Originally shown as 26 hour-long episodes, this box set of 8 volumes spans the fortunes of the Forsytes, a merchant family, from 1870 through to the 1920s. The story begins in 1879 and Winifred Forsyte is to marry man of means Monty Dartie, while Jo Forsyte is having a relationship with Helene, the Austrian governess of his daughter. When Jo's wife dies he marries his mistress, only to be cut off by the family. Episodes in chronological order are: 'A Family Festival'; 'A Family Scandal'; 'The Pursuit of Happiness'; 'Dinner at Swithin's'; 'A Man of Property'; 'Decisions'; 'Into the Dark'; 'Indian Summer of a Forsyte'; 'In Chancery'; 'The Challenge'; 'In the Web'; 'Birth of a Forsyte'; 'Encounter'; 'Conflict'; 'To Let'; 'A Family Wedding'; 'The White Monkey'; 'Afternoon of a Dryad'; 'No Retreat'; 'A Silent Wooing'; 'Action for Libel'; 'The Silver Spoon'; 'Strike'; 'Afternoon at Ascot'; 'Portrait of Fleur'; and finally 'Swan Song'.