John Galsworthy

John Galsworthy (Kingston Hill, Surrey, 14 August 1867 – Grove Lodge, Hamstead, 31 January 1933) was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include The Forsyte Saga (1906—1921) and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932.

He was educated at Harrow and New College, Oxford, and was called to the bar in 1890, but devoted himself mainly to literature. His earliest novel, Jocelyn, appeared in 1898; but he first attracted general attention with The Island Pharisees (1904) and The Man of Property (1906). The latter began the novel sequence known as The Forsyte Saga, by which Galsworthy is now chiefly remembered. These were followed by The Country House (1907); Fraternity (1908); The Patrician 0910; The Dark Flower (1913); The Freelands (1915); Saint's Progress (1919); In Chancery (1920); To Let (1921); in addition to essays and short stories. Meanwhile he had also made a considerable reputation as a writer of realistic drama with a strong emotional appeal, notably The Silver Box (1906); Joy (1907); Strife (1909) and Justice (1910). His later plays include The Pigeon (1912); The Eldest Son (1912); The Fugitive (1913) and The Skin Game (1920).

For the final seven years of his life John Galsworthy lived at Bury in West Sussex. He died from a brain tumour at his London home, Grove Lodge, Hampstead. After his death the successful adaptation of The Forsyte Saga in 1967 renewed interest in his work. The series included the already mentioned novel The Man of Property (1906), followed by Indian Summer of a Forsyte (1918, in Five Tales), In Chancery (1920), Awakening (1920), and To Let (1921).

Sources and references

 * Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th Edition, Public domain
 * Encyclopaedia Britannica Ultimate reference Suite 2010