The final volume in Galsworthy's Modern Comedy trilogy finds Fleur Mont running a canteen for strikebreakers during the General Strike in 1926. She looks up one day & sees her first love, Jon Forsythe, eating at one of the tables. Fleur knows she still loves him & at that moment sets out to win him back - married or not.

I have always wondered why Fleur was so single-mindedly after Jon, as he seems to be a rather weak human being who is ruled primarily by his overly possessive mother. But just like Scarlet O'Hara & the mealy mouthed Ashley Wilkes, Fleur cares for no one except Jon & pursues him with a vengeance.

She is finally foiled when Jon's wife announces that she's pregnant, leading Fleur to literally burn all her bridges after the fact. ( )

The conniving wretch
handed everything, wants more
never pays the price. ( )

The end of the 6th novel sees the events of the last few books come to a head. Fleur remains her flighty self, with Michael doing good works where he can (the chapter about the lack of relevance of Parliament remains particularly relevant almost a century after this is set). Soames remains the tie holding the family together, at times, with his own hands. Holly & Val are seeming to prosper and finally settling down and we see more of June in this than the last few - altthough she seems to be playing the same tune as previously even if it is about a different artist this time.
The major change is Jon's return to the UK and Anne comes with him. This sets the cat amongst the pigeons and no mistake. Fleur finds out, they meet and, well, let's just say that things don't end as they might do, but not without upsetting rather a lot of people along the way. And the ending ia quite dramatic and unexpected. I can;t say I have been Soame's greatest fan, his treatment of irene was not at all forgiveable, but he proved to be rather unlucky in love, both his wives and his daughter not giving him what he needed, but seemd unable to ask for or attract.
That sees me at the end of the second colleciton of novels and interludes. I wonder where this takes us now. ( )

Široce koncipovaný román zachycuje život tří generací rozvětveného patricijského rodu od poklidné éry panování královny Viktorie až do 20. let 20. století. Rodina, z jejíhož středu vyrůstají podnikatelé, právníci a vážení obchodníci, vyznává konvence pohodlného měšťáckého života a jako nejvyšší životní hodnotu uznává vlastnictví peněz a z toho plynoucí moc. Každý pokus o proražení hradby konvencí a tupé měšťácké samolibosti naráží na nepochopení a nekompromisní odsouzení.

Written in 1928, this is the sixth book of the Forsyte Chronicles, the third, and probably the best, of A Modern Comedy trilogy. An appealing feature of this series is that Soames often remembers the old family members so that they are not forgotten, their influence, if not their presence, is still part of the story. Experiencing the passage of time has always been one of the most captivating parts of the story. Now in 1926 the General Strike has almost brought the country to a standstill. This gives Fleur, one of the generation known as the Bright Young Things, a chance to shine in a new capacity by running a canteen for volunteer workers. This is where she spots Jon and the old yearnings are reborn in her. Jon proves to be weak as water and I have no sympathy for him. We have always known that Fleur is spoiled but she shows her true colours in this one with devastating results. Of course, Soames knows his daughter well and although he tries hard, he is helpless to change the course of events. The dramatic ending was very moving. ( )