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The Forsyte Chronicles #7
Maid in Waiting: End of the Chapter, Volume 1
This sweeping family saga now moves to the lives and loves of the Cherrells in the early 30s, cousins by marriage to the Forsytes. An old English family, their one constant in an age of change and uncertainty is their ancestral home, Condaford Grange. It is especially precious to young Elizabeth Cherrell, or 'Dinny', whose family is everything to her. And when her brother faces extradition to South America, falsely accused of murder, and her cousin is threatened by her mentally unstable husband, Dinny does everything she can to shield them from harm.The 7th novel of the Forsyte Chronicle and a big shift over to the aristocratic Mont family. We have met some of the Monts before but I found it confusing to sort out relationships with no visual family tree. In the end I decided to plough on and let them sort themselves out.The narrative hangs on the problems of Hubert Cherrell who is in trouble for shooting, in cold blood, a Bolivian muleteer who had been mistreating the mules and who Hubert claims attacked him with a knife. Hubert has been attached to an expedition officially run by an American Professor of archaeology who has, in fact left all the day to day management to Hubert. The Professor has written an account of the expedition in which he criticised Hubert for his behaviour. However, back in England Hubert is the focus of a scandal and the Mont family gather round to protect him from extradition to Bolivia on a murder charge.Hubert's sister Dinny uses her charms on the American Professor who has fallen in love with her and does all in his power to have Hubert exonerated, including editing any criticism of Hubert's actions out of his published account of the Bolivian expedition. At the same time the Mont family call upon all their influential connections within the establishment.
290 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1931
28 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
John Galsworthy
2,388 books459 followersLiterary career of English novelist and playwright John Galsworthy, who used John Sinjohn as a pseudonym, spanned the Victorian, Edwardian and Georgian eras.
In addition to his prolific literary status, Galsworthy was also a renowned social activist. He was an outspoken advocate for the women's suffrage movement, prison reform and animal rights. Galsworthy was the president of PEN, an organization that sought to promote international cooperation through literature.
John Galsworthy was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1932 "for his distinguished art of narration which takes its highest form in The Forsyte Saga."
In addition to his prolific literary status, Galsworthy was also a renowned social activist. He was an outspoken advocate for the women's suffrage movement, prison reform and animal rights. Galsworthy was the president of PEN, an organization that sought to promote international cooperation through literature.
John Galsworthy was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1932 "for his distinguished art of narration which takes its highest form in The Forsyte Saga."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 21, 2021
I've been cruising along thoroughly enjoying the complete Forsyte Saga, or, Forsyte Chronicles and the first book of the third trilogy is all about a new family, cousins of the Forsytes. What a disappointment. I did not see that coming, so involved was I with the characters and story lines from the first 6 books. The ending of book 6 leaves the reader with a huge cliff hanger so I fully expected a follow up in book 7. Nope. Instead, I found uninteresting story lines and characters that didn't capture my imagination. Certainly not Galsworthy at his best. I hope the next 2 books are an improvement and provide a satisfying end to the Forsytes' Chronicles.
October 28, 2021
This book is #7 in the 9 book Forsyte Chronicles series, and is the first book of the End of the Chapter trilogy that completes the Chronicles. This trilogy shifts the focus from the Forsytes to the Cherrels, the family of Michael Mont’s mother. Michael Mont is the husband of Fleur Forsyte.
I found the Cherrel family to be well-developed characters, including the brothers of Mont’s mother, Hilary, Adrian and Sir Conway. The central character is Sir Conway’s daughter Dinny, cousin to Michael Mont. The book follows Dinny as she deals with romantic suitors while she attempts to extricate both a friend from her unstable husband and her military brother Hubert from possible extradition to Bolivia for the murder of a Bolivian muleteer while on a scientific expedition.
I liked all the storylines, although contemporary readers may not identify so much with some of the condescending attitudes toward the Bolivians. However, I felt that even that aspect of the novel was a valuable continuation of the societal information and commentary offered in the previous 6 novels.
Fleur and Michael Mont do make appearances in this book. Unlike in previous novels, though, we don’t get inside their heads, but instead see them through the point of view of Dinny or other Cherrels. They seemed different and not as interesting as side rather than lead characters.
Overall, this was a satisfactory, if not an enthralling, read. I was pleased that I was sufficiently interested in Dinny and her uncles to look forward to reading the last 2 novels of the series. I also still appreciate Galsworthy’s writing style. I rate it as 3.7 rounded up to 4 stars
I found the Cherrel family to be well-developed characters, including the brothers of Mont’s mother, Hilary, Adrian and Sir Conway. The central character is Sir Conway’s daughter Dinny, cousin to Michael Mont. The book follows Dinny as she deals with romantic suitors while she attempts to extricate both a friend from her unstable husband and her military brother Hubert from possible extradition to Bolivia for the murder of a Bolivian muleteer while on a scientific expedition.
I liked all the storylines, although contemporary readers may not identify so much with some of the condescending attitudes toward the Bolivians. However, I felt that even that aspect of the novel was a valuable continuation of the societal information and commentary offered in the previous 6 novels.
Fleur and Michael Mont do make appearances in this book. Unlike in previous novels, though, we don’t get inside their heads, but instead see them through the point of view of Dinny or other Cherrels. They seemed different and not as interesting as side rather than lead characters.
Overall, this was a satisfactory, if not an enthralling, read. I was pleased that I was sufficiently interested in Dinny and her uncles to look forward to reading the last 2 novels of the series. I also still appreciate Galsworthy’s writing style. I rate it as 3.7 rounded up to 4 stars
October 5, 2015
This is the 7th in the Forsyte Chronicles series which I started reading with a Goodreads friend, Anita, last year. The first 6 follow the Forsyte family - who in many respects are not actually very nice people, on the whole, but it has been interesting reading. This book starts to follow a family affiliated with the Forsytes by marriage. The main female character, Dinny Charwell (it’s pronounced Cherrell), is a lovely woman - full of life and kindness. I enjoyed getting a look at the Forsytes from her point of view.
There are 2 main story lines in this book, and they both had me agog to find out what was going to happen. I was a little sad to read of most of the characters’ loss of faith in a God with whom they are able to engage in a personal relationship, but I can understand, given what they had experienced with WWI - the stress and trauma and the upset it caused to people’s mental health must have been very fresh and raw. Mental health is one of the main themes for one of the story lines as well, which is interesting, given that it must have been quite a taboo subject at that time with a great stigma attached to it.
I think I’ve currently overdosed on Galsworthy and need to take a little bit of a break before I get entrenched in number 8, The Flowering Wilderness. But I’m eager to see what happens with Dinny as we continue. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars.
There are 2 main story lines in this book, and they both had me agog to find out what was going to happen. I was a little sad to read of most of the characters’ loss of faith in a God with whom they are able to engage in a personal relationship, but I can understand, given what they had experienced with WWI - the stress and trauma and the upset it caused to people’s mental health must have been very fresh and raw. Mental health is one of the main themes for one of the story lines as well, which is interesting, given that it must have been quite a taboo subject at that time with a great stigma attached to it.
I think I’ve currently overdosed on Galsworthy and need to take a little bit of a break before I get entrenched in number 8, The Flowering Wilderness. But I’m eager to see what happens with Dinny as we continue. I'm giving this one 3.5 stars.
May 15, 2017
A mediocre story from an author who was capable of much better. It was a disappointment for me to learn that book 7 in The Forsyte Chronicles was not really about the Forsyte family at all (but rather about the siblings, nieces, and nephews of Fleur Forsyte's husband's mother). To claim this book as part of the Forsyte story is a bit of a misnomer. There are shades of Fleur Forsyte in the main character, Dinny, but without the spunk. Nonetheless, the cast of characters are human and likeable and the cliffhanger in the final chapter entices the reader to seek out book 8 (which I fully intend to do).
October 16, 2020
This is the first book in the last trilogy of Galsworthy's monumental 9-volume saga of the a family from the late 19th Century through the early 1930's. Although I have read the first 6 books, I never read the last three because they center on a totally different family - the Cherrells - who are coussins of Michael Mont (husband to Fleur nee Forsyte).
For centuries, the Cherrell sons have left their home of Condaford Grange to serve the state as soldiers, clergymen and administrators, but the 1930s bring uncertainty in a world of rapidly altering morals and unemployment. Galsworthy’s portrayal of the effect of political change on the characters illustrate the difficulty the upper classes had in adjusting to post World War I life.
The main character in this book is Elizabeth 'Dinny' Cherrel, a young woman of 22, clever, beautiful and witty, who has no intention to marry and likes to solve the problems of the people she loves.
The main problem throughout this novel is Dinny's brother, Hubert. He is a soldier and while on medical leave from the RAF, went with an American scientist to Bolivia, was left alone with the expedition, and he ended up shooting a man (though he claims it was in self-defense). Unfortunately for him, the American Scientist, writes a newspaper article about his failed research and expresses dismay at Hubert's behaviour, which stirs up the matter both with the Bolivian authorities that want to extradite him to their country for trial, and with the House of Commons when an MP excoriates him from the floor of Parliament
Of course, it's an unbearable thought that a Cherrell should go through all this – and that the English court should believe a "half-caste" Bolivian's word against an Englishmen. (Modern readers need to be prepared for multiple racist expressions that would not be allowed in today's fiction). For example, Dinny's Aunt Em (Michael Mont's mother) expresses herself about Hubert's situation as follows:
Ah! Hubert, yes. You know, I think he made a mistake to flog those men. Shootin' them one can quite understand, but floggin' is so physical and like the old Duke."
"Don't you feel inclined to flog carters when they lash overloaded horses up-hill, Auntie?"
"Yes, I do. Was that what they were doin'?"
"Practically, only worse. They used to twist the mules' tails and stick their knives into them, and generally play hell with the poor brutes."
"Did they? I'm so glad he flogged them; though I've never liked mules ever since we went up the Gemmi. Do you remember, Lawrence?"
Sir Lawrence nodded. On his face was the look, affectionate but quizzical, which Dinny always connected with Aunt Em.
"Why, Auntie?"
"They rolled on me; not they exactly, but the one I was ridin'. They tell me it's the only time a mule has ever rolled on anybody--surefooted."
Hubert if pretty much a drip - the kind of British man who would be parodied decades later by Monty Python as an upper-middle class twit, so it's a good thing that he has someone as resourceful as Dinny around to bail him out. not only does she lobby various men of influence on her brother's behalf, she also finds him a wife in the person of Jean Tasberg, another member of the landed aristocracy
In the end, all ends well, and the comfortable life of the British upper classes lives to rule another day. However, the handwriting of their demise is on the wall.
For centuries, the Cherrell sons have left their home of Condaford Grange to serve the state as soldiers, clergymen and administrators, but the 1930s bring uncertainty in a world of rapidly altering morals and unemployment. Galsworthy’s portrayal of the effect of political change on the characters illustrate the difficulty the upper classes had in adjusting to post World War I life.
The main character in this book is Elizabeth 'Dinny' Cherrel, a young woman of 22, clever, beautiful and witty, who has no intention to marry and likes to solve the problems of the people she loves.
The main problem throughout this novel is Dinny's brother, Hubert. He is a soldier and while on medical leave from the RAF, went with an American scientist to Bolivia, was left alone with the expedition, and he ended up shooting a man (though he claims it was in self-defense). Unfortunately for him, the American Scientist, writes a newspaper article about his failed research and expresses dismay at Hubert's behaviour, which stirs up the matter both with the Bolivian authorities that want to extradite him to their country for trial, and with the House of Commons when an MP excoriates him from the floor of Parliament
Of course, it's an unbearable thought that a Cherrell should go through all this – and that the English court should believe a "half-caste" Bolivian's word against an Englishmen. (Modern readers need to be prepared for multiple racist expressions that would not be allowed in today's fiction). For example, Dinny's Aunt Em (Michael Mont's mother) expresses herself about Hubert's situation as follows:
Ah! Hubert, yes. You know, I think he made a mistake to flog those men. Shootin' them one can quite understand, but floggin' is so physical and like the old Duke."
"Don't you feel inclined to flog carters when they lash overloaded horses up-hill, Auntie?"
"Yes, I do. Was that what they were doin'?"
"Practically, only worse. They used to twist the mules' tails and stick their knives into them, and generally play hell with the poor brutes."
"Did they? I'm so glad he flogged them; though I've never liked mules ever since we went up the Gemmi. Do you remember, Lawrence?"
Sir Lawrence nodded. On his face was the look, affectionate but quizzical, which Dinny always connected with Aunt Em.
"Why, Auntie?"
"They rolled on me; not they exactly, but the one I was ridin'. They tell me it's the only time a mule has ever rolled on anybody--surefooted."
Hubert if pretty much a drip - the kind of British man who would be parodied decades later by Monty Python as an upper-middle class twit, so it's a good thing that he has someone as resourceful as Dinny around to bail him out. not only does she lobby various men of influence on her brother's behalf, she also finds him a wife in the person of Jean Tasberg, another member of the landed aristocracy
In the end, all ends well, and the comfortable life of the British upper classes lives to rule another day. However, the handwriting of their demise is on the wall.
October 18, 2012
BOTTOM LINE: #7 of 9 Forsyte Saga, interpersonal doings of a Society family; family saga, not-quite-classic. Mild and pleasant, filled with ramblings about politics-of-the-day and suchlike, usually something I enjoy, but there’s no spark - he’s done it far better before.
A young woman rambles through her life, as crises arise and are worked out with the aid of her many, and varied, relatives. The lead character Dinny, while interesting and “nice”, isn’t as vivid as Fleur, or as gripping as Irene, and the plotting is far too similar to earlier happenings in this long series. This third trilogy about the Forsytes seems, to put it mildly, redundant.
Pacing is abysmal, and we see very little of the Forsytes we’ve come to know, love, and hate - Soames and Jolyon are dead, Fleur and Michael are extremely peripheral. Too bad. Galsworthy must have needed the money - there’s nothing special to recommend it over thousands of other late 20s/early 30s Society-centered books. Like millions of others at the time, I suspect, I read it to find out what happened to Fleur after her father’s death, and Fleur is barely present here. What a gyp!
A young woman rambles through her life, as crises arise and are worked out with the aid of her many, and varied, relatives. The lead character Dinny, while interesting and “nice”, isn’t as vivid as Fleur, or as gripping as Irene, and the plotting is far too similar to earlier happenings in this long series. This third trilogy about the Forsytes seems, to put it mildly, redundant.
Pacing is abysmal, and we see very little of the Forsytes we’ve come to know, love, and hate - Soames and Jolyon are dead, Fleur and Michael are extremely peripheral. Too bad. Galsworthy must have needed the money - there’s nothing special to recommend it over thousands of other late 20s/early 30s Society-centered books. Like millions of others at the time, I suspect, I read it to find out what happened to Fleur after her father’s death, and Fleur is barely present here. What a gyp!
August 21, 2013
After the cataclysmic events at the end of the last volume, I fully expected to continue with the story of Fleur, Jon, and Michael. But here we unceremoniously switch perspectives to the little-mentioned cousins of the Monts, most notably one of the young daughters. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I found Dinny a thoroughly likable character. The plot is a bit frenetic and episodic (and, I dare say, melodramatic), but it's also engaging and as socially insightful as ever. Although not perhaps as objectively good as some of the previous installments, I'd have to say I enjoyed as much as any in the series.
December 18, 2022
Having journeyed with The Forsytes this far in the series (and thoroughly enjoying their never-ending saga), I was disappointed to find that Maid in Waiting took a change in direction to focus on the Mont’s, primarily Michael’s cousin, Dinny, and her family. While a few Forsytes make fleeting appearances, we don’t learn much about their lives following the previous book in the series.
The story was okay but I didn’t feel connected to the characters like I did with the Forsytes after following their journeys for so long. This lack of familiarity and context made it difficult to remember who was who and feel immersed in the events. I was, however, interested in the PTSD storyline which I thought was well-written and accurately portrayed at a time when PTSD was probably very taboo. I just wish this had been covered alongside the Forsytes rather than introducing so many new/minor characters.
My main disappointment was that some characters’ stories (Fleur, Michael, Irene, etc.) felt unfinished and I really wanted the book to pick up where it left off - but in typical Gals fashion, he picked a completely unexpected route and took the story there instead. I’m holding out hope that the last two books don’t let me down!
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 3
Writing style/readability - 3.5
Characters - 3.1
Diverse themes - 3.6
Ending - 3
Overall - 3.2
The story was okay but I didn’t feel connected to the characters like I did with the Forsytes after following their journeys for so long. This lack of familiarity and context made it difficult to remember who was who and feel immersed in the events. I was, however, interested in the PTSD storyline which I thought was well-written and accurately portrayed at a time when PTSD was probably very taboo. I just wish this had been covered alongside the Forsytes rather than introducing so many new/minor characters.
My main disappointment was that some characters’ stories (Fleur, Michael, Irene, etc.) felt unfinished and I really wanted the book to pick up where it left off - but in typical Gals fashion, he picked a completely unexpected route and took the story there instead. I’m holding out hope that the last two books don’t let me down!
Rating breakdown
Plot/narrative - 3
Writing style/readability - 3.5
Characters - 3.1
Diverse themes - 3.6
Ending - 3
Overall - 3.2
June 28, 2012
Beautifully written and thought provoking, Maid in Waiting focuses on a different branch of the family (with Fleur and Michael Mont as the only familiar characters). The same over-arching themes are here though, including love and marriage, family, duty and service - and how our perceptions of these themes change over time, as society changes.
July 17, 2020
What a complete and utter bore. It did not take me more than 1 quarter of the book to completely dislike it and just push through for the sake of pushing through. I lived with the hope that with each turning of the page the story would get better but alas it did not. I could not see myself in Dinny, I so desperately wanted more connection with the professor. I felt longing for the story of the insane husband and in fact would have had more enjoyment reading a book from the perspective of his hardships rather than Dinny weirdly being so devoted to her family's reputation. What constantly struck me as odd was that she was a firecracker when it came to saving her family but other than that she had no character, no personality, no personal goals and her lack of relationships outside of her family just bothered me. Lastly, the title is so misleading. I went into this thinking I was going to read a story about a lucked out maid falling in love with an unlikely man. Don’t know why I thought this, maybe because it was written in the 1930’s and they were big on their theatrical love stories. Other than that this book is definitely a pass for me.
October 10, 2023
After Soames, and the older generation of Forsytes were not to feature anymore I had thought I would no longer be interested in the last three books in the series. Not so. This book was great, and read again by the marvellous David Case.
June 7, 2017
Dinny the meddler
matchmaking, mental patients
nothing is sacred.
matchmaking, mental patients
nothing is sacred.
August 8, 2017
Book 7 of the FORSYTE CHRONICLES, book 1 of the last trilogy grouped as END OF THE CHAPTER. This novel published in 1931.
This is the first of the non-FORSYTE novels, as Fleur Forsyte Mont and Michael Mont are supporting, really peripheral characters. The lead character is Dinny Cherrell, a cousin to Michael.
The narrative is tight even as it meanders through the vagaries of marriages proposed, marriages in jeopardy, and marriages rushed into. There is much politesse and near-silent wooing. But this is not a Nancy Mitford comedy of manners. There is real jeopardy as murder/manslaughter charges loom over Dinny's brother from his work in Bolivia.
Galsworthy ruminates often on whether God exists, and if he does, why so much poverty? Are we put here to suffer? Could be. Dinny takes a humanist approach to these vexing and insoluble questions - try to do good is basically it. Galsworthy conveniently gives us a vicar to bounce philosophies off.
There is also a character with possible psychosis, and characters are distressed by how to help him and address the human fallout for spouse and children. Really, HOW does one help someone suffering from illness and help the collateral victims? The questions may be eternal, but the discussion was still engaging, and the societal approach not so different almost a century later.Galsworthy was a lawyer, though he practiced little or not at all. But he brings multiple perspectives to many legalities raised in the novel.
It bears noting that, as with other books from the same period, the infamous N-word is tossed about in what was then no doubt a benign fashion. But the casual use can startle. Still, this is an entertaining novel, but best enjoyed as a different branch of the Forsytes - I don't think it would be a good read without already having experienced the Forsyte milieu.
This is the first of the non-FORSYTE novels, as Fleur Forsyte Mont and Michael Mont are supporting, really peripheral characters. The lead character is Dinny Cherrell, a cousin to Michael.
The narrative is tight even as it meanders through the vagaries of marriages proposed, marriages in jeopardy, and marriages rushed into. There is much politesse and near-silent wooing. But this is not a Nancy Mitford comedy of manners. There is real jeopardy as murder/manslaughter charges loom over Dinny's brother from his work in Bolivia.
Galsworthy ruminates often on whether God exists, and if he does, why so much poverty? Are we put here to suffer? Could be. Dinny takes a humanist approach to these vexing and insoluble questions - try to do good is basically it. Galsworthy conveniently gives us a vicar to bounce philosophies off.
There is also a character with possible psychosis, and characters are distressed by how to help him and address the human fallout for spouse and children. Really, HOW does one help someone suffering from illness and help the collateral victims? The questions may be eternal, but the discussion was still engaging, and the societal approach not so different almost a century later.Galsworthy was a lawyer, though he practiced little or not at all. But he brings multiple perspectives to many legalities raised in the novel.
It bears noting that, as with other books from the same period, the infamous N-word is tossed about in what was then no doubt a benign fashion. But the casual use can startle. Still, this is an entertaining novel, but best enjoyed as a different branch of the Forsytes - I don't think it would be a good read without already having experienced the Forsyte milieu.
October 11, 2015
3.75 stars.
Maid in Waiting is the first novel in the Cherrell's/Charwell's story in The Forstye's Saga. Sadly, there are very few Forsytes included in the story, and I found they brought the drama into previous books' plots. The novel centers itself around young Hubert Cherrell's return to England after an adventure to Bolivia under American Professor Hallorsen. Hallorsen wrote of Hubert's confrontation with a Bolivian ended in murder of one of the men. It is only when Hubert's own travel journal is published in London that the truth comes out. Hallorsen abandoned his men, leaving unexperienced Hubert in charge, with few resources. Hubert acts as any former soldier would when confronted when put on the defensive, he shoots.
Hubert's saving grace is truly his sister Dinny, who takes on his cause, while her family seeks into a social depression. Dinny has Hubert's journals published and even brings his writings to the attention of a member of Parliament in hopes to save her brother from a court marshal and prison sentence, which would bring shame to the Cherrell's. Dinny gathers the family, including Sir Lawrence, Uncle Adrian (an adventurer himself), and Uncle Hilary, known in the previous Forsyte novel as a benevolent rector who seeks to end London's poverty, to come to his aid. Dinny also nudges Hubert's return to society, where he meets Jean Tasberg, the neighboring rector's daughter. Jean is much like Dinny in that she is a "new woman" of the 20th century, and is feisty in her support of Hubert. Thankfully, their story ends happily with their marriage, which leads one to believe that without a woman by his side, Hubert would not have survived the scandal.
Maid in Waiting is the first novel in the Cherrell's/Charwell's story in The Forstye's Saga. Sadly, there are very few Forsytes included in the story, and I found they brought the drama into previous books' plots. The novel centers itself around young Hubert Cherrell's return to England after an adventure to Bolivia under American Professor Hallorsen. Hallorsen wrote of Hubert's confrontation with a Bolivian ended in murder of one of the men. It is only when Hubert's own travel journal is published in London that the truth comes out. Hallorsen abandoned his men, leaving unexperienced Hubert in charge, with few resources. Hubert acts as any former soldier would when confronted when put on the defensive, he shoots.
Hubert's saving grace is truly his sister Dinny, who takes on his cause, while her family seeks into a social depression. Dinny has Hubert's journals published and even brings his writings to the attention of a member of Parliament in hopes to save her brother from a court marshal and prison sentence, which would bring shame to the Cherrell's. Dinny gathers the family, including Sir Lawrence, Uncle Adrian (an adventurer himself), and Uncle Hilary, known in the previous Forsyte novel as a benevolent rector who seeks to end London's poverty, to come to his aid. Dinny also nudges Hubert's return to society, where he meets Jean Tasberg, the neighboring rector's daughter. Jean is much like Dinny in that she is a "new woman" of the 20th century, and is feisty in her support of Hubert. Thankfully, their story ends happily with their marriage, which leads one to believe that without a woman by his side, Hubert would not have survived the scandal.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2015
Following the quite climatic ending to the previous volume, we put the Forsytes to one side and concentrate instead on the Cherrell family, cousins of the Mont’s; the family Fleur Forsyte married into. Fleur and her husband Michael having now been married for about eight years, remain just peripheral characters in this novel.
Hubert Cherrell, son of Sir Conway Cherrell, on sick leave from the R.A.F, joined an expedition to Bolivia, where he got into a whole heap of trouble involving some Bolivian men who Hubert flogged for animal cruelty – one man was shot – and the expedition failed. Now Hubert has had his name linked to the failure of the expedition in the newspapers, by Hallorsen – the American who led the expedition and has had hard words to say about Hubert since. Soon it appears that Hubert may even have to face extradition to Bolivia to answer for the shooting, which Hubert claims was self-defence.
Hubert Cherrell, son of Sir Conway Cherrell, on sick leave from the R.A.F, joined an expedition to Bolivia, where he got into a whole heap of trouble involving some Bolivian men who Hubert flogged for animal cruelty – one man was shot – and the expedition failed. Now Hubert has had his name linked to the failure of the expedition in the newspapers, by Hallorsen – the American who led the expedition and has had hard words to say about Hubert since. Soon it appears that Hubert may even have to face extradition to Bolivia to answer for the shooting, which Hubert claims was self-defence.
January 10, 2011
Not the best Galsworthy, but a good read
October 12, 2017
Forsyte Chronicles:-
This work developed over a lifetime and began with a simple theme, that of individual's right to life and love, especially those of a woman. The first trilogy, Forsyte Saga, is the most famous of all. There are three trilogies, Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter being the second and the third. The Forsyte 'Change was written as separate stories about the various characters and spans the time from migration of Jolyon Forsyte the original, referred to usually as Superior Dosset, the paterfamilias of the Forsytes, to London from border of Devon and Dorsetshire, onwards well into the time connecting it to the beginning of the second trilogy. The first two trilogies have interconnecting interludes between each of their two parts.
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The Forsyte Saga:-
The Forsyte Saga was not planned as such but developed over years with sequels coming naturally as they did, and human heart and passion and minds within settings of high society of a Victorian and post Victorian England - chiefly London - and its solid base in property.
When it was published it was revolutionary in the theme - a woman is not owned by her husband, and love is not a duty she owes but a bond that is very real however intangible, that cannot be faked.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008.
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A Modern Comedy:-
The second part of Forsyte Chronicles begins - with The White Monkey, first volume of the Modern Comedy - where the Forsyte Saga left off, with a six years gap that includes what was then called the great war and is now known as the first world war. The story here continues with Fleur at the centre and her father, Soames, close to her, with Jon and his mother Irene far away in US.
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End of the Chapter:-
In the third trilogy of Forsyte chronicles the story centres on cousins of Michael Mont, mainly on his mother's side, the Charwells who are socially somewhere bordering on landed gentry and aristocracy, unlike Forsytes who made their way up from farmer to various money making professions (solicitor, investment manager, builders, stockbrokers and more) to artists and gentry of leisure. Being upper caste in England amounts to being bred and brought up to notions of service to the country and accordingly the Charwells are occupied with work dealing with law, church, and so on, when not with actual landownership including caring for the tenants and other residents of the land. Mostly the three parts focus on Dinny, Elizabeth Charwell, an attractive young woman of Botticelli beauty with a sensitive heart and capable mind who cares for not only her own family and clan but anyone around who might need her, and does the care taking actively with initiatives, meeting people and speaking to them, and more.
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Maid In Waiting :-
In Maid in Waiting, Dinny who is the person the title is after, is busy rescuing her brother and an uncle and other related people from various tangles to do with love, empire, standards of behaviour to do with scientific expeditions and treatment of people and animals, love, mental illness and more. She is unable to consider a brighter prospect for herself with either of the two very suitable beaux who fall in love with her, and would not make a match yet.
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This work developed over a lifetime and began with a simple theme, that of individual's right to life and love, especially those of a woman. The first trilogy, Forsyte Saga, is the most famous of all. There are three trilogies, Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter being the second and the third. The Forsyte 'Change was written as separate stories about the various characters and spans the time from migration of Jolyon Forsyte the original, referred to usually as Superior Dosset, the paterfamilias of the Forsytes, to London from border of Devon and Dorsetshire, onwards well into the time connecting it to the beginning of the second trilogy. The first two trilogies have interconnecting interludes between each of their two parts.
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The Forsyte Saga:-
The Forsyte Saga was not planned as such but developed over years with sequels coming naturally as they did, and human heart and passion and minds within settings of high society of a Victorian and post Victorian England - chiefly London - and its solid base in property.
When it was published it was revolutionary in the theme - a woman is not owned by her husband, and love is not a duty she owes but a bond that is very real however intangible, that cannot be faked.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008.
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A Modern Comedy:-
The second part of Forsyte Chronicles begins - with The White Monkey, first volume of the Modern Comedy - where the Forsyte Saga left off, with a six years gap that includes what was then called the great war and is now known as the first world war. The story here continues with Fleur at the centre and her father, Soames, close to her, with Jon and his mother Irene far away in US.
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End of the Chapter:-
In the third trilogy of Forsyte chronicles the story centres on cousins of Michael Mont, mainly on his mother's side, the Charwells who are socially somewhere bordering on landed gentry and aristocracy, unlike Forsytes who made their way up from farmer to various money making professions (solicitor, investment manager, builders, stockbrokers and more) to artists and gentry of leisure. Being upper caste in England amounts to being bred and brought up to notions of service to the country and accordingly the Charwells are occupied with work dealing with law, church, and so on, when not with actual landownership including caring for the tenants and other residents of the land. Mostly the three parts focus on Dinny, Elizabeth Charwell, an attractive young woman of Botticelli beauty with a sensitive heart and capable mind who cares for not only her own family and clan but anyone around who might need her, and does the care taking actively with initiatives, meeting people and speaking to them, and more.
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Maid In Waiting :-
In Maid in Waiting, Dinny who is the person the title is after, is busy rescuing her brother and an uncle and other related people from various tangles to do with love, empire, standards of behaviour to do with scientific expeditions and treatment of people and animals, love, mental illness and more. She is unable to consider a brighter prospect for herself with either of the two very suitable beaux who fall in love with her, and would not make a match yet.
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May 12, 2025
Πολύ αλαφροΐσκιωτο, επιφανειακό έργο - δεν μπόρεσα να συνδεθώ με τους χαρακτήρες ούτε να νιώσω κάποιο βάθος που να με τραβάει στο βιβλίο, παρότι έχει μία κάποια πλοκή ας πούμε με δύο σχετικά σοβαρά θέματα. Πρώτα απ' όλα δεν έχει να κάνει καν με τους Φορσάιτ, μόνο με εξ αγχιστείας συγγενείς τους που εμφανίζονται για πρώτη φορά οι περισσότεροι, σ 'αυτό το πρώτο μέρος της τελευταίας τριλογίας υποτίθεται του The Forsyte Chronicles. 1700 σελίδες μετά δηλαδή, αφού έχουμε διαβάσει τις δύο πρώτες τριλογίες , που η μία είναι συνέχεια της άλλης, είναι σαν να αρχίζουμε σχεδόν ένα νέο μυθιστόρημα. Δεν έχει ούτε την νοσταλγία και την γλυκιά μελαγχολία της πρώτης τριλογίας, ούτε τη σοβαρότητά της, ούτε καν σου κρατάει το ενδιαφέρον όπως κάπως σου έκανε η δεύτερη τριλογία επειδή ήταν συνέχεια της πρώτης. Έχει κάποιους ελαφρείς στοχασμούς διάσπαρτους μέσα στο έργο, που μοιάζουν ή θα μπορούσαν να είναι βαθιοί, αλλά και πάλι είναι σαν να δίνονται επίτηδες σαν στοχασμοί από τα τάδε πρόσωπα στο έργο, έτοιμοι, έτσι για να τους συλλογιστείς λίγο αν θες, όπως και τα θέματα που πραγματεύεται, όπως και η ίδια η πλοκή, κι αν δεν θες το βιβλίο περνάει τελείως αδιάφορο, όπως πέρασε σε μένα. Κρίμα γιατί η πρώτη τριλογία ήταν τέλεια. Αυτό γράφτηκε για να γραφεί και δεν ενδιαφέρομαι καθόλου να διαβάσω τα τελευταία δύο βιβλία της τριλογίας που ανήκουν στον ίδιο τόμο. Αν το κάνω , θα το κάνω μόνο γιατί διάβασα ήδη 2000 σελίδες σύνολο και από τις τρεις τριλογίες μαζί, και θα διαβάσω έτσι για την τιμή των όπλων τις υπόλοιπες πεντακόσιες-εξακόσιες που μένουν. Προς το παρόν αφήνω τον τόμο εδώ , στο ράφι...
May 15, 2025
John Galsworthy's "Maid in Waiting" is the first novel of the last trilogy of "The Forsyte Chronicles" (book 7 out of 9, not including the short stories between the first and second trilogy novels. I have been reading in order and I will finish up but I find this last trilogy so far not living up to the previous ones. Fleur Mont is the only Forsyte in the book, and her spot is small which is expected. I would have heard more from some of the previous characters and their struggles, instead of going into the new characters from Michael Mont's family, which include a little from Michael, Sir Lawrence and his wife as well as the preacher Uncle Hiliary. The main characters are brother and sister, Hubert and Dinny, cousins to Michael Mont who come from an old family. It basically centers on Hurbert's troubles and Dinny's wanting to wait for someone she truly loves while having several proposals. I felt the last several chapters were pretty tedious with such a let down when Dinny was waiting to be seen. It seems that Galsworthy's belief in God is unbelief and each books cries of this in its own way. "Maid in Waiting" has the characters having discussions, which is extremely sad to me and it is in a lot of English novels, I have read over the years and it makes me think about British society and the attitude towards Christians as the years progress. It is also evident that Galsworthy is not too fond of Americans and America in general. Being an American, I can understand loving your country I find this interesting. The change in the British Empire seems evident in the trial and sentiment of a soldier in foreign lands having trouble.
Story in short- Dinny loves her family and does everything she can to help them out.
Highlight (Yellow) and Note | Page 2112
None of those present, not even his chaplain, who made the eighth spectator, knew whether Cuthbert
Porthminster had really had faith, except in that temporal dignity of the Church which he had so
faithfully served.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2121
way of talking of it, and she had a deep and jealous desire to bind her only brother to the same devotion.
After all, she had been born there while it was shabby and run-down, and had survived into the period
of renovation. To Hubert it had only been a holiday and leave-time perch. Dinny, though the last person
in the world to talk of her roots, or to take them seriously in public, had a private faith in the Cherrells,
their belongings and their works, which nothing could shake.
Highlight (Yellow) and Note | Page 2121
and the Early-English church, where she attended without belief to speak of,
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Dinny was an alright character but not my favorite. I liked her love of her family but her uncles and herself were not favorites. Fleur seems very reticent and is pregnant again. When her past is mentioned she clams up and it seems her father's death had effected her. Hubert is in trouble because of killing someone in Bolivia who was attacking him, he looks to be in big trouble but things turn out with the help of Hubert's diary and Dinny's help in ending Hurbert's troubles. Dinny wants Hubert to marry which might settle him and finds a girl who actually loves him, so Jean and Hubert marry. Dinny loves her family estate and heritage, looks for Hubert having a family so her home will stay in her family, not to a cousin. Dinny's uncle Adrian is in love with Diane Ferse whose husband is insane. They are friends but Adrian hopes that he can marry Diane at some point giving her sometime after her husband's death. I liked Hallorsen who loves Dinny but I knew from the start that she would never love an American because she loves England and her home and would never leave. She never gave him or Jean's brother Alan and reason to hope but they both want to marry her.
Story in short- Dinny loves her family and does everything she can to help them out.
Highlight (Yellow) and Note | Page 2112
None of those present, not even his chaplain, who made the eighth spectator, knew whether Cuthbert
Porthminster had really had faith, except in that temporal dignity of the Church which he had so
faithfully served.
Highlight (Yellow) | Page 2121
way of talking of it, and she had a deep and jealous desire to bind her only brother to the same devotion.
After all, she had been born there while it was shabby and run-down, and had survived into the period
of renovation. To Hubert it had only been a holiday and leave-time perch. Dinny, though the last person
in the world to talk of her roots, or to take them seriously in public, had a private faith in the Cherrells,
their belongings and their works, which nothing could shake.
Highlight (Yellow) and Note | Page 2121
and the Early-English church, where she attended without belief to speak of,
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert
Dinny was an alright character but not my favorite. I liked her love of her family but her uncles and herself were not favorites. Fleur seems very reticent and is pregnant again. When her past is mentioned she clams up and it seems her father's death had effected her. Hubert is in trouble because of killing someone in Bolivia who was attacking him, he looks to be in big trouble but things turn out with the help of Hubert's diary and Dinny's help in ending Hurbert's troubles. Dinny wants Hubert to marry which might settle him and finds a girl who actually loves him, so Jean and Hubert marry. Dinny loves her family estate and heritage, looks for Hubert having a family so her home will stay in her family, not to a cousin. Dinny's uncle Adrian is in love with Diane Ferse whose husband is insane. They are friends but Adrian hopes that he can marry Diane at some point giving her sometime after her husband's death. I liked Hallorsen who loves Dinny but I knew from the start that she would never love an American because she loves England and her home and would never leave. She never gave him or Jean's brother Alan and reason to hope but they both want to marry her.
May 29, 2017
Galsworthy's great theme was the redemption of troubled people. Jolian Forsythe is redeemed after following his heart and alienating his family. Soams Forsythe is redeemed after years of trying to own others, culminating in the inexcusable rape of his wife. Fleur Forsythe is redeemed from a selfish life. All are either in conflict with or, with Soams, the paragon of traditional English values, which are the bedrocks of their problems. These characters and their redemptions are built up over many years and many books about them. In this, the first book of his final trilogy, Galsworthy seems to have lost his verve. He turns to some Forsythe cousins, the Cherrells, but they are pretty much new to us. We have no investment in them or their problems, the story seems quite slight, and Galsworthy's writing style was never a reason to read these books. This is a disappointment in every way.
Dinny Cherrell decides to redeem her brother's reputation and finds love along the way, though she does not want the love of either of the men who offer it. This is Dinny stuck in traditional values. Got it.
I found the rendering of that theme dull in this book. Galsworthy should have quit when he was ahead.
Dinny Cherrell decides to redeem her brother's reputation and finds love along the way, though she does not want the love of either of the men who offer it. This is Dinny stuck in traditional values. Got it.
I found the rendering of that theme dull in this book. Galsworthy should have quit when he was ahead.
January 5, 2018
This first volume of Galsworthy's End of the Chapter provides a different atmosphere than his Forsyte Saga and The Modern Comedy, particularly due to the change in characters and the absence of Soames in this final trilogy. Rather, the books emphasize a new character who enters into the scene named Elizabeth (Dinny) Cherrell, a likable young maiden who involves herself in saving both her brother from an unfortunate misfortune, and a friend from an unstable husband. The first circumstance taught me that the world has not changed much since the thirties, when British politicians were trying to appear respectful with other countries at the expense of their own citizens. The second situation was actually a lesson in mental illness, and the perceptions of those so afflicted at that time. In addition, some of the scenes, due to the husband's psychosis, provide some of the most tense moments of any of the previous books in the Forsyte Chronicles. Overall, I felt that the novel was excellent, and, even though, this final trilogy was written not long before Galsworthy's passing, the quality and thoughtfulness of his books did not diminish. It was a demonstration that his genius lasted until the end.
March 21, 2019
I'll admit at the outset that I mostly finished this for the sake of completion. I wanted to get it over with, in case it had important background I'd need in order to understand the next installments in the series (edit after reading them: it doesn't)
The plot is thoroughly mediocre, as well as being offensive in the way that only a product of Britain's high imperial period can be. Moreover, it lacks the literary merit that makes me willing to make allowances for contemporaries like Chesterton. Its biggest weakness is that Galsworthy does not really understand the Cherrells and the class they represent in the way he understood the Forsytes. He seems to have a certain admiration for them, but his portrayal always feels like that of an outsider. It's very different from his overtly sneering, but also oddly affectionate portrayal of Soames and company. It was only in reading this almost Forsyteless novel that I realized how much Galsworthy's authorial voice was enriched by the conflicting feelings he had for the Forsytes and their England. Without that, his writing feels a bit flat. All in all, the novel's main redeeming feature is Dinny, who made the read palatable, if not enjoyable.
The plot is thoroughly mediocre, as well as being offensive in the way that only a product of Britain's high imperial period can be. Moreover, it lacks the literary merit that makes me willing to make allowances for contemporaries like Chesterton. Its biggest weakness is that Galsworthy does not really understand the Cherrells and the class they represent in the way he understood the Forsytes. He seems to have a certain admiration for them, but his portrayal always feels like that of an outsider. It's very different from his overtly sneering, but also oddly affectionate portrayal of Soames and company. It was only in reading this almost Forsyteless novel that I realized how much Galsworthy's authorial voice was enriched by the conflicting feelings he had for the Forsytes and their England. Without that, his writing feels a bit flat. All in all, the novel's main redeeming feature is Dinny, who made the read palatable, if not enjoyable.
December 4, 2022
"Maid in Waiting" examines the heart and mind of a young Englishwoman born in an upper class family of landed gentry whose wealth has evaporated in the 1930's due to the decay in value of England's rural properties. Dinny is charming, lovely, instantly attractive, made to be happy, but thwarted by her emotional roots bound in notions of family tradition and honor dating back for centuries. Its an interesting charaters study, as she examines the notions of duty, service, and religion while trying to rescue a loved brother whose code of honor is out of step with 20th century ideas of cultural diversity, and racial and class equity.
I don't know if Galsworthy meant all that shows in "Maid in Waiting", but from the perspective of the 21srt century, it's fascinating.
A bit talky and discursive with lots of interior monologues. Some readers will be put off.
I don't know if Galsworthy meant all that shows in "Maid in Waiting", but from the perspective of the 21srt century, it's fascinating.
A bit talky and discursive with lots of interior monologues. Some readers will be put off.
October 21, 2018
When I first read The Forsyte Chronicles a long time ago, I was disappointed by the last three books. Who cared about the Cherrell family, who were in-laws to Fleur Mont (née Forsyte)? I wanted more about the Forsytes. This time I was more captivated by this novel, and Dinny Cherrell is a wonderful character. But I sense that these people did not enter into Galsworthy's imagination as deeply as the Forsytes did.
March 24, 2017
I don't think this 7th part of the saga stands comparison with the earlier parts which focus on the Forsyte family. However, it is offers lots of insight into Britain in the 1930s. Society continues to change and Britain's place in the world is examined in relation to Hubert's Bolivian incident. The Charwell family note that upper class influence can be counterproductive as the reality of politics shifts ground. Danny (Elizabeth) is the central character whom I feel is certain to be the mainstay of the remaining novels with her somewhat melodramatic response to her to suitors!
May 5, 2023
Novela aburrida y poco trascendente, a excepción de una cosa: El cabildeo político de las clases altas inglesas. ¿Acaso no es corrupción? Sí, pero como lo hacen los lores y las ladies, es tolerado y hasta alentado. Hubert debió ser extraditado a Bolivia, porque correspondía legalmente, pero un pueblucho sudaca es insignificante para el imperio británico.
October 22, 2018
Goodbye Forsyte (not all the characters, mind you) and hello Cherrell.
This first book in the series written almost completely from a female character's prespective is lovely. And it's got an unexpected fiery feminist speech in the middle, for extra fun.
This first book in the series written almost completely from a female character's prespective is lovely. And it's got an unexpected fiery feminist speech in the middle, for extra fun.
September 28, 2024
2.5
Tedious ramblings about heredity, breeding and Botticelli faces. Whimsical conversations where they don't articulate their g's. Wodehousian without the wit.
Difficult to feel any empathy for Hubert, who shot a 'dago' after flogging him. Also a 'half-caste' .
The best part was the mad uncle.
Tedious ramblings about heredity, breeding and Botticelli faces. Whimsical conversations where they don't articulate their g's. Wodehousian without the wit.
Difficult to feel any empathy for Hubert, who shot a 'dago' after flogging him. Also a 'half-caste' .
The best part was the mad uncle.
October 17, 2018
Mine is a Penguin Books Ltd edition
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