The novel "Owner" by Galsworthy is one of the parts of a monumental series of diverse works by the English prose writer John Galsworthy, in which he describes the fate of the Forsyth family. He wrote his cult "Forsyte Saga" from 1906 to 1921. In 1932, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature with the phrase "for the high art of narration", the top of which was considered precisely this series of works.
History of creation
The "Owner" of Galsworthy was the first novel in this series, with the second work in the entire "Foresight Saga." For the first time, an English writer made this family the heroes of his creation in 1901, when a short story entitled "Forsyth's Salvation" appeared in print. Interestingly, Galsworthy published it under the pseudonym John Sindlejon.
In 1922, he released a series of works entitled "The Forsyte Saga." He opens the book "Owner" by Galsworthy, written in 1906. It is followed by the interlude "The Last Forsyth Summer", the novels "In the Loop", "Awakening", "For Rent".
In 1930, the collection of short stories "On the Foresight Exchange" was published, which, according to the author himself, was to become a bridge to his next cycle of works - "Modern Comedy".
Plot of the novel
A brief summary of the "Owner" of Galsworthy allows you to quickly refresh in memory the main events of this work.
The action of this book takes place in the English capital in the years 1886-1887. In the nursing home of Jolion, a family celebration is planned. Everyone is preparing for the reception, which Mr. Philip Bosini and Miss June Forsyth are planning to arrange for the engagement.
A large number of guests are going to the celebration, besides the Forsyth family itself is very numerous. On this occasion, all its members come together almost in full force. At the same time, the situation inside the family is turbulent, as in the surrounding society, competition reigns here. Six brothers, whose names are James, Jolyon, Nicholas, Suizin, Timothy and Roger, compete among themselves for the right to be called the wealthiest member of the family.
History of success
A summary of the chapters of the "Owner" of Galsworthy will help you quickly prepare for the exam or test, dedicated to this work. It is from this book that we learn the success story of the family.
The father of the six Forsyth brothers arrived in London at the very beginning of the 20th century. He started as a simple bricklayer, then became a contractor, built houses for wealthy people. On this and got rich. He had ten children, all of them are alive. Moreover, the next generation of Foresight has already 21 representatives.
Thanks to a successful entrepreneurial streak, the family entered the top of the English bourgeoisie. Among the people who are now considered to be their equal, are lawyers, financiers, rentiers, members of large joint-stock companies. They are all self-confident, and their conversations constantly revolve around dividends, stock prices, the value of things and houses.
Bosini
To restore the events of the novel "Owner" by Galsworthy, the summary will help just the best. All participants in the upcoming celebration look respectable and even brilliant. However, between them there is a certain tension. It is caused by a feeling of approaching something unreliable and unusual.
The object of distrust of this society becomes a person for the sake of acquaintance with whom everyone gathered. This is the architect Bosini - a man who, unlike all those present, has no condition, he is eccentric, artistically sloppy in clothing. Roger's son George even calls him a pirate; as a result, this nickname is assigned to him among his relatives. With special contempt, the elderly Jolyon belongs to the choice of a granddaughter. This is especially difficult for him, since he does not have a soul in a girl. Jolyon is sure that with this reckless guy, she is still attuned, since he is completely impractical, and his June is very stubborn.
Fathers and Sons
Meanwhile, in the novel "Owner" by Galsworthy, the elderly Jolyon expects to establish relations with his son, June's father. They had not seen each other for 14 years. Almost a decade and a half ago, young Jolyon left the family because of foregone love, according to the ideas of the Forsytes. Now he lives very modestly, paints watercolors, works as an insurance agent.
The father arranges a seemingly random meeting in the club, during which he invites his son to visit him. Then he comes to him on a return visit, falling in love with his grandchildren, whom he had not yet seen. Their names are Holly and Jolly.
Family problems in Soames, son of James, which he hides in every possible way from his father. All other Forsyths perceive his wife as something alien and unusual for their circle. The dark-eyed and golden-haired woman by the name of Irene closely resembles the pagan goddess, distinguishing herself with exquisite manners and taste.
After the death of her father, Professor Aaron, she was left almost without a livelihood, as a result she was forced to cede to Soames, who sought her hand for a year and a half. At the same time, she married without love, believing that if the marriage fails, the spouse will give her unlimited freedom. Iren understands what mistake she made at the very beginning of her marriage. She is all weighed down in a marriage in which she was assigned the role of a beautiful thing, the possession of which exclusively flatters the vanity of her husband, adding to him self-confidence. His wife dislikes him and is cold, which makes him furious.
Now he is worried about the spark that slipped between Bosini and Irene. He hired an architect to build his country house. The sympathy between his wife and the architect flows into a strong mutual feeling. But Soames is not going to give his wife a divorce. The beauty of the girl captivated him 4 years ago, he is not going to part with his trophy. June is struggling with a change in relationship with Philip, feeling that he is embarrassed by her side.
Rumors and gossip
Problems in the Soames family become a topic of discussion at Timothy's house. At the same time, he himself is very annoyed that Bosini constantly spends over the budget, he plans to sue him through the court in order to recover losses and ruin the upstart.
Even more Soames unbalances how indifferent and cold Irene is to him. One night, when the romance between the lovers was in full swing, he manages to insist on breaking the resistance of his official wife.
The very next day, George witnesses a secret meeting of lovers, during which Irene tells what happened. Then, out of ordinary curiosity, he follows Bosini, who, with great excitement, rushes through the city, not knowing what to do. He is a desperate man who cannot understand where to hide from grief.
New Testament
For the sake of reconciliation with his son, the elderly Jolyon remakes the will, restoring it in inheritance rights. He himself is deeply satisfied with his action. He regards him as a revenge of time, to all the hardships that have befallen him. And also the contempt with which he, along with other relatives, has awarded his son all these years.
Soames is still suing Bosini. But in the process, the architect is absent. Irene also disappears, who leaves home, leaving jewelry and all her belongings. Her husband cannot reconcile with the idea that she has finally disappeared from his life. June, who attended the hearing, is in a hurry to warn Philip about what is happening, and wants to support him. In his apartment, she meets Irene, saying to her everything that has boiled over her during this time. After all, before she was on friendly terms with a woman who now broke her life.
The denouement of the novel
The ending of the novel "Owner" by J. Galsworthy is tragic. Jolyon plans to bring all loved ones together. June persuades him to buy a house in Robin Hill, because on the very day when Bosini found out what had happened, in the fog he was hit by an omnibus, which crushed him to death.
Young Jolyon perceives what is happening around him as the first crack in the stronghold of the general well-being of the whole family. Soames is very homesick. Suddenly, Irene returns to the house, she behaves like a wounded beast that hides in a hole, trying to heal the wounds. She is lost, unable to understand how to behave on her, what to do.
Old Jolyon, sympathizing with her, sends his son to the girl. However, Soames declares that he will not allow anyone to interfere in his family affairs. At the end of the novel, he slams the door in front of his face.
Reviews about the novel
In reviews of the novel "Owner" by Galsworthy, readers and critics noted that this was the sharpest and most critical work of the whole multi-volume epic about this family.
The main characters here appear in the role of a rentier who themselves do not produce anything, their main concern is the most profitable allocation of capital. Forsytes in John Galsworthy’s Owner novel appear in a less favorable light as greedy drives, oblique conservatives who desperately cling to their fortunes.
The most typical members of the family are James Forsyth and his son Soames. According to readers, without this novel, Galsworthy’s “Forsyte Saga” cannot be fully understood. It is in this work that one can penetrate what money-grubbers and owners they are.