John Galsworthy, an English novelist and playwright, and the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932 was born August 14, 1867 in Surrey, England, the son of a well-to-do solicitor. He had a typical childhood of that time, was sent away to public school and then went to Oxford, where he studied law and graduated in 1889. Galsworthy showed little interest in being a lawyer, and in 1892 met Joseph Conrad, with whom he developed a life-long friendship. Conrad, among other friends, encouraged Galsworthy to attempt writing. In 1897 Galsworthy had his first book of short stories published, and in 1898 when his first novel was published, Conrad introduced Galsworthy to several important and influential literary men, including Ford Madox Ford and Edward Garnett, the latter having a strong influence on Galworthy, encouraging and editing his writings. In 1906 Galsworthy published the first novel in his series, The Forsyte Saga. This novel placed Galsworthy among the pre-eminent novelists of his day. However, it was his plays that brought him public recognition, Galsworthy continued writing steadily, gaining more and more fame and celebrity. John Galsworthy died on January 31, 1933.