This March, the PBS Books Readers Club takes on John Galsworthy’s classic novel series The Forsyte Saga, a historical drama series and the inspiration for the highly anticipated PBS Masterpiece program, The Forsytes.
In this special episode, the PBS Books Readers Club welcomes one of Britain’s most celebrated television writers, Debbie Horsfield, Head Writer of The Forsytes. The episode premieres on March 25th at 8PM ET as a PBS Books Facebook Live event, on the PBS Books YouTube channel, pbsbooks.org, and the PBS app.
The Forsytes is a sweeping drama about a powerful Victorian family bound by wealth, tradition, and social expectations. Drama ensues as family members are tested by love, ambition, and betrayal. As fortunes rise and fall, one question echoes across generations: Do you adhere to duty…or do you follow your heart?
Debbie reflects, “I think one of the themes of the of the series is… do you follow your head, or do you follow your heart? Even if you follow your heart, does it guarantee that it’s the right decision? If you follow your head, does it guarantee it’s the wrong decision?
Join PBS Books Readers Club hosts Fred Nahhat and Lauren Smith as they talk with The Forsytes series Head Writer and Executive Producer, Debbie Horsfield on how she approached this stunning reimagining of John Galsworthy’s classic Forsyte Saga novels to offer a fresh entry point and a deeper look into the world of the Forsyte family. Part prequel, part re-examination, the series expands the story by bringing the women of the family to the forefront, revealing the personal costs of privilege in late-Victorian England. It’s a lush, emotionally rich epic filled with romance, conflict, and unforgettable characters.
PBS Watch-Alike: The Forsytes
Desire, ambition and betrayal simmer at the heart of the sumptuous costume drama, The Forsytes. Don’t miss the US premiere of this highly-anticipated drama on Sunday, March 22, 2026, 9/8c only on MASTERPIECE on PBS.
The Forsytes chronicles the trials and triumphs of a wealthy Victorian stockbroking family, whose generations find themselves torn between tradition and the personal pursuit of happiness. Inspired by John Galsworthy’s celebrated Forsyte Saga novels, The Forsytes portrays events that take place before those covered in Galsworthy’s books.
