The Forsyte saga, Volume 2 : Indian summer of a Forsyte; In chancery

Old Jolyon Forsyte reclines beneath an ancient oak on the sweeping lawns of Robin Hill, a cigar perched between long, nail‑streaked fingers. The late‑summer air is scented with roses and freshly cut hay, while a loyal dog pads at his feet and a solitary doll watches from a swing. In this quiet corner of the countryside, memories of the bustling London world and the family’s tangled past drift like the soft call of a distant cuckoo, inviting him to contemplate the comfort of age and the lingering ache of unfinished business.

Around him, the younger Forsytes bustle with their own ambitions and affections—June, on a transformative journey abroad; the spirited grandchildren Jolly and Holly, whose laughter fills the house; and a brother whose recent death has left the family’s legacy in question. The novel opens on a season of reflection, where the serenity of nature meets the restless undercurrents of love, inheritance, and the ever‑changing fortunes of a family that clings to both tradition and the promise of something new.