John Galsworthy, an eminent English novelist and playwright, was born on August 14, 1867, in Kingston Hill, Surrey, England. Galsworthy's literary career, which spanned the Victorian, Edwardian, and Georgian eras, was marked by his use of the pseudonym John Sinjohn. Initially destined for a career in law, he found the profession uncongenial and turned to writing, achieving his first publication at the age of thirty.

Galsworthy is best known for his trilogy of novels collectively called The Forsyte Saga, and two later trilogies, A Modern Comedy and End of the Chapter. His works, particularly The Forsyte Chronicles, drew from his own upper-middle-class family background, portraying the dynamics and social issues of the time with remarkable descriptiveness.

Aside from his literary achievements, Galsworthy was a fervent social activist, advocating for women's suffrage, prison reform, animal rights, and more. He was notably the president of PEN, promoting international cooperation through literature. His advocacy and literary contributions were recognized with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1932, an award he dedicated to PEN International.

Despite declining knighthood and facing health issues, Galsworthy's influence persisted through his writings and his continued campaign for social causes until his death on January 31, 1933. His novels have remained influential, reissued frequently, and enjoyed renewed popularity with adaptations, such as the BBC Television broadcast of The Forsyte Chronicles in 1967.