A Modern Comedy

Series · 3 books · 1924-1928

By Sir John Galsworthy, John Galsworthy

Books in series

The White Monkey

1924

FOURTH IN THE FORSYTE CHRONICLES FOLLOWING THE FORSYTE FAMILY FROM THE 1886 THROUGH THE 1920'S.

The Silver Spoon

1926

Fleur and Michael Mont entertain the glittering society characters of the day in their new, elegant, and fashionable house. As always, Fleur’s father—Soames Forsyte—is constantly by the side of his daughter, spoiling and watching over her. But London after the war is a place of carefree attitudes that are alarming and baffling to old Soames. Just when he thinks he is protecting his daughter, he finds himself triggering a major social scandal.

Swan Song

1928

The nine novels which make up The Forsyte Chronicles—one of the most popular and enduring works of 20th century literature—chronicle the ebbing social power of the commercial upper-middle class Forsyte family between 1886 and 1920. Galsworthy's masterly narrative examines not only their fortunes but also the wider developments within society, particularly the changing position of women. The author has drawn a fascinating and accurately detailed picture of the British propertied class. Often incorrectly called The Forsyte Saga - the nine novel sequence properly known as The Forstye Chronicles contains three trilogies- of which the first trilogy is The Forsyte Saga (The Man of Property - In Chancery- To Let). The second trilogy- A Modern Comedy (The White Monkey- The Silver Spoon- Swan Song) is followed by the third and concluding trilogy- End of the Chapter (Maid in Waiting- Flowering Wilderness- One More River). Michael Mont is succeeding in his public life in Parliament, but holds grave doubts about his private life and his wife, Fleur. Fleur's original love, Jon Forsyte, her cousin and the son of her father's ex-wife, returns to England where a meeting is inevitable. Fleur's undying love for Jon is disclosed. Other members of the Forsyte family are included in this eminently readable saga.

Authors

Literary career of English novelist and playwright John Galsworthy, who used John Sinjohn as a pseudonym, spanned the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian eras. In addition to his prolific literary status, Galsworthy was also a renowned social activist. He was an outspoken advocate for the women's suffrage movement, prison reform and animal rights. Galsworthy was the president of PEN, an organization that sought to promote international cooperation through literature. John Galsworthy was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1932 "for his distinguished art of narration which takes its highest form in The Forsyte Saga."