Book-The Forsyte Saga

The Forstye Saga is a large family saga, spread over three generations of a Victorian family in London. The Forsytes are not titled or noblemen, but they are upper middle class, and they are good at one thing, making money. They aren't so good at many other things, like love and adapting to new ways.

I do enjoy sprawling family sagas, and I really enjoyed this one too, but did not love it. John Galsworthy creates a main character, Soames Forsyte, that is just disagreeable to me. I did not think much of him at all, except I would not want to know him. While he may embody some great aspect of English culture, I found him, almost without exception, very unlikeable.

Galsworthy won the Noble prize, based for a large part on this work. Initially it was a trilogy, but he added some segues and the whole thing came together quite well. And I do admire his writing. It is touching and inventive and really uses language beautifully.

At over 900 pages it is truly a saga, and one I am glad I followed. And while I did not like the character, I did enjoy the book very much.