John Galsworthy’s Compassion

Book excerpt: This book discusses John Galsworthy’s compassion for people and animals, in his fiction, non-fiction and drama. Initial chapters explore compassion in The Forsyte Saga and The Modern Comedy, and his parents’ influence. Other chapters examine his works helping prison reform, men and children disabled during the First World War, and people whose relatives were interned as war-time alien enemies. Two chapters focus on slum clearance and labour unrest during the twentieth century’s first three decades. Another two concentrate on animal welfare and vivisection. The final chapter attempts to appraise Galsworthy as a writer by looking at what commentators past and present have said, and at what constitutes literature.