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Book 3: The Forsyte Saga, Book 1: A Man of Property, by John Galsworthy

 Date finished: January 18



I love lush period stories like those set in New York City in the days of Edith Wharton. This book is a sweeping tale of the generations of an old and well-to-do family living in London during the Victorian, Edwardian, and post World War I eras. It is said that this story is best approached in mid-life, when one's perspective cradles the characters and their struggles, rather than crucifying or canonizing them. Although there may be some reflective 15-year-olds who could love this story, I agree with this assessment. 

Here's an example. The main characters of Book 1 are Soames Forsyte and his wife, Irene. He was enraptured with her at first sight, and over time, convinced her to marry him. But she never loved him, treated him coldly, and eventually began an affair with his cousin's fiance, Bossiny. Earlier in my life, I would have seen the brooding, stern Soames as a monster, especially after he unfortunately forces himself on his wife one night. I would have seen her as a victim of her marriage in an age when women had few choices and this marriage was clearly about lifestyle, not love. But having been around the block once or twice, I have much empathy for Soames (though not the rape, of course), who just wants his wife to love him, and has to suffer the cruelty of indifference with all of London society watching. And I have much impatience for Irene, who made a choice--for whatever reason--to marry this man, then spends the rest of her life punishing him. 

The author speaks in glowing terms of Irene, painting her cruelty as aching sadness, but her choices, including the affair, speak otherwise. She made a choice to marry Soames, she made a choice to be frigid and emotionally distant to him, and she made a choice to cheat on him. She's not a hero or protagonist. She's not even a complicated character. I find her static and insufferable.

However, you need a few antagonists to make a good story, for what is a story without conflict? The cousins and the older generation flesh out this family. Neighbors and friends (with the exception of a few business associates) don't figure into the story; it's all about the family, which mades the relationships more acute. Bossiny's fiance, June, is the real victim in this story. We are supposed to feel sorry for Irene and Bossiny, but my heart went out to her. 

An absorbing story set in a world that's gritty and real, this book will stay with me for a long time. I may read the other two books, or I may not (it was anguishing at times). But I'm so glad I read this one.

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