, are the strictures of Victorian values of commerce and proper behaviour (which particularly impact the two Jolyons), and the subordinate legal position of women in society (though the ridiculous divorce laws also hamstring men, as we later see). These carry on through the subsequent novels, published more than a decade after, and the two short stories (the second short story, "Awakenings", is honestly pretty throwaway, but "Indian Summer of a Forsyte" is lovely). Galsworthy's writing style is eminently restrained; Soames' decision to force himself on his wife Irene near the climax of the first novel is only described briefly in a single paragraph, and the nature of this act is never verbalized (or even narrated) by anyone for almost the entire remainder of the trilogy, even though it is absolutely essential to understanding what's going on.Stiff upper lip, indeed.The characterization really sells the story; the plots are frequently not anything to write home about (the third novel even opens with a quote from "Romeo and Juliet", which would tell people in fair detail how the entire main storyline will play out, until the very end, which is more muted).
Recommended.
Beautiful
Very readable and enjoyable. Really loved it but i don't know if i could continue with the other books in the saga. It was also so informative about that time period (around the Boer War) and the upper social class in England.
Amazing
The one of my favorite books of all times!!!
I read it 20 years ago and now again, it is still as beautiful!!!! Classy and elegant.
Detailed depiction of an early Twentieth century upper class British family
As stated in other reviews, "The Forsyte Saga" actually consists of three books and two short stories (or "interludes" since they are placed in between the novels).Written over a span of more than 20 years, it makes for a rather lengthy work (850 pages).I was indeed grateful for the inclusion of a family tree, because there are numerous Forstyes and their spouses to keep track of.Galsworthy writes in a highly detailed manner such as when describing a character's furniture or garden.In fact, if I could make one criticism, at times, I think each of these books dragged because Galsworthy became too bogged down on some meticulous description of plant life or the like.Sometimes the reader just wants the action (Anthony Trollope, I think, had a better sense of proportion regarding driving plot as opposed to describing surroundings).
Nevertheless, I would still call "The Forsyte Saga" classic British literature because of the author's prodigious skill in creating characters together with the details that surround their lives.Obviously, Galsworthy had some central themes on his mind, especially the never ending struggle between wealth and property verses art and beauty.Or, if you will, realism verses idealism.Galsworthy is no naif though: he understands that without benefactors art can't survive.He also has some rather strong views about art itself - for instance, he mocks much of modern art (through the "lame ducks" of June).But the representatives of the central struggle are Irene/Joylon/Jon vs. Soames/James/Fleur.With Soames, we have, perhaps, one of the most memorable characters in all of English literature.
I found some of the characters a bit unrealistic and dry (to compare with Trollope again, the latter had a much better sense of humour).As far as specific plot complaints, I can almost guarantee that a person like Irene would not be happy with Jolyon, nor make such a good loving mother.The relationship between Irene and her son Jon was a bit too Freudian for my tastes.Plus, in the most dramatic section of the saga, the final novel, I kind of thought that Jon, someone whom I think the author wants us to admire, becomes the quitessential milksop.But, overall, if you, like me, enjoy 19th and early 20th century English Literature, I highly recommend "The Forsyte Saga."
A man of no property
Family secrets, dirty little problems, gambling, divorce, illegitimate babies and a dash of adultery, scandal and forbidden love. Soap opera?
Not exactly. It's Nobel Prize Winner John Galsworthy's sprawling family epic "The Forsyte Saga," a three-volume saga that spans the nouveau riche Forsyte clan, and the devastating events that threaten their ever-respectable facade. Galsworthy's lush writing and intricate, insightful stories are excellent on their own, but the dignified handling of 19th-century laws and mores -- and how they changed -- add an extra dimension to his writing.
While it has a distinctly soapy flavor, "Saga" retains its dignity and look at turn-of-the-century mores and society.
The Forsyte family is determinedly regal and hard-nosed, almost to the point of a fault. And as the story begins, the Forsyte family has come together to celebrate June Forsyte's engagement to a young bohemian architect, Philip Bosinney -- except for June's father, who eloped with the governess and is now shunned by his family.
Among the guests are the stuffy, domineering Soames Forsyte and his quiet, unhappy wife Irene -- though she conditionally agreed to marry him, she doesn't love him. But Soames regards Irene as his most valuable piece of property, even as she begins an ill-fated affair with Bosinney. At the same time, the patriarch Jolyon starts to kick off family disapproval, and goes to see his estranged son.
Soames' determination to "own" Irene leads to tragedy for all three of them, and Irene and Soames separate for the next decade. But when Soames demands a divorce so he can marry a French girl, he finds himself obsessed and stalking Irene once again. And as before, Soames' harassment drives his estranged wife into the arms of another man -- his disgraced cousin Young Jolyon. And even as Soames gains a new woman, he finds that you don't get everything you want...
A new complication enters the works almost two decades later -- Soames' daughter Fleur is immediately attracted to Irene's son Jon. The two start an innocent romance, unaware of their parents' past together, but still overshadowed by the loathing and shame Soames and Irene have for each other. An aristocratic suitor for Fleur, mysterious letters and a secret love affair all come to the surface, as Fleur and Jon discover that love isn't always enough to overcome the bitterness of the past...
The Forsyte Saga is indeed a saga -- it stretches from the stuffy Victorian era into the first bloom of the roaring twenties. Despite the early claim that Forsytes would never die, various characters age, die and weave new lives for themselves, and grapple with a rapidly changing world -- including the new rights for women as individuals, rather than "property."
The first part was written in a time before the world of England's upper crust changed forever -- sort of an English "Age of Innocence." And while Galsworthy's first trilogy can be seen as the story of an obsession, it can also be seen as the portrait of the Forsytes overall -- stuffy, gilded, and eager to forget the working class roots a few generations back.
Galsworthy paints this time in a flurry of lush, dignified prose , filled with slightly mocking notes about the Forsyte family, and tiny gestures and expressions that convey more than actual dialogue could ("Huddled in her grey fur against the sofa cushions, she had a strange resemblance to a captive owl") and lushly written descriptives ("... over the lush grass fell the thick shade from those fruit trees planted by her father five-and-twenty years ago").
Yet there are touching moments too, like Old Jolyon paying a visit to his estranged son and his lower-class second wife, and the grandchildren he has never met. The awkwardness, love and pain in these scenes is truly astounding.
As for the main characters of this drama, Galsworthy handles their passions and involvements delicately and with dignity. No soap opera dramatics -- just a married woman in love with her best pal's fiance, and who is raped by her angry husband. And then a realist's version of "Romeo and Juliet," if Romeo and Juliet's parents were exes and no suicides came into it.
Soames and Irene are really at the center of this book -- she remote, quiet and something of a mystery even to the readers, and he a selfish, close-minded man who wants to "own" people. Their children are far more endearing -- Fleur is passionate and vivacious, and Jon is sensitive and sweet. But there's a vast cast of interesting characters in the Forsyte family, especially melancholy Young Jolyon and his artistic daughter June.
Bitterness, obsession and love fill the pages of the "Forsye Saga," and provide the start of a truly classic trilogy of great novels.
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