Publisher's Synopsis
In this first novel of the Forsyte Saga, after introducing us to the impressive array of Forsytes headed by the formidable Aunt Ann, Galsworthy moves into the main action of the saga by detailing Soames Forsyte's desire to own things, including his beautiful wife, Irene Forsyte (née Heron). He is jealous of her friendships and wants her to be his alone. He concocts a plan to move her to the country, to Robin Hill and a house he is having built, away from everyone she knows and cares. he resists his grasping intentions, and falls in love with the architect Philip Bosinney who has been engaged by Soames to build the house. Bosinney returns her love although Bosinney is the fiancé of her young friend June Forsyte, the daughter of Soames's estranged cousin 'Young' Jolyon. There is no happy ending: Irene leaves Soames after he asserts what he perceives to be his ultimate right on his property, he rapes Irene, and Bosinney dies under the wheels of an omnibus after being driven frantic by the news of Irene's rape by Soames.
