The Forsyte Saga
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The Forsyte Saga is the collective title of a series of novels by John Galsworthy. The name has become almost synonymous with the tradition of "classic" television dramatisations, as a result of the BBC's marathon 1967 serialisation. However, the book had been brought to the screen earlier, by Hollywood, as That Forsyte Woman (starring Greer Garson).
The sequence consists of three novels and two interludes: The Man of Property (1906), Indian Summer of a Forsyte (interlude) (1918), In Chancery (1920), Awakening (interlude) (1920), and To Let (1921), They deal, in a manner full of both humour and pathos, with the vicissitudes of the leading members of the Forsyte family, an upper-middle-class clan of businessmen. The main character, Soames Forsyte, sees himself as a "man of property," by virtue of his ability to accumulate material possessions—but this does not succeed in bringing him pleasure.
In the beginning, the Forsytes gather to celebrate the engagement of Soames' sister Winifred to the penniless but dashing Montague Dartie. Young Jolyon, Winfried's cousin, is absent nursing his sick daughter, June, at home, but is also experiencing feelings for June's governess, Helene. Soon Jolyon confronts his wife and father, telling them that he is love with Helene. Young Jolyon soon finds himself cut off from the Forsyte fortune and family, and elopes with Helene.
Nine years later, Soames, a prosperous partner in the family law firm, becomes attached to a beautiful, but impoverished, Irene Heron. She admits she does not and cannot love Soames, but being pressured by her stepmother, she accepts his proposal after he accepts the condition of letting her go if the marriage doesn't work out.
Two years pass, and June has grown up and falls in the love with the architect Philip Bosinney, who proposes. June's grandfather and guardian, Old Jolyon, says that Bosinney needs to make more money before they can marry. Meanwhile, Irene is miserable living with Soames. Attempting to find favor with his wife, Soames hires Bosinney to build him a country mansion, called Robin Hill, in order that June and Bosinney can have enough income to marry. Unfortunately, Irene sees the house as becoming a prison.
Old Joylon is just as miserable as his son, Young Joylon since cut off so many years ago, visits him out of loneliness. Young Joylon and Helene now have two children, Holly and Jolly living in bohemian poverty. Meanwhile, Dartie and Winfried are living the luxurous life, mostly Dartie who squanders his wife's money in gambling and failed business ventures.
At Robin Hill, the building continues, but there are misunderstandings in budgeting. Unknown to Soames, Bosinney is infatuated with Irene, having grown cold to June. Irene gradually falls under Bosinney's charm. While the family gossips about the growing affair, Soames is kept in the dark. During a family ball, Soames and June finally realizes the growing affection between Irene and Bosinney. Irene asks Soames to let her go, but he refuses. Determined to ruin Bosinney for stealing his wife, Soames sues for breach of contract in building Robin Hill.
As the lawsuit begins, Irene and Bosinney plan to sell all their property if bankruptcy occurs. Although, Irene and Soames share separate rooms, one night he comes in her room unannounced and rapes her. In a rage, Bosinney goes to confront Soames, but is run over by a cab outside of Soame's club and is killed. No one knows of his death during the court proceedings and the courts vote against Bosinney. The police then ask Soames to identify the body and Old Joylon has to break the terrible news to June. Last to learn is Irene, who is told by Young Joylon. He is now living as a gentlemen earning a substantial income from his father. Devastated, Irene has to return to Soames who shamelessly begs her to love him.
Irene then abandons Soames for a destitute life as a music teacher. Since Irene and Soames will not be living together at Robin Hill, Old Joylon decides to buy and lives there together with June and Young Joylon's family. Five years then pass and Helene has died. One evening, Old Joylon notices Irene at the opera and later again on the grounds of Robin Hill. They renew acquaintance and invites her to give young Holly piano lessons. With June and Young Joylon abroad, Irene and Old Joylon see each other often. As his health fails, he confesses his love to Irene and dies.
To the shock of the Forsytes, Old Jolyon leaves Irene $15,000 pounds. Young Joylon becomes Irene's financial advisor and since the death of Helene, ends up falling in love with Irene, as so many others did, but this happens slowly.
Twelve years pass and Soames is still obsessed with Irene giving her the option of either granting him a divorce or giving him a son. Since Irene is resistant on either option, Soames begins a casual flirtation with Annette, daughter of a proprietess who owns a French restaurant. A most disturbing occurrance happens when Dartie leaves Winfried for a Spanish dancer. He flees to South America leaving Winfried and their two children in debt and disgrace. Unexpectedly, Winfried and Dartie's son, Val falls in the love with despised Forsyte, Holly, who is Young Jolyon's daughter. They keep their love a secret from the rest of the family.
Soames pays Irene an unexpected visit and wants to resume his marriage to her since she won't grant a divorce. She quickly leaves for Paris to escape his harassment.
Adaptations
Image:RadioTimesForsyte1967.jpg
The phenomenal success of the BBC's dramatisation of the novels can largely be attributed to its sheer length. Both adapted for television and produced by the highly experienced Donald Wilson, it was originally shown in twenty-six episodes on Sunday evenings, thus becoming, effectively, a soap opera. It was shown all over the world, and became the first British television programme to be sold to Russia. It was the last major British drama serial to be shot in black and white, even though the BBC was already gearing up for full time colour broadcasting. In 1992 it was released in the UK on an 8-volume set of videos, and on region 2 DVD in 2004.
In 2002 the first three books were adapted by Granada Television for the ITV network, in a manner truer to Galsworthy's original work. Additional funding for this production was provided by American PBS station WGBH, the BBC version having been a success on PBS in the early 1970s. A second series followed in 2003 and these have also been released on DVD.
There was also a 1990 BBC radio dramatisation, comprising a 75-minute opening episode followed by 22 hour-long episodes, entitled The Forsyte Chronicles. It was the most expensive radio drama serial ever broadcast, due to its length and its big-name cast which included Dirk Bogarde and Diana Quick. The radio series was rerun on BBC 7 radio in 2004.