"The Country House" by John Galsworthy is a novel set in the English countryside that examines the lives of the aristocracy during the Edwardian era. The story revolves around the Pendyces, a wealthy family who own a grand estate known as Worsted Skeynes. The novel explores themes of family legacy, social class, and the tension between tradition and change.
At the heart of the novel is the marriage between Horace Pendyce, the patriarch of the family, and his wife Margery. Their marriage is strained, largely, due to Horace's rigid adherence to tradition and the expectations of aristocratic life. This tension is further exacerbated by the affair between their son, George, and a married woman, Mrs. Jasper Bellew. George's infidelity becomes a source of scandal, threatening the family's reputation and challenging the established social norms.
Galsworthy uses the Pendyce family's struggles to explore the emotional conflicts that arise within the confines of aristocratic life. The novel delves into the complexities of marriage, infidelity, and the impact of societal expectations on individual desires. The story reflects the broader societal changes of the time, particularly the gradual erosion of the traditional aristocratic way of life.