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

Mesmerizing

Although some people might be at first daunted by the length of this book, by the end of it they might possibly be like me and wishing for it to go on. I ended up purchasing a copy of the book so that I could have a copy of the family tree. This really helped in the beginning to keep track of the characters. As another reviewer mentioned, it took a bit of time to get used to the voice of the reader, but by the end I don't think anyone could have done a better job. The story itself is terrific, a wonderful glimpse into those times. This is truly great literature and a most entertaining listen. I highly recommend this book. You will find yourself thinking about it even when you aren't listening to it.

My most pleasant download surprise

I had not expected much when I downloaded this and am not sure why I did -- Nostalgia perhaps due to a vague memory of late 1960-ish B&W BBC series I saw as a child when we had only one TV channel -- but I <b>loved</b> every second. I ended up listening to all nine novels of the Forsyte Chronicles (3 novels X 3) but liked the three in this collection and the first two of the next trilogy best. I'd rate those first five of the Chronilces as five star reads, with most of the remaining getting a strong four stars from me. I ended up renewing my Audible account early to obtain them.

I expected some kind of well-written soap opera, but the series turned out to be literary social commentary through the narration of events and character response. Who would have thought we could be brought to care so much about a character like Soames? I can understand why Galsworthy won the Nobel.

A Victorian Delight

A unique and enticing look into the period. An in-depth tale into a wealthy family of the age. Soames Forsyte " The Man of Property" is a disagreeable yet upright figure. Irene the beautiful "Lady in Gray" is a captivating warm personality. Her story is tragic, one of lost love. The story intertwines with Irene's life and the men who want to possess and own her. I felt the narrator did a superb job.

Magical!

From the first moment, I was transported back into another time by this very long and very poignant story. I know someone has complained bitterly about the reader, but I found the monitone reading perfectly suited the tone of the story. Of every book I've listened to, this is by far and away my favorite.

Sagacity

The first Nobel Prize-winning work I have listened to, I can fully see why it was deserved. Taking as his subject the English upper middle class, for which the eponymous family stands in (even their name suggests prudence and thrift), Galsworthy's thick tapestry is remarkable for how the multitudinous threads blend into the consistent whole. The tragedy of Soames Forsyte, for he is the emblematic figure of the saga, is deeply affecting despite his unlikeability, for his instincts are our instincts, though expressed in the idiom of his time and place. It is no wonder the modernists got going after it was published, they could see there was no surpassing Galsworthy's mastery of the traditional novel form. Fred Williams reads the text rather than performs it, which may put some off - his diction is so exaggeratedly clear that he simply can't read at normal speed, and the recording drags as a result. I got around this by listening at 1.25x normal speed. He makes little attempt to "act" the characters, only the aging James really gets a distinctive voice. The editing is uneven with different recording sessions jammed carelessly together. But these aren't deal-breakers, it is worth it to be stimulated by the breadth and depth of Galsworthy's insight into the character that made England the dominant nation in the world at the time of writing - and his understanding of what that cost her.

Narrator

The narrator was awful. No pause between chapters or sections. Not good at voices so at times I didn't know who was speaking

Poor editing, fine story

The novel is great but the editing made it hard to listen to. The chapter numbers are cut into the text so tight that you can't absorb the last sentence of the previous chapter. Sometimes they even cut off the last few words. I almost sent it back

Very worthy listening

It takes a while to get into this LONG visit with the Forsyte family, but well worth it if you have the patience. Yes, there are quite a few characters to keep straight, but stay with it and it gets to be easy, almost. Ingenious plot lines and fascinating characters, plus a good long stare into the styles and mores of the upper middle class in England, 1880 - the First World War. The narrator is dry and unassuming, but does justice to the work.

Brilliant Narration

The narrator is exceedingly good. Beautifully written and gripping.I highly recommend this production. Not a wasted word.

Poor performance, largely due to editing...

The poor reading of this novel saga couldn't keep me from enjoying it. My reader's brain began canceling out the sound of the rushed reading and poor editing. I could have slowed it down, I just remembered. Too late. But I will listen to it again.