# Val Dartie — The Forsyte Saga character guide > Val Dartie in The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Val, Val Dartie, Master Val, young Val, young Val Dartie, little Publius Dartie, Cato Publius Valerius **First appearance:** 0055-part-i-vii-the-colt-and-the-filly ## Snapshot Winifred and Montague's son, a horseman with a Boer War limp and a Dartie's charm, who married his cousin Holly and stayed faithful against all prediction. ## Who they are Val carries his father's looks and easy manner but not his father's weakness; half Dartie as he is, he has been perfectly faithful to Holly for twenty years, and knows she is his superior without grudging it. Tanned, freckled, and handicapped by the leg that probably saved his life, he lives actively with horses and takes life as it comes. He matters as the Saga's proof that the next generation can choose differently — and as the quiet host whose Sussex farm becomes the stage for Jon and Fleur's collision. ## In the story ### [Exit a Man of the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-ii-exit-a-man-of-the-world) Winifred's eldest son, summoned home from Littlehampton; arrives and goes out to dine with his trainer. ### [Soames Prepares to Take Steps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-iii-soames-prepares-to-take-steps) Encountered by Soames at Winifred's house; Soames plans to take him to Robin Hill to meet his cousin Jon. ### [No-Longer-Young Jolyon at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-vi-no-longer-young-jolyon-at-home) Soames' nephew, about to go up to Oxford, brought to meet Jolly. ### [The Colt and the Filly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-vii-the-colt-and-the-filly) Visits Robin Hill, meets Holly, and arranges a secret ride in Richmond Park. ### [Val Hears the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-ix-val-hears-the-news) Learns of his father's abandonment and the impending divorce; struggles with shame and concern for his mother and family reputation; reflects on his ride with Holly. ### [I: The Third Generation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-i-the-third-generation) A freshman at Oxford, fond of riding, betting, and the fast set; he is attracted to Holly and tries to make a good impression. ### [Jolly Sits in Judgment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-v-jolly-sits-in-judgment) Calls Jolly a 'pro-Boer,' fights him, and secretly rides with Holly in the Park. ### [Dartie Versus Dartie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-vii-dartie-versus-dartie) Attends the court hearing, feels protective of his mother, and is preoccupied with a secret romance. ### [The Challenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-the-challenge) Proposes to Holly, accepts Jolly's dare to join the Imperial Yeomanry. ### [Dinner at James'](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-ix-dinner-at-james) Announces his enlistment in the Imperial Yeomanry; feels heroic and conflicted; remembers Aunt Irene fondly. ### [Richmond Park](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-iii-iii-richmond-park) Mentioned as Holly's secret fiancé; his enlistment is linked to Jolly's. ### [Out of the Web](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-iii-ix-out-of-the-web) Winifred's son; marries Holly Forsyte secretly while on leave, adding to family tensions. ### [At Robin Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-iii-at-robin-hill) Married to Holly; they live near the Downs and are willing to have Jon live with them during his farming apprenticeship. ### [The Native Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-v-the-native-heath) Attends the races, contemplates buying a Mayfly filly, and accepts the gift of the horse from Prosper Profond. ### [Jon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-vi-jon) Val is mentioned as Holly's husband, who has a practical, Forsyte-like approach to nature, contrasting with Jon's poetic sensibility. ### [VII: Fleur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-vii-fleur) Val is Holly's husband and Fleur's cousin. He recounts an incident about Monsieur Prosper Profond and discusses riding with Jon. ### [Trio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-i-x-trio) Val remains stable and secretive, observing the dynamics among the younger generation. ### [Meetings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-iii-meetings) Takes Jon to lunch at the Iseeum Club; introduces him to George Forsyte and Prosper Profond; hints at family secrets and warns Jon about being 'green'. ### [Purely Forsyte Affairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-v-purely-forsyte-affairs) Mentioned by Gradman as a possible trustee, but Soames rejects the idea due to his father. ### [Decision](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-ii-x-decision) Mentioned as having gone to Town; returns late at night. ### [Fleur's Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/chapters/part-iii-x-fleur-s-wedding) Holly's husband; comments on Fleur not being 'bred right' for Jon and discusses Jon's move to British Columbia. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/characters/val_dartie - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_forsyte_saga_se/characters