London of the 1880s: The Forsyte family is gathered - gloves, waistcoats, feathers and frocks - to celebrate the engagement of young June Forstye to an architect, Philip Bosinney. The family are intrigued but wary of this stranger in their midst, who they nickname ''the Buccaneer''. Amongst those present are Soames Forsyte and his beautiful wife Irene - his most prized possession. With that meeting a chain of heartbreaking and tragic events is set in motion that will split the family to the very core...