The Forsyte Saga

By: John Galsworthy

Narrated by: Fred Williams

Length: 42 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The three novels that make up The Forsyte Saga chronicle the ebbing social power of the commercial upper-middle class Forsyte family through three generations, beginning in Victorian London during the 1880s and ending in the early 1920s. Galsworthy's masterly narrative examines not only their fortunes but also the wider developments within society, particularly the changing position of women.

The Forsyte Saga is a sequence of novels comprising The Man of Property (1906), In Chancery (1920), and To Let (1921) with two interludes, "Indian Summer of a Forsyte" (1918) and "Awakening", published together in 1922.

The saga begins with Soames Forsyte, a successful solicitor who buys land at Robin Hill on which to build a house for his wife Irene and future family. Eventually, the Forsyte family begins to disintegrate when Timothy Forsyte, the last of the old generation, dies at the age of 100.

In these novels, John Galsworthy documented a departed way of life, that of the affluent middle class that ruled England before the 1914 war. The class is criticized on account of its possessiveness, but there is also nostalgia because Galsworthy, as a man born into the class, could also appreciate its virtues.

(P)2005 Blackstone Audiobooks

Galsworthy is truly worthy

I had read this book years ago, and have seen both tv versions. This is a worthy sucessor to those experiences. The narrator is perfect for the Victorian era novel, when control of emotion was primary, yet the emotion was there. You care about the characters. You become irritated with them, amused by them, but you always care. I had thought this trilogy was it in the 'Forsyte saga' but do plan to go on.

So good it feels like a guilty pleasure

Strangely enough, there is not a dull moment in the 42+ hours in this drawing-room saga. I don't remember being so thoroughly entertained by a Nobel prize winner, which almost feels like a guilty pleasure.
I agree with the reviewers who got used to the narrator in half an hour. The voice and tone were pleasant, and the accent very easy to follow. The one quibble I have is that Mr. Williams is like many other narrators who not take the time to consult a dictionary when they encounter a word unfamiliar to them, and follow their "gut" instead.

Reading

This book was a difficult listen, mainly due to the voice and the speed at which it was read. The writing is very detailed which is ok although with the monotone voice it was very difficult to follow.

In spite of the narrator

The other reviewers point out what a fine novel this is. It does take a while to get comfortable with the large number of characters introduced at the outset, but Galsworthy does an excellent job of helping his readers keep them straight. However, I never did get used to the narrator, who has a good enough voice but a dreadfully dull, nearly monotonous style.

If the other two volumes of THE FORSYTE CHRONICLES (A MODERN COMEDY and END OF THE CHAPTER) are ever recorded, I hope they use a better narrator.

A very good read.

A very absorbing story. Much like the time in which it was written, requires patience. Much to be gathered from this tale.

A Look in to the 1900

If you could sum up The Forsyte Saga in three words, what would they be?

history ease to read

Who was your favorite character and why?

all of the charcters -- if the writer put them in there must be a reason.

Truly interesting period family saga

Worth reading/listening to again to fully appreciate the characterizations and Galsworthy's point of view strategies as he moves from third person omniscience among the primary characters to various degrees of omniscience and strictly limited third person narration for most secondary characters. Most interesting is the opaque narration of the primary female protagonist Irene compared to her counterpart first husband whose thoughts Galsworthy so generously shares with us to the end. A true in- depth portrait of an American family and turn-of-the-century era.

The Narrator Has a Curious Effect

What made the experience of listening to The Forsyte Saga the most enjoyable?

The story is labyrinthine, lots of characters over a long period of time, each with his or her own eccentricities. While some of the subject matter is very politically incorrect today, it is an interesting chronicle of social and economic changes at the end of the Victorian and beginning of the Edwardian eras. The transition from a largely rural, farming country to a more urban investment-based middle-class also drives the early story, complete with successful Forsytes buying country homes later.

What other book might you compare The Forsyte Saga to and why?

The book reminded me a bit of "Middlemarch," with its gentry versus people of commerce themes and its focus on marital strife. There were also elements that echoed some of Trollope's themes (especially his Barsetshire Chronicles and Paliser novels) regarding proper behavior and the role of money in a changing society.

What does Fred Williams bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator seems really dull at first, almost mechanical and droning, but after a while, his subtle intonation really underscores Galsworthy's droll characterizations and wicked satirical wit.

Stunning

It's pretty hard to top "War and Peace." And I guess I'd have to say that the Tolstoy book is still my all time favorite. But after now listening to at least 100 audiobooks over the past few years, I would have to put The Forsyte Saga right at the top. Lovely writing. Beautiful creation of three generations of the Forsyte family. An arc of the story that is ultimately satisfying. I am now looking for other stories with a similar arc--i.e., multi-generational story telling. This was a magical listening experience for me. Stick with it, even though the opening segments may seem daunting in naming so many characters. The payoff is wonderful.

A great listen

I thoroughly enjoyed this reading. The accent of the narrator added to the authenticity of the characters, and I found myself driving in the right lane to squeeze in a few extra minutes during my commute. I highly recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it, and this particular reading is truly outstanding.