The Man of Property

novel by Galsworthy

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June 30, 2026

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"The Man of Property" is the first novel in John Galsworthy's acclaimed series, The Forsyte Saga. Published in 1906, it introduces the wealthy, property-obsessed Forsyte family, focusing on Soames Forsyte. The novel critiques the family's materialistic values, portraying Soames as viewing his wife, Irene, as a possession. This theme of property as ownership, even over people, is central to the narrative and Galsworthy's broader social commentary. The novel explores the tension between established landowners and those seeking wealth, reflecting societal shifts of the era.123

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John Galsworthy
In The Man of Property, Galsworthy attacks the Forsytes through the character of Soames Forsyte, a solicitor who considers his wife Irene as a mere form of property. Irene finds her husband physically unattractive and falls in love with a young architect who dies. The other…
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In The Man of Property, Galsworthy attacks the Forsytes through the character of Soames Forsyte, a solicitor who considers his wife Irene as a mere form of property. Irene finds her husband physically unattractive and falls in love with a young architect who dies. The other…
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The Forsyte Saga
…Saga consisted of the novel The Man of Property (1906), the interlude (a short story) “Indian Summer of a Forsyte” (1918), the novel In Chancery (1920), the interlude “Awakening” (1920), and the novel To Let (1921).
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…Saga consisted of the novel The Man of Property (1906), the interlude (a short story) “Indian Summer of a Forsyte” (1918), the novel In Chancery (1920), the interlude “Awakening” (1920), and the novel To Let (1921).
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English literature
The Edwardians
…known as the Potteries; in The Man of Property (1906), the first volume of The Forsyte Saga, Galsworthy described the destructive possessiveness of the professional bourgeoisie; and, in Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905) and The Longest Journey (1907), E.M. Forster portrayed with irony the insensitivity, self-repression, and philistinism of…
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…known as the Potteries; in The Man of Property (1906), the first volume of The Forsyte Saga, Galsworthy described the destructive possessiveness of the professional bourgeoisie; and, in Where Angels Fear to Tread (1905) and The Longest Journey (1907), E.M. Forster portrayed with irony the insensitivity, self-repression, and philistinism of…
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