Maid in Waiting (Forsyte Saga) [Paperback]

John Galsworthy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001 | Series: Forsyte Saga

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 Forsyte 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).

Editorial Reviews

Review

John Galsworthy (1867-1933), English novelist and playwright, who was one of the most popular English novelists and dramatists of the early 20th century. He was born in Kingston Hills, Surrey, and educated at Harrow School and the University of Oxford. He was admitted to the bar in 1890 but soon abandoned law for writing. Galsworthy wrote his early works under the pen name John Sinjohn. His fiction is concerned principally with English upper middle-class life; his dramas frequently find their themes in this stratum of society, but also often deal, sympathetically, with the economically and socially oppressed and with questions of social justice. Most of his novels deal with the history, from Victorian times through the first quarter of the 20th century, of an upper middle-class English family, the Forsytes. The principal member of the family is Soames Forsyte, who exemplifies the drive of his class for the accumulation of material wealth, a drive that often conflicts with human values. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

John Galsworthy (1867-1933) was an English novelist and playwright, and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932. Galsworthy became known for his portrayal of the British upper middle class and for his social satire. His most famous work was The Forsyte Chronicles. Galsworthy was a representative of the literary tradition which had regarded the novel as a lawful instrument of social propaganda. He believed that it was the duty of an artist to state a problem, to throw light upon it, but not to provide a solution. Before starting his career as a writer Galsworthy read widely the works of Kipling, Zola, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Flaubert.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: International Law & Taxation (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589632400
• ISBN-13: 978-1589632400
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,569,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars handy sized edition, March 17, 2011

By 

Nazani (MidAtlantic) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

349 pages, dark green boards, published 1931, Wm. Heinemann Ltd., London, Windmill Press. Gold text on spine and front cover, 7 1/2" high, 5" wide, fairly small font.
A very entertaining look at British society of the 1920s, with both romance and danger.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars meet john galsworthy, April 12, 2009

By 

ahl (reno,nv.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Maid in Waiting (Paperback)

JOHN GALSWORTHY WRITES LIKE SHAKESPEAR BUT WITH A TIME GAP THAT MAKES HIM UNDERSTANDABLE AND READABLE. HIS LOVE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND HIS UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN NATURE ARE WHAT MAKES HIM THE 19TH, 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES OUTSTANDING AUTHOR. WHILE HE WRITES ABOUT ENGLAND IT COULD BE AMERICA BECAUSE HIS STORIES ARE OF HUMAN NATURE AT IT'S HONEST BEST AND WORST. I RECOMMEND THE "FORSYTE SAGA" FOR WHICH HE WON THE NOBLE PRIZE. HE IS PROBABLY THE FINEST WRITER IN THE LAST 200 YEARS.

2 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The escapades continue., August 16, 2005

By 

T. Sell - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Maid in Waiting (Forsyte Saga) (Paperback)

Dinny falls in love with a poet who might not be quite heterosexual. Dinny offers herself to him to, sort of, seal the deal and he responds, "Not now."

Of course the Charwells are upset because the poet, who had abandoned Christianity even more than them, converted to the Muslim religion with a gun at his head. They feel, with this action, the poet betrayed the entire British Foreign Service. Sir Mont's cousin is so upset that he has a knock down drag out with the poet. The cousin is 53 years old and supposedly had intentions towards Dinny. The poet is 38. Galsworthy considers both to be `young men'. I believe the cousin is jealous of the poet because the poet had come up with a great cover for his closet life. It reads like two queens bashing it out. We saw this in a Waymon Brothers skit on "In Living Color" so we know queens can be vicious.

Aunt Em has started embroidering. She, rapidly, is becoming the most interesting character in the series.

In the final chapter the General informs Dinny that the family is broke. Being ever so perfect she pops the dad with her money she obtained from hocking her jewelry and horse racing bets.