Arnold Bennett: 362 books

First published in 1908, The Old Wives' Tale affirms the integrity of ordinary lives as it tells the story of the Baines sisters--shy, retiring Constance and defiant, romantic Sophia--over the course of nearly half a century. Bennett traces the sisters' lives from childhood in their father's drapery...

It is a beautiful novel revolving around the lives of three women Mrs. Baines Sophia Constance and those who surround them. The narration follows occurrences that change life. It is so realistic that one can find ones life in any of the described characters. Bennett compels the reader to search the souls of ordinary people and in the end leaves one with a question about ones own existence.

Entertaining and invaluable for anyone passionate about Swinnerton and his work, this collection of reminiscences by such highly regarded authors as Bennett, Wells, and Overton will surprise and delight readers with anecdotes about how the authors met Swinnerton, their relationship with him, and their...

These Twain (1916) is the third novel in the Clayhanger series. Edwin Clayhanger, having saved Hilda from destitution by marrying her, must now not only accept her son by a former lover, but also her outspokenness. Bennett’s title for this novel suggests the complexity of how Hilda and Edwin attempt to compromise their divergent attitudes for the sake of their marriage.

Books and Persons was previously published as articles under Bennett's pseudonym, Jacob Tonson in the magazine The New Age. He wrote these essays in Paris, London, Switzerland and the Forest of Fontainebleau, covering such topics as "Ugliness in Fiction," "The Novel of the Season," "German Expansion," and "Joseph Conrad."

Books and Persons was previously published as articles under Bennett’s pseudonym, Jacob Tonson in the magazine The New Age.  He wrote these essays in Paris, London, Switzerland and the Forest of Fontainebleau, covering such topics as “Ugliness in Fiction,” “The Novel of the Season,” “German Expansion,” and “Joseph Conrad.”

Published in 1918, with the subtitle “Essays on Existing,” these six witty pieces admonishes the reader to respect the inner conscience for the sake of personal happiness. Bennett covers such subjects as running away from life, war-work, the diary habit, lecturing a young woman, being fussy, and the meaning of frocks.

Bennett asks us to consider our brains as the most wonderful machine, a machine which is the only thing in this world that we can control. As he writes: "I am simply bent on calling your attention to a fact which has perhaps wholly or partially escaped you -- namely, that you are the most fascinating bit of machinery that ever was."

Books and Persons was previously published as articles under Bennett's pseudonym, Jacob Tonson in the magazine The New Age. He wrote these essays in Paris, London, Switzerland and the Forest of Fontainebleau, covering such topics as "Ugliness in Fiction," "The Novel of the Season," "German Expansion," and "Joseph Conrad."

A sequel of sorts to Bennett's short comic novel The Card, The Old Adam reprises the beloved character Denry the Audacious. In this volume, Denry's audaciousness has been tempered somewhat by middle age. In his current incarnation as "Edward Henry," he's having a hard time reconciling himself...

An ingenious satire, Buried Alive (1908) is Bennett at his most charming and wittiest. It is the story a renowned but exceedingly shy painter, Priam Farll, who assumes the identity of his dead valet, Henry Leek, as a means of avoiding press attention.   The novel was enormously successful as a play, retitled The Great Adventure,  and later as the film Holy Matrimony.

Published in 1905, Tales of the Five Towns collects a dozen stories, divided into two sections: “At Home” and “Abroad.”  The eight “At Home” tales take place in Bennett’s beloved Five Towns, a location based on the Potteries district of Staffordshire, where he spent his early years. ...

One of Bennett's most revealing and underrated novels, The Pretty Lady (1918) is set in London. Contrasting class and character, and rife with deception and misunderstanding, it explores the relationship between Gilbert and a French prostitute, Christine, in a world frenzied with patriotic fervor.

Written in 1911, The Card is Bennett’s brilliantly funny short novel that chronicles the rise of the ever-optimistic Edward Henry ("Denry") Machin from washerwoman's son to Mayor of Bursley through luck, initiative and wit, and his greatest asset—a talent for “cheering up” people.