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Swan Song

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Swan Song

By: John Galsworthy
Narrated by: David Case
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Swan Song is the conclusion of the second trilogy in the Forsyte Chronicles, which is called A Modern Comedy. John Galsworthy's epic story of the moneyed Forsyte family is a fascinating study of the British propertied class during the decline of the Victorian age.

The "man of property," Soames Forsyte, has mellowed with the passing of the years until, in his old age, he is a patient and benign figure, guarding with especial tenderness the welfare of his daughter, Fleur. But all his watchfulness and devotion are powerless to avert tragedy when Fleur revives her old love affair with Jon Forsyte on Jon's return to England with his American wife.

©1928 John Galsworthy. © renewed 1955 by Ada Galsworthy. (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Anthologies & Short Stories Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Short Stories Fiction
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Critic reviews

“A social satire of epic proportions and one that does not suffer by comparison with Thackeray’s Vanity Fair…The whole comedy of manners, convincing both in its fidelity to life and as a work of art.”

(New York Times)

“No one can approach it without realizing that it marks the completion of a fine noble work.”

(Spectator)

“Swan Song is one of the finest and most versatile of the author’s books; gripping both as a tale and as a reflection of our times.”

(Leon Schalit, John Galsworthy: A Survey)

“[Galsworthy’s] work at its best demonstrated a remarkable capacity to reach others, to suggest to them that it is also their own saga.”

(James Gindin, literary critic)
All stars
Most relevant
Ruined by the narrator. Yet another book which suffers from poor choice of narrators. Why?

What a shame

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Have so enjoyed this middle trilogy. The goings on of the next generation of Forsyths and the repercussions for Soames. The narrator adds to the joy with real brilliance.

Fabulous

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If you could sum up Swan Song in three words, what would they be?

Love and Loss

What other book might you compare Swan Song to, and why?

This Book is No 6 in the series, and the story of the Forsyte family carries you with it, like a tidal wave.
There is no getting off, so Book One should carry a Govt Health warning

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Oh dear...the narrator.
His ability to capture the characters is quite amazing especially Soames and Fleur, BUT his insistence on having a rising cadence at the end of each sentence is maddening.
If it doesn't rise, it falls, in an over languid style, which is still very off putting , even at Book 6

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

We ration these books, as greed will/could give indigestion. But we couldn't walk away from the story until The End

Any additional comments?

A must read for everybody

Un-put-downable from Book One

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Galsworthy at his best. A great story. Such well drawn characters. And beautifully read .

superb

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The Forsyte Saga has been one of my favourite books for many years and I was looking forward to having the different experience of listening to it. I’m afraid that the narration is simply dreadful, at first I thought it was a sendup but sadly not. Sounding like a takeoff of Kenneth Williams at his worst his pronunciation is bizarre, Flooer for Fleur! Unfortunately I see he has narrated the whole series so it’s back to the books for me. What a pity.

Ruined by the narrator

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