Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

The Forsyte Saga, first published under that title in 1922, is a series of three novels and two interludes published between 1906 and 1921 by Nobel Prize–winning English author John Galsworthy. They chronicle the vicissitudes of the leading members of a large, upper-middle-class English family, similar to Galsworthy's family itself.

Following The Forsyte Saga, Galsworthy wrote two more trilogies and several more interludes based around the titular family. The resulting series is collectively titled The Forsyte Chronicles.

Novels:
The Man of Property (1906)
Indian Summer of a Forsyte (1918)
In Chancery (1920)
Awakening(1920)
To Let(1921)

The Forsyte Saga Is around 900 pages
On Forsyte 'Change Is about the older Forsytes before the events chronicled in The Man of Property. Around 300 pages.

Within the last year or so I have watched the Mini Series from 2002 for PBS. There are also a couple of movies out there.

He also was a writer of Essays and Plays.

Share what you are delving into with a portion of or all of this Husky read with us. We hope you enjoy!

The first series was broadcast in 1967 and was stunning. I... ahem ... watched every episode in its first run.

http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/...

I hope to read A Man of Property this Spring. Based on how that goes I will either proceed or bid JG adieu.

I will be joining you for this one but a little later in the month. This has been sat looking at me on my bookshelf for some time now and I'm keen to get started, but want to finish off some of my other books first as I think it will need my full attention to keep up. Any book with a family tree in the front the size of this one makes me think it will get a little complicated.
I haven't seen any of the series, so no idea what to expect.

I’ll be listening to The Man of Property starting soon.

I've finished listening to The Forsyte Saga, including The Man of Property, Indian Summer of a Forsyte, In Chancery, Awakening and To Let. I was like a huge, well-written soap opera! I'd been put off by this cover for years. I didn't know it was such a good story.

I also had a copy of The Forsyte Saga in paperback from the library, which has a family tree in the front of it. I used it often to keep track of characters and the different generations.

I hope to go only reading about the Forsyte family in The White Monkey.

Your cover would make you think twice about the story line!

I am glad you enjoyed it Kathy. The family is very interesting. I watched the PBS series a couple years ago and been wanting to read it since. Sometimes reading can help link stories lines better than watching.

I plan on watching the PBS series, Lesle.

I could smack Soames upside the head a couple times!

I hope you like the PBS series as well Kathy.

I used the character of Soames as the character I hated in the "That One" reading challenge.

Haha! Totally makes sense!

I finally got started with The Man of Property

The introduction to the family contained a well discussed hat!

Not feeling so great is not the time to try a audio version. I listened (I think) through the second chapter but woke up during the 4th chapter. Not thinking, being read to, was a good idea for me yesterday!

I’ve done that too, Lesle! I hope you feel better soon!

Well, I've made a start! There are such a lot of characters in the first chapter. Hopefully it will become clearer who is who as the story progresses and we get to know them better.

I've finished Part One of The Man of Property. I did find the characters hard to keep up with at first but I think I'm getting used to them now. I have a family tree in the front of my book (it's a rather old copy that was my husbands grannies) and I was using this to keep track of who was who and how they are related until I realised it gives a rather large plot twist away (it lists dates of deaths and of marriages and re-marriages) so I've not looked too closely at it since then in case there are others that I haven't yet spotted. It's really easy to read and the volume of characters means there is always something going on. I'm looking forward to continuing it later.

Lesle wrote: "Not feeling so great is not the time to try a audio version. I listened (I think) through the second chapter but woke up during the 4th chapter. Not thinking, being read to, was a good idea for me ..."

I hope you're feeling better soon Lesle. I fall asleep a lot when listening to audiobooks even when I'm not poorly.

Thanks Georgina and Kathy! I am really glad I am not the only one nodding off during an audio version lol!

I've been enjoying the next novels by John Forsyte after The Forsyte Saga. I finished The White Monkey and am currently reading The Silver Spoon. These books continue the story of the characters from "the Saga" and with the new generation of Forsytes. The stories are so engaging.

I am hoping to get back to reading this Saga after the Election is over on Tuesday.

I seem to have stalled towards the end of book one. Did anyone else find this? The story is really intricately woven, but I don't seem to have any emotional connection to any of the characters, is it just me?

It reads as a no plot read so far. Which makes it hard to connect to any character, I think.
Irene has it all but is not happy with what she has.
Soames is a hard character to have feelings for.
Both are the same in behavior.

The old man Jolyon is probably my only character so far that I find likeable. He is tender. His loneliness is heart wrenching. He craves family.

I read the whole series many years ago and really didn't engage with the characters either. I really disliked one of the later books, but can't remember which one.
I remember that many of the characters have no depth, or empathy.

I've loved all three books. I think the story gets stronger in the 2nd book In Chancery. More happens emotionally with the characters.

I've listened to the books and maybe that makes a difference with relating to characters.

I've also read the next 3 books in the "Forsyte Chronicles," The White Monkey, The Silver Spoon and Swan Song.

I've also finished Maid In Waiting, but this story focuses on new characters, not those in the first 6 books.

It's a John Galsworthy year for me.

I must have liked the books, since I read all nine of them, but the first books were definitely the strongest.
The later books deal with Fleur and her generation-they are so different from their parents' generation.
I found his style very readable, even if I didn't like all the characters.
It would be a pretty boring book if every character was nice!

Rosemarie, I wonder if the later book that you disliked was Maid In Waiting. I liked the characters of Dinny and Uncle Adrian, but there were to0 many racial and ethnic comments of the type we flinch at in the 21st century.

It started off really well, but I've just lost momentum. I read a few more chapters this afternoon so will carry on with it.
I might see if I can find the audiobook and see if that helps.
Sometimes I find it hard to tell if it's my frame of mind whilst reading or the book itself. It's reassuring that it's not just me who can't connect with the characters.
I don't like not to finish once I've started though and if it gets better in the second book I'll keep my fingers crossed for that.

That might have been the one, Kathy. There was a lot of intolerance against a certain religion.

Kathy wrote: "I've loved all three books. I think the story gets stronger in the 2nd book In Chancery. More happens emotionally with the characters...."

I am glad you liked them Kathy so hopefully I will too!

I finished the 9 novels in the "Forsyte Chronicles," the first three of which are in The Forsyte Saga. I was captured by the stories of the Forsytes and, in the final three books, the Cherrells. I can see why Galsworthy won the Nobel Prize.

After hemming and hawing about whether to reread these, I realize that while I've read the first two trilogies, The Forsyte Saga and Modern Comedy, I never did read the last 3 books, the End of the Chapter trilogy,. I skipped it because it involves Michael Monte's extended family rather than Forsytes.
However how can I call myself a Forsyte aficionado when I haven't read them yet Rosemarie and Kathy have? But I don't want to read just the last three, so I will read a Man of Property for a third time, the next five for the second time, and the last three for the first time, but make it a year long project.
I do own all 9 in a used Scribners version set, released in 1969 to catch the TV series wave, which I bought used 30 or so years ago. The Irene and Philip Bossiney characters in the cover painting, which are too small to see, do resemble the 1967 TV portrayals:

I do like that cover, Brian. Lucky you having all 9 books!

When I started the End of the Chapter trilogy, I was disappointed to leave the Forsyte family behind. Fleur and some other Forsytes show up as minor characters. But halfway into the first book, Maid in Waiting, I began enjoying the Cherrell family.

That is an excellent cover!
This is my first round through.
I put the last half of Man of Property off till next week while on vacation and take On Forsyte 'Change along with another book on our family vacation the following week.

Lesle, it is interesting that you are choosing to read the later written 'prequel' prior to reading the next 2 volumes of the Forsyte Saga. I spent years without knowing it existed. It does make some sense though, as old family characters like Uncle Timothy and Aunt Julie are more in The Man Of Property than the subsequent books so they will be fresh in your mind.
In looking at the description in the GR link to On Forsyte 'Change it contains vignettes from back as far as 1820s but also some from the early 20th century which overlap with the Saga's time frame, so its not entirely a prequel, but likely unrelated to any plot events in the Saga.
Does anyone know why the apostrophe is in the title right before the word 'Change?

I was wondering that too, Brian. What could the word be that is shortened to 'Change? Exchange?

I have On Forsyte 'Change also, Lesle. I haven't read it yet. I listen to all the "in-between" books of the Forsyte Chronicles. I also have an ebook of Salvation of a Forsyte left to read from the series. It's only 48 pages.

Kathy wrote: "I was wondering that too, Brian. What could the word be that is shortened to 'Change? Exchange?."

That was my thought too, as a commentary on the family's concern with money accumulation, with the Exchange as a reference to where stocks are bought and sold, so the title could also be On Forsyte Exchange?

I looked up words ending with 'change'

Interchange
Shortchange
Gearchange
Exchange
Rechange

Have to agree Exchange is the most fitting!

Kathy wrote: "Salvation of a Forsyte.."

I have not seen that title before. Thank you for bringing it up Kathy.

Carol wrote: "The first series was broadcast in 1967 and was stunning. I... ahem ... watched every episode in its first run."

Actually, the first U.S. Broadcast wasn't until October of 1969, so you're actually two years younger than your memories indicate. I remember the dates because I watched it when the show was repeated through the summer (spring through early fall?) of 1970.
It was the summer after my junior year of high school and I have distinct memories of several occasions being unable to truthfully explain to my friends why I was really so late for our drinking session. At the time, explaining I was delayed because I was watching a costume drama/soap opera would have opened me for endless jovial but mean ridicule, something any 17 year old tried to avoid. Remember this was before Masterpiece Theater and before anyone watched something like this. The success of the Saga 'inspired' PBS to create Masterpiece Theater which began with The First Churchills, also starring my prime impetus for watching the Forsyte Saga, actress Susan Hampshire. I had to wait through 13 episodes as she played Fleur, and by then I was hooked,

Lesle wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Salvation of a Forsyte.."

I have not seen that title before. Thank you for bringing it up Kathy."

Lesle,
It's considered #0.5 of the series. Here's the page with all the books and with the interludes
https://www.goodreads.com/series/5958...

Brian wrote: "Carol wrote: "The first series was broadcast in 1967 and was stunning. I... ahem ... watched every episode in its first run."

Actually, the first U.S. Broadcast wasn't until October of 1969, so yo..."

Interesting info about the creation of Masterpiece Theater, Brian.

I can see why you didn't want to give the true explanation to your friends!

Kathy wrote: "Lesle wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Salvation of a Forsyte.."
It's considered #0.5 of the series. Here's the page with all t..."

I hadn't heard of it either. The one Amazon review describes it as:

"a short story concerning Swithin Forsyte on his deathbed. He remembers a failed romance from his youth in the 1850s. He was travelling across Europe with a friend and his brother James (future father of Soames).
Very poignant story written around 1900, before the first Forsyte trilogy."

Interesting that Galsworthy had created a story with the twins of the Old Forsyte siblings 6 years prior to publishing The Man of Property. I wonder when his brain formulated what he would create with the Forsyte family as he didn't write the followup to The Man of Property until 1920 or fourteen years later.
While this short story tells of a romance occuring prior to any of the Forsyte Saga, Swithin's deathbed has to occurf sometimes during the Saga, perhaps even, like The Awakening, sometime between In Chancery and To Let. I will see when I read further.

Lesle wrote: "I looked up words ending with 'change'

Interchange
Shortchange
Gearchange
Exchange
Rechange

Have to agree Exchange is the most fitting!"

'Forsyte 'Change' is introduced in chapter 4 of 'The Man of Property', although the explanation isn't exactly clear:

'Those ignorant of Forsyte 'Change would not, perhaps, foresee all the stir made by Irene's visit to the house.'

and then:

'Only upon the greatest, the most important provocation was it necessary to say anything open on Forsyte 'Change. This machine was too nicely adjusted; a hint, the merest trifling expression of regret or doubt, sufficed to set the family soul so sympathetic--vibrating.'

I took it to mean some kind of channel of communication (or even gossip) only available to members of the Forsyte family. A kind of family grapevine, perhaps. But if anyone knows better, feel free to correct me.

Helen 'Forsyte 'Change' is introduced in chapter..."

Well that explains it clearly. Nice way of stating Family Gossip line!

Kathy wrote: "Lesle,
It's considered #0.5 of the series. Here's the page with all t..."

Thanks Kathy I bookmarked it! Great reference point.

Brian wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Lesle wrote: "Kathy wrote: "Salvation of a Forsyte.."
It's considered #0.5 of the series. Here's the page with all t..."

I hadn't heard of it either. The one Amazon review describes ..."

Not sure how Galsworthy's mind works but being able to write as after thoughts is pretty amazing to me.

Webster calls an Interlude as a Hiccup! lol (well along with other synonyms)

I just read Chapter 4 and, as Helen notes, I see what Forsyte 'Change refers to. I saw it as Lesle did, and my mind starting picturing the Forsyte 'Change as something like these scenes but with a bunch of Victorians, men and women, mainly grey hairs, (and without technology):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sPU3...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvhFs...

Thanks Brian!
The second one made me giggle!
Great examples

Previously, I wondered at what point Galsworthy decided to expand his novel Man of Property into a Forsyte Saga, and I ran into this comment after looking at the Oxford edition introduction:

"In his introduction to the Oxford World’s Classics edition of The Forsyte Saga, Geoffrey Harvey explains that we owe the saga in its completed form to Galsworthy’s goddaughter, Dorothy Ivens. The Man of Property had been published in 1906 but Galsworthy’s attention had moved on. Then in 1918, he published Indian Summer of a Forsyte as part of a volume of stories; when Dorothy read it, she urged the author to “give us more Forsytes!” In Chancery followed, in 1920, then To Let in 1921."

My thought was that yes, that does answer my question but I then wondered why he decided to write "Indian Summer of a Forsyte." He probably just wanted to revisit characters and needed more ideas for a short story collection.
So at the time he wrote it, this "Interlude" was intended to be a "Postscript."

That is very interesting that his Goddaughter envoked enough spark in him...for him want to move forward with the tale.

I actually only have the two books. So now Im thinking I need to add the rest to my wish list!

After reading A Man of Property twice before, watching the 1967 Saga miniseries at least twice, the 2002 Saga miniseries (I own DVDs of both series) and seeing the 1949 movie version of it "That Forsyte Woman" I still felt the story fresh and compelling enough to keep me reading the last 80 pages to the finish. It also ended one scene prior to what I thought it would, so I now see why Galsworthy felt it necessary to write the Indian Summer of a Forsyte" Postscript/Interlude,
Its just a great story, well-told and written. I enjoyed how Galsworthy would switch point of views in each chapter to so many characters, including a revealing one from the previously little-seen George.
Its a 4+ star read and, if its not quite 5 stars its because it tries too hard on social commentary, especially early on, in scenes of the older Forsytes and the one of young Jolyon, in a conversation with Bosinney, describing a "Forsyte" as a general societal stereotype. I like the social commentary, but as the critic who also made the quote on the Goddaughter above says:

"The Man of Property is very good, but it’s a bit cold; Galsworthy’s intermittently beautiful writing isn’t quite enough to compensate for the more ruthless aspects of life among the Forsytes. I ended it interested but not emotionally invested in anyone except old Jolyon. Even Irene, whose situation ought to be the most touching, is at too much of a distance to sympathize with except in the abstract."

I see what he means by a coldness, which is similar to how Rosemarie and Lesle felt, but I'm probably more invested than he was as I may know too much about the characters already. I expect that Kathy is right in that the reader will get more emotionally involved with the characters in In Chancery when I think Galsworthy also lets up a bit on his social commentary.