The Freelands

John Galsworthy (1867 - 1933)

The Freelands family is a mixture: Tod Freeland is an uncommunicative gentle giant, his wife Kirsteen passionate and free-spoken, Felix is a literary man, Stanley the man of business, John is in politics. Their mother is a practical uncomprehending old lady while Nedda and Derek, the younger generation and cousins, fall head over heels in love.
The story revolves around the ‘land question’ which was the chief matter of moment when the novel was written – British agriculture was depressed as imported food (chiefly from the USA) meant that domestic farmers were struggling. The rich landowners pay scant attention to the wishes and rights of the labourers on their land. The Freelands find themselves on both sides of the divide and the ensuing struggle involves them all.
There is therefore much social commentary in the book, but it is also a tender love story and an insight into how different members of one family can think differently while still bonded together. (Summary by Simon Evers)

Genre(s): Historical Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Prologue Simon Evers
00:03:51
Play 01 Chapter 1 Simon Evers
00:09:46
Play 02 Chapter 2 Simon Evers
00:05:12
Play 03 Chapter 3 Simon Evers
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Play 04 Chapter 4 Simon Evers
00:13:23
Play 05 Chapter 5 Simon Evers
00:13:58
Play 06 Chapter 6 Simon Evers
00:18:30
Play 07 Chapter 7 Simon Evers
00:14:14
Play 08 Chapter 8 Simon Evers
00:25:44
Play 09 Chapter 9 Simon Evers
00:09:56
Play 10 Chapter 10 Simon Evers
00:15:27
Play 11 Chapter 11 Simon Evers
00:12:22
Play 12 Chapter 12 Simon Evers
00:15:51
Play 13 Chapter 13 Simon Evers
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Play 14 Chapter 14 Simon Evers
00:19:17
Play 15 Chapter 15 Simon Evers
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Play 16 Chapter 16 Simon Evers
00:23:35
Play 17 Chapter 17 Simon Evers
00:13:16
Play 18 Chapter 18 Simon Evers
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Play 19 Chapter 19 Simon Evers
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Play 20 Chapter 20 Simon Evers
00:11:41
Play 21 Chapter 21 Simon Evers
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Play 22 Chapter 22 Simon Evers
00:18:17
Play 23 Chapter 23 Simon Evers
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Play 24 Chapter 24 Simon Evers
00:22:44
Play 25 Chapter 25 Simon Evers
00:18:34
Play 26 Chapter 26 Simon Evers
00:21:14
Play 27 Chapter 27 Simon Evers
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Play 28 Chapter 28 Simon Evers
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Play 29 Chapter 29 Simon Evers
00:12:39
Play 30 Chapter 30 Simon Evers
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Play 31 Chapter 31 Simon Evers
00:16:43
Play 32 Chapter 32 Simon Evers
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Play 33 Chapter 33 Simon Evers
00:13:20
Play 34 Chapter 34 Simon Evers
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Play 35 Chapter 35 Simon Evers
00:10:26
Play 36 Chapter 36 Simon Evers
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Play 37 Chapter 37 Simon Evers
00:16:12
Play 38 Chapter 38 Simon Evers
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