Love Galsworthy’s sense of humor, especially when it comes to the law. “The two rows of seats immediately in front of James were gradually filled by barristers in wigs, who sat down to make pencil notes, chat, and attend to their teeth.” #forsytesaga26

In almost every chapter, humans are compared to some kind of animal. Today, it is James “like a pelican in the wilderness of the galleries.” #forsytesaga26

“fillips”: something tending to arouse or excite “knout”: flogging whip with a lash of leather thongs twisted with wire used (as in czarist Russia) for punishing criminals “smirch”: a blot, taint, or dishonor on someone's character or good #forsytesaga26

“looked upon the drink when it was yellow”: Proverb 23:31 #forsytesaga26

“He was not lacking in a certain delicacy-a sense of form-that did not permit him to intrude upon this tragedy.” Answer to the thrush’s song in previous chapter-“Joy—tragedy! Which? Which?” #forsytesaga26

Brokers “Grin and Grinning,” another poke at a profession. #forsytesaga26

Rape has the highest count in the list of offenses in the Times. Coincidence? #forsytesaga26

The fog (mentioned 20 times) complements the characters’ shadowy, elusive actions. Compare to the opening chapters of Bleak House and Dickens’ use of weather in the narrative. #forsytesaga26

The pear tree makes another appearance, “bare of leaves before its time…with gaunt branches” #forsytesaga26

“gimcrack”: a showy, cheap, or flashy object that is essentially useless or of poor quality “palmy days”: characterized by success, flourishing, or wealth #forsytesaga26

Galsworthy is a master of conveying feelings with very few, well chosen words: “disillusioned contempt” “innumerable pouts” “infallibly chosen silence” “grimly smiled” “wondering, adoring, doubting look” #forsytesaga26

Oh, the irony! “Mademoiselle Vigor breathed her last in the little hotel at St. Luc…” #forsytesaga26

“He that unbuckles this, till we do please To doff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.” #antonyandcleo_2026

Sensual darkness (“velvety garment” “soft,” “passionate”) #forsytesaga26

Privacy is vital to men of property. The chapter begins with James “ in the privacy of his bedroom” and ends with Soames’ “horror of seeing his name in print” and “private subterranean tragedy.” #forsytesaga26

“let the old ruffian know I have many other ways to die; meantime Laugh at his challenge.” #antonyandcleo_2026

“To be furious Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood The dove will peck the estridge” #antonyandcleo_2026

Favorite phrases: “Dressing tightly and well” “very van of Forsyteism” (nice alliteration) “Such a rattle!” #forsytesaga26

Fryer v. Forsyte… “seemed likely to remain a source of income for several solicitors till the Day of Judgment.” See Jarndyce v. Jarndyce (Bleak House) #forsytesaga26

Character names homage to Dickens and his satiric view of the law: Freak & Able, Bustard, Chankery, Jobling, Boulter #forsytesaga26

“Irish bull” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_b... #forsytesaga26

The moon is as haunting as the waltz in this chapter. “the moon through the skylight above laying a pale smear which lengthened slowly towards him down the stairway” “The moonlight cast a greyish tinge over his figure, hunched against the staircase wall.” #forsytesaga26

“O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt?” #antonyandcleo_2026

“Perfection of the House” aka “in apple-pie order” (arranged neatly or perfectly) #forsytesaga26

Old Jolyon: crusty (“lame ducks,” “dab,” “humbug”) with a mix of poetry (“the pale flame singes men’s wings whether they will or no”). #forsytesaga26

Body parts and expression reveal all: “smile seemed to say,” “look and voice seemed saying,” “hand was cold as ice,” “smiling mournful lips.” #forsytesaga26

“Young Jolyon took his seat there, too, under the pear-tree that bore no fruit.” Is this some kind of foreshadowing, perhaps a “diagnosis” of the Forsytean species/specimen? #forsytesaga26

“If I lose mine honor, I lose myself: better I were not yours Than yours so branchless.” #antonyandcleo_2026

“little Publius’s arrival (an error)” Now, a quarter of Dartie’s insurance policy! #forsytesaga26

“Man of the world” reminds me of Tom Wolfe’s “masters of the universe.” #forsytesaga26

Interlaces humor/social commentary with beautiful prose. “And suddenly the moon appeared, young and tender, floating up on her back from behind a tree; and as though she had breathed” #forsytesaga26

Haunting repetition (Dickensian) in the first 3 pages re: Irene/Bosinney coupling. “Other eyes,” “there are moments,” “things,” “God forbid,” “admit,” “no desire,” “to the sea,” “how far,” “going,” “the little thing,” “chic,” “extravagant,” “perfume,” “yearning,” “turn,” “waiting” #forsytesaga26

“infra dig”: being beneath one's dignity A new (to me) fun Latin put down #forsytesaga26

“(Dartie had been left behind, having on a former occasion drunk too much of Roger’s champagne)” Amusing parenthetical, another similarity to Dickens. #forsytesaga26

“the God of the Forsytes” Privilege brings its own god. #forsytesaga26

Dance as microcosm of life. Galsworthy, like Dickens is fond of lists. “And all the cruelties and hardness of life, its pathos and unequal chances, its conceit, self forgetfulness, and patience, were presented on the battle-field of this Kensington ballroom.” #forsytesaga26

“Bear the King’s son’s body Before our army.” #antonyandcleo_2026

Wealthy, healthy but not wise. “You shouldn’t go about without an overcoat; you’ll be getting sciatica or something!” #forsytesaga26

“Pin-money”: small amount of extra money used for incidentals, inessentials, or personal treats. Historically, it was a 17th-century term for an allowance a husband gave his wife for clothes and personal expenses. #forsytesaga26

Forsytism of the day: “rubbish that sells is not rubbish at all” #forsytesaga26

“Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drown’d; With thy grapes our hairs be crown’d” #antonyandcleo_2026

Favorite words & phrases: “domineeringness” “cigar extinct between his lips” “special peep-show of the things that lie at the bottom of our hearts” “the carriage class” “behaving precious badly” “perambulating Forsyte” “Forsytedom” “calculated arrogance” “haughty shields of parasols” #forsytesaga26

Irony/Perspective. “When he had finished he went slowly back to his office, with bent head, taking no notice of the swarming thousands on the pavements, who in their turn took no notice of him.” #forsytesaga26

“The most infectious pestilence upon thee!” #antonyandcleo_2026

“…so powerful was the invisible, magnetic current of family gossip…” “Like the not inconsiderable majority of men, James relished a nice little bit of scandal…” Refreshing that it’s not just the women who are hens. #forsytesaga26

“My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world’s report: I have not kept my square; but that to come Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.” #antonyandcleo_2026

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The present tense caught me off guard with the description of a sea-nymph in a picture whose alluring smile is compared to Irene’s. “She has a half-smile on her face—a smile of hopeless surrender and of secret joy.” #forsytesaga26

Galsworthy, master of contrast. June’s “tears of rage” versus the sisters’ “tears of enjoyment.” A spring wind came…“ to cool her hot cheeks and burn her heart.” #forsytesaga26

“It was her long caress of invitation, to draw men down to lie within her arms, to roll their bodies on her, and put their lips to her breast.” Love the way an inviting spring day is juxtaposed with “cold-hearted,” untouchable Irene. #forsytesaga26