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  • The Forsyte Saga, Volume 1

  • By: John Galsworthy
  • Narrated by: Peter Joyce
  • Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (12 ratings)
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The Forsyte Saga, Volume 1 cover art

The Forsyte Saga, Volume 1

By: John Galsworthy
Narrated by: Peter Joyce
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Summary

A compelling drama and a merciless scrutiny of a newly monied upper-middle-class family at the turn of the 20th century, The Forsyte Saga has a sumptuous range of characters:Soames, he of the ‘perpetual sniff’; Old Jolyon, ‘typifying the essential individualism born in the Briton’; the sensuous Bosinney with ‘an air as if he did not quite know on which side his bread was buttered’; Young Jolyon, the free thinker; and, of course, the sexually alluring and impenetrable Irene, catalyst for much dissension within the clan.

The Forsytes believe they will live forever, but the unrelenting, imperturbable façade slowly begins to crumble as Aunt Ann, the oldest Forsyte ever, is interred in the family tomb at the end of this first volume.

The author makes his presence and opinion felt with beautifully subtle pinpricks of wit, which leave one in no doubt what he thought of the accumulation of wealth and property, which typified the materialistic Victorian psyche, at the expense of sensitivity and freedom. As in The Dark Flower (also published by Assembled Stories), Galsworthy demonstrates a fundamental understanding of hidden sexual currents and their ability to change our destinies.

If you have enjoyed The Forsyte Saga on television in the past, you will be familiar with this engrossing story; if not, prepare to be completely captivated and engaged by one of the best tales ever told.

About Assembled Stories: Over the years the national press have reviewed Assembled Stories titles as "excellent", "remarkable", "entrancing", "superb", "agic for sure", "masterly", "wonderful", "a class act", and "a splendid example of audio at its best".

©2001 John Galsworthy (P)2010 Assembled Stories

Critic reviews

"Peter Joyce is the most remarkable one-man band in audiobook publishing. Joyce, an experienced actor, reads them all himself." ( The Independent)
“Family sagas, from Icelandic to Aga, have diverted readers for centuries, but the Forsytes remain the brand leaders. The clever thing about this edition is that it comes in small, easily digestible portions. Peter Joyce, whose rhetorical resonance is perfect for his subject, has divided the saga into nine volumes, each lasting around five hours. Listen for yourselves. It was the dialogue that had me constantly rewinding…. their lives are eminently and endlessly fascinating.” ( Sue Arnold, The Guardian)

What listeners say about The Forsyte Saga, Volume 1

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Impressive and Enjoyable but a bit short

This appears to be an older recording as it refers to "Sides" - presumably of a cassette - but it is none the worse for that. Peter Joyce impressed me by making all the Forsytes sound different, including the women. His reading showed how skilled Galsworthy was at implying how a character feels, while also showing how they behave. The Forsytes came to life, pompous but pitiable. Just a bit disappointing that this was only book 1 given that many more recent and longer sagas can be purchased as one credit.

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6 people found this helpful