The first book in the FORSYKE SAGA was published in 1906, there are 5 volumes in the saga. I read all of them too many years ago to admit to and have reread them several times, as they are some of my favorite titles in a personal library that has grown and been added to for 50 years. This edition is a shortened, modernized version adapted for stage, but it's still a great story and probably easier for those not familiar with teh era to read. As you read, you'll recognize many pieces of the story that have been included in so many of the large ensemble productions of the era. The saga is so well worth your time, read at your leisure, it's meant to enjoyed as a life's journey.