John Galsworthy

Novelist and dramatist, who was born at Coombe in 1867 and died, at Hampstead on January 31, 1933, won a European reputation by novels depicting English character as it is moulded in the landed or propertied class, and by his plays illustrating social anomalies and the clash of interests involved in modern life and organisation.

His education was that of the English gentleman. From Harrow, where he captained the football club, he went to Oxford. After taking his degree he was called to the Bar but did not practise. He sought experience by travelling widely.

In a journey round the world he met, in a sailing ship between Australia and South Africa, Joseph Conrad, then a Polish captain, and it was largely through his advice that Conrad, who had already begun his first novel, persisted with the fiction that made him famous.

Galsworthy's own firrst novel was published when he was 31, and he taught himself the art of fiction for five years before he commanded attention by The Man of Property, an introduction to the Forsyte family whose fortunes he allowed us to follow for many years, with ever-growing fame for him. In all he published about thirty books, tales long and short, and some poems.

In the year when The Man of Property was published Galsworthy's first play, The Silver Box, was produced, and sounded a new significant note in modern drama. With varying success as regards popularity he continued the writing of plays for twenty years, picturing social anomalies with a grave insistence, though he was not in the first rank as a playwright. Always he brought thoughtfulness into the drama, however, disclosing evils but leaving others to suggest remedies.

His personality was most attractive. He was one of the most modest of men. Though he often lectured, with great charm, he shrank always from impromptu speech. He declined a knighthood, though by a slip it was conferred upon him before he could refuse it.

Those who knew him rejoiced the more when honours reached him unsought, and there came to him our country's highest honour, the Order of Merit, and the Nobel Prize, with honorary degrees from seven universities. No man had the social conscience more fully and broadly developed. What he seemed to lack was the faith that sees life's expanding triumphs.

 

 

 

 

 

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