John Galsworthy OM was an English novelist and playwright, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932. Notable works include The Forsyte Saga (1906–1921) and its sequels, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter.
Beyond
Read by Simon Evers
Running Time:12:20:40 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
Gyp, the daughter of ex-Major Charles Claire Winton, at the age of 23 marries Fiorsen, a Swedish violin virtuoso. Her mother, the wife of another man, has been Winton's mistress; she had died when Gyp was born. A highly sensitive child, Gyp has grown up in isolated surroundings with a kind, but very British, father.
As she gets older her father tries to introduce her into society. An attack of gout takes him to Wiesbaden for a cure and, as he never goes anywhere without her, she accompanies him. There she is mesmerised by Fiorsen and his playing. Intensely musical herself and inexperienced, she's flattered by the homage of the violinist although her father soon sees through him. She also sees he is talented but unstable, ignorant, vain, hypersensitive, with an air of romance – a typical virtuoso.
Gyp realises that she may well have made a mistake in marrying Fiorsen. The book follows what happens to her thereafter.
Captures
Read by Lee Smalley
Running Time:07:14:18 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
Brief plot lines of these 16 stories by Nobel Prize winning author John Galsworthy:
01, 02, 03 "A Feud" The breaking of an engagement ignites a feud.
04 "The Man Who Kept His Form" Ruding’s financial prospects disappoint. He adjusts.
05 "A Hedonist" Still single at 55, Vaness declares his love to a woman, 26.
06 "Timber" Hirries takes a celebratory afternoon walk in his forest.
07 "Santa Lucia" Old Trevillian recalls a past attraction begun at a casino.
08 "Blackmail" Money given to a needy woman leads to a blackmail threat.
09 "The Broken Boot" An impoverished actor chances upon an old acquaintance.
10 "Stroke of Lightning" Besotted by an extramarital relationship, Frank goes to extremes.
11 "Virtue" Mellesh pays a “working girl’s” fine and tells his wife.
12 "Conscience" A staff writer refuses to continue to ghostwrite.
13 "Salta Pro Nobis" Terrified as her execution for treason nears, she dances.
14 "Philanthropy" A writer tries to cope with an insufferable alcoholic.
15 "A Long-ago Affair" When 16 he was infatuated with an attractive widow.
16 "Acme" A destitute author writes a movie script for his own amusement.
17 "Late--299" Released from prison, the doctor goes about with a “peculiar smile”.
18, 19 "Had a Horse" Jimmy, a bookie, accepts a racehorse in payment of gambling debts.
The Complete Essays of John Galsworthy
Read in English by Pamela Nagami; Phil Schempf; Sonia; BettyB; Anna Simon; Kathleen Moore; Jim Lane; Carolin Kaiser; Michele Fry; Brian Moakley; jftocanada; KHand; Jack Watson Warr; VfkaBT; Jesse Zuba; ToddHW
Running Time:06:41:06 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
This is a collection of essays by John Galsworthy. A multitude of subjects is covered, but the essays are connected by an artistic spirit, and they are written much more like short stories than in the classical style of essays.
The Country House
Read by:Bob R
Running Time:09:06:20 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
In “The Country House”, John Galsworthy explores many of the themes he would later expand upon in his better known, nine-novel, “The Forsyth Saga”. This is a novel of English society as 1900 approaches. A divorce is being threatened in the Pendyce family, whose members are of the landed gentry. Such an event would be an enormous scandal. There is little action. The story paints, in exquisite language, the feelings of each of the six or so main characters. These feelings concern the necessity for family honor and the horror of scandal; the stifling effect of the social mores of the time; the ridiculous complications of the law; and, the threat of the many changes in the social order which seem to be coming. Galsworthy was himself of this privileged class. While he was extremely critical of the social structure of the time, he shows sympathy for those caught in it. Each is constrained to his or her niche; only by major changes in the social code will that be changed. Gaslworthy was very much a social activist in life, as well as on the printed page. He was quite successful in showing the reader how it must have felt to live in one of those social niches.
The Dark Flower
Read in English by Betsy Walker; jeremycat; David Angelo; Vivianlyu; OscBosc; KevinS; Ashleighjane; John; ErikS04; C Zandra; ArturoJR17 ; Cilka; Carolyn Spencer-Kerridge ; Medv; Abbysunb
Running Time:09:07:51 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
Galsworthy's classic The Dark Flower is a study of love. Spring is the beginning when all is new and full of hope. However, the woman Lennan has fallen for is out of reach, a forbidden love. Can he overcome the challenges? As he matures, he discovers two different loves: the first is platonic, comfortable, and one that can last a lifetime. The other is crazy, passionate, and dangerous. As he matures, he settles into a somewhat boring and safe marriage, but then excitement and danger re-emerge in the form of a young mistress. The denouement comes as he makes the choice between the tried and tested and the novel and exciting but forbidden. As he reaches his decision, he watches the delicate carnation disintegrate in the fire.
Five Tales
Read by David Wales
Running Time:11:41:46 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
This 1918 book consists of five short stories or novelettes by Galsworthy. They are The First and Last (1914), A Stoic, The Apple Tree (1916), The Juryman, Indian Summer of a Forsyte (1918) This last became part of the trilogy The Forsyte Saga.
Fraternity
Read by Simon Evers
Running Time:10:13:16 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
A satire of middle-class complacency and artistic aspiration. It is the story of a strange bohemian upper-class love triangle, and of a mystic tract.
The Freelands
Read by Simon Evers
Running Time:09:50:41 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
The Freelands family is a mixture: Tod Freeland is an uncommunicative gentle giant, his wife Kirsteen passionate and free-spoken, Felix is a literary man, Stanley the man of business, John is in politics. Their mother is a practical uncomprehending old lady while Nedda and Derek, the younger generation and cousins, fall head over heels in love.
The story revolves around the ‘land question’ which was the chief matter of moment when the novel was written – British agriculture was depressed as imported food (chiefly from the USA) meant that domestic farmers were struggling. The rich landowners pay scant attention to the wishes and rights of the labourers on their land. The Freelands find themselves on both sides of the divide and the ensuing struggle involves them all. There is therefore much social commentary in the book, but it is also a tender love story and an insight into how different members of one family can think differently while still bonded together.
In Chancery (Forsyte Saga Vol. 2)
Read by Eva Hahn; Andy Minter; Lee Ann Howlett and Simon Evers
Running Time:13:34:22 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
'The Forsyte Saga' is the story of a wealthy London family stretching from the eighteen-eighties until the nineteen-twenties. In Chancery is the second book in the saga. Five years have passed since Irene left Soames and the death of Bosinney. Old Jolyon meets Irene and is enchanted by her. At his death he leaves her a legacy sufficient for her to live an independent life in Paris.
Soames who is desperate for a son, attempts to effect a rapprochement but is rejected by her. Meanwhile Young Jolyon, now a widower,who is Irene’s trustee falls in love with her
Soames suspects Young Jolyon and Irene of adultery and sues for divorce. His action is successful. Young Jolyon and Irene marry. She bears him a son, John. Soames remarries. His wife Annette bears him a daughter, Fleur.
The Man of Property (Forsyte Saga Vol. 1)
Read by Andy Minter; Kirsten Ferreri; Justin Brett; Lee Ann Howlett;
Janet West; Eva Hahn and Lucy Burgoyne
Running Time:12:23:44 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
'The Forsyte Saga' is the story of a wealthy London family stretching from the eighteen-eighties until the nineteen-twenties. The Man of Property is the first book in the saga. The 'man of property' of the title is Soames Forsyte, a partner in the family law firm. He is married to Irene but the marriage is not happy and during the book she falls in love with another man.
Another branch of the family is headed by 'Old Jolyon,' estranged from his bohemian artist son 'Young Jolyon' and the story tells of their rapprochement and of Young Jolyon's daughter June who is engaged to an architect Philip Bosinney.
For those familiar with the Forsytes, this book takes us up to the night when Soames exercises his 'rights' and to the death of Bosinney.
To Let (Forsyte Saga Vol. 3)
Read by Eva Hahn; Andy Minter; Lee Ann Howlett and Simon Evers
Running Time:11:26:24 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
To Let is the third and final book in the saga (although Galsworthy later published two further trilogies which extend the story). We are now in 1920, about twenty years since Irene married Young Jolyon and gave birth to John and since Soames married Annette, who gave him a daughter, Fleur. The two sides of the family have not met since those times and John and Fleur do not even know of each other’s existence.
All the old Forsytes are dead except for Timothy. Val and Holly have returned from South Africa and Val is training racehorses in Sussex. June has opened her gallery near Cork Street.
Soames arranges to meet Fleur at June’s gallery and while there, and again later in a patisserie, they see Irene and Jon. Soames ignores them but Fleur and Jon are attracted to one another at a distance.
As they leave, Fleur drops her handkerchief..
The Patrician
Read by Simon Evers
Running Time:09:49:54 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
The book revolves around the story of two love affairs. Miltoun (an aspiring politician) proposes to Mrs Audrey Noel, only to find that she is not a widow as everyone supposes, but that her husband is still alive and therefore the match is impossible. Meanwhile, Miltoun’s younger sister Barbara develops an equally unwise romance with the rebellious Courtier.
The story of what happens to these ill-matched pairs is played out against a brilliant portrayal of the Victorian upper class, its snobbery and its concerns. (The patrician in the title refers to Miltoun, who is thus called by Courtier, whose politics are the opposite to his.)
Justice| Dramatic
Running Time:02:47:15 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
A cheque has been issued for nine pounds but someone has changed it to ninety in the hopes of claiming the money. But who is responsible? Will one man's confession bring us to the truth, or is he covering for someone else? (by Michele Eaton)
Cast List
Stage Directions: michaelmaggs
Robert Cokeson: algypug
Ruth Honeywill: anbsweet13
Walter How: reecedawg
Cowley: shawn510
William Falder, O'Cleary: rhelfmann
Sweedle: adr6090
James How: silverquill
Wister, Mr Justice Floyd,Moaney: alanmapstone
Hector Frome: wiltedscribe
Harold Cleaver: pschempf
Foreman of the jury: ooothatsnifty
Clerk of assize, Instructor: salvationist
Wooder: sonoftheexiles
Rev Hugh Miller: adrianstephens
Edward Clement: karsus
Captain Danson the governor: toddhw
Clifton: pyledriver
A Family Man| Dramatic
Running Time:02:21:18 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
John Builder is a solid, middle-class Englishman. He is very domineering but finds that the women around him are insistent on living their own lives. They will not let him take control. His world begins to fall apart around him.
Cast:
Stage Directions: MichaelMaggs
Mr Builder: Adrian Stephens
Maud: Jenn Broda
Guy: John Payton
Topping: Alan Mapstone
Harris: Andrew Kennedy
Camille: JennPratt
Mrs Builder: WendyKatzhiller
Annie: Michele Eaton
Mayor: ToddHW
Athene: Diana Helen Kennedy
Ralph: Anthony Joseph
Sergeant: David Purdy
Moon: James R. Hedrick
Chantrey: Mark Kilkelly
Boy's Voice: ksb013
Journalist: Sonia
The Silver Box | Dramatic
Running Time:01:57:30 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
This is a lovely comedy about the theft of a prostitute's purse by a rich 'young man of good family. It is placed beside the theft of a silver cigarette case from the rich man's father's house by 'a poor devil', with very different repercussions.
Editor and Narrator: Michele Eaton
John Barthwick; Livens: Steve Gough
Mrs Barthwick: Kristin Gjerløw
Jack Barthwick: davidpr
Roper: Joseph Tabler
Mrs Jones: Beth Thomas
Marlow: K. Adrian Stroet
Wheeler: Sonia
Jones: Peter Tucker
Mrs Seddon: Bev J Stevens
Snow: ToddHW
A Police Magistrate: John Burlinson
An Unknown Lady: Availle
A Relieving Officer: David Olson
Swearing Clerk: Mary Kay
An Usher: Dillon McFarlane
Bald Constable: David Purdy
Clerk: MikeyHaz
The Skin Game| Dramatic
Running Time:2:27:22 in 1 MP3 Audio CD
A small play in three acts. A kind of comic tragedy. The plot tells the story of the interaction between two very different families in rural England just after the end of the First World War. Squire Hillcrist lives in the manor house where his family has lived for generations. He has a daughter, Jill, who is in her late teens; and a wife, Amy, as well as servants and retainers. He is "old money", although his finances are at a bit of low ebb. The other family is the "nouveau riche" Hornblowers, headed by the single-minded and rich industrialist Hornblower, who throws old retainers the Jackmans out of their home (much to the Squire's disgust), and who plans to surround the Hillcrist's rural estate with factories. (Summary by catrose and Wikipedia)
Cast:
Hillcrist: Anthony
Amy, or Mrs H.: Amanda Friday
Jill: April Gonzales
Dawker: Charlotte Duckett
Hornblower: Delmar H. Dolbier
Charles: Chuck Williamson
Chloe: CaprishaPage
Rolf: Chris Marcellus
Fellows: Aidan Brack
Anna; Auctioneer: MJ Franck
Mr. Jackman: TriciaG
Mrs. Jackman: Jeannie Tirado
First Stranger: Kristingj
Second Stranger: Elizabeth Klett
Narrator: SallyMc