This document provides details about John Galsworthy and his famous work The Forsyte Saga. It then describes the story of the Gessler Brothers boot makers in London. The brothers were skilled craftsmen who made high-quality boots by order, though they struggled to compete with larger firms. Over time, both brothers passed away - the elder from natural causes, while the younger starved as the business declined. Their small shop was later taken over by a larger English company, marking the end of the Gessler Brothers' tradition of quality boot making.

1. QUALITY
PROSE LESSON - 5
JOHN GLASWORTHY

2. JOHN GLASWORTHY(1867-1933)Author’s Corner
Famous English
Novelist &
Playwright
• John Galsworthy is a famous novelist and dramatist
of 20th century.
• He has won Nobel Prize for Literature in 1932.
Won Nobel Prize
in Literature in
1932
• Deals with social class, upper-middle class lives.
Famous work:
The Forsyte
Saga
• Highlights the characters’ insular, snobbish,
attitude and their suffocating moral codes.

3. Characters
Younger
Gessler
Author
Elder
Gessler
Englishman

4. ● The author knew this shop from
the days of his youth, because
Gessler, the Boot Maker, made
his father’s boots.
● Gessler lived with his elder
brother.
● The shop was in a small by-street
in a fashionable part of London.
Gessler Brothers

5. • The shop had a certain quiet distinctions. There
was no sign upon it other than the name GESSLER
BROTHERS and in the window a few pairs of
boots.
● Gesslers, German immigrants, genuinely passionate
and dedicated Boot Makers, made boots only on
orders. They are poor, belonging to lower stratum.
● What he made never failed to fit. Since his boots
lasted terribly, the author was not possible to go
that shop very often.
Speciality of Gessler Brothers’ Shop

6. ● One day the narrator went to their shop to
get a pair of Russian leather boots. He kept
waiting, seated on the single wooden chair.
● Mr. Gessler came down the stairs, without
coat, a little bent, in leather apron, with
sleeves turned back.
● Getting the order, he again went upstairs and
came after some time holding a fine gold
brown leather piece, “beaudiful biece”, he said.
● After the narrator’s approval, he said
“Tomorrow fordnighd”.
Order for Russian Leather Boots

7.  One day the narrator went to the boot shop and
made a comment about that the last boots he
got from Mr. Gessler creaked.
 Gessler couldn’t believe, “id shouldn’d’ave
greaked”. Still wondering he asked, “You god dem
wed”. But the author denied.
 After a long pause Mr. Gessler said, “Zen dem
back, I’ll look at dem”, he also silently added
“Zome boods are bad from birdt.
Reaction to a complaint:

8. ● Once, the author absent-mindedly went into the Gessler
Brothers shop wearing another boot bought in an emergency
at a big firm.
● Gessler looked disturbed and took his orders without
showing any leather. With his eyes penetrating on to the
author’s shoes he said that, “Dose are nod my boods”.
● The anger-less, sorrow-less tone froze the author. With
much bitter he said,”Dose big virms ‘ave no sself-respect,
dey get id all by advertisement, nod by work, dey take
it away who love our boods. Every year id gets less.”
The true conflictHardship of Gessler’s trade

9. ● At the first place, the author hear him discuss
the tough times of his profession.
● Even after the author gave explanation about
the circumstances of those ill-omened boots,
Mr. Gressler’s voice and face look depressed.
● Therefore the author ordered several pairs that
lasted longer than ever. So, the author didn’t get a
chance to meet Mr. Gesslers for the next 2 years.
Author’s compassion

10. ● Many months later, when the author entered the shop,
he thought that the elder Gessler was there and asked
“How are you?”
● Gessler peered at him and replied, “I am breddy well,
but my elder brudder is dead.” The author felt sorry.
● Gessler continued feebly, “he was a good man, he made
good boods.”
● Then the author noticed that the younger Glessler had
also grown week. Now showing a leather piece, Gessler
enquired, “Do you wand any boods?”
● So, he ordered several pairs. It was delivered very late,
but they were better than ever. Soon after he went
abroad.
Demise of Elder Gessler

11. ● After a year, soon after the author reached London, the first
shop he went into was “Gessler Brothers”.
● When he met Mr. Gessler, he looked like 75, in fact much older
than his age of 60 and he looked pinched and worn.
● Understanding that he was unable to truly recognise him, the
author said, “I want boots of every kind.”
● When it reached him, he immediately tried them and posted the
signed cheque at once.
One last time at the shop

12. ● A week later, when the author passed by the
little street, thought of telling Gessler how
splendidly the new boots fitted him.
● In the shop, the name board was changed and
an English man stood there and asked
what the author needed.
● When the author enquired about Mr. Gessler, the English man
said that he was dead. He also added that he starved to death.
Demise of Gessler

13. ● When the narrator asked in curiosity,
“ Starvation?”.
● Then the English man said, how poor Gessler
made good quality boots over day and night,
without giving time to take care of himself. Yet
he was able to make only meagre quantity boots,
he had money only to pay for rent and leather.
● He also certified him to be the only man in London who
made good quality boots. The author agreed too.
Resolution

16. Title- Quality
In a highly competitivebusinessworld, Gessler brothers
retainedperfection in their QUALITYwith the kindof raw
materialstheyused
Gessler brothers indeed exhibited good HUMAN QUALITY
of supporting eachother, retaining customers for
generations.

17. Theme - Quality
Fight
The life of traditional workers who fought a loosing battle
against the industrial revolutionists of the 20th century.

18. Character Sketch
• Secondmaincharacter,wealthy,boot
lover,traveler,compassionate,values
relationship.
• Notto be seen, but portrayedas a good&
skillfulman.Helpinghis brother.
• Protagonist,Germanimmigrantin
London,SkillfulBootmaker,
committed, consistenthardworker.Yet,
couldn’thandlethereality.
• Secondarycharacter,who
grabstheopportunityand
alsosympathetic.
The
Englishman
Younger
Gessler
Author
Elder
Gessler

19. INTERNAL
(Mr. Gessler Vs
Destiny)
EXTERNAL
(Gesslers’ shop Vs Big
firms)
CONFLICT

20. Phases of plot
• Knowledge about Gessler Brothers, their shop & a
regular customer.
• Their attitude towards boot making.
Exposition
• Businessaffected by the bigfirmsand theirway of sellinggoods.
• Challengesin meetingthegrowingdemand, peoplereluctant to wait,evenif the
qualityis good.
Conflict

21. • When the younger Gessler also dies. Dies
his craftsmanship too.
Climax
• Gessler Brothers taken over by another Big firm.
Resolution
Phases of plot