Showing results by author "Arnold Bennett" in All Categories

A BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of Arnold Bennett's tale of love, tyranny and rebellion, 'Anna of the Five Towns'. Brought up in the repressive tradition of Methodism by her miserly father, Anna Tellwright dreams of independence and freedom. On coming of age she learns that she is to inherit a...

You have to live on twenty-four hours of daily time. Out of it you have to spin health, pleasure, money, content, respect, and the evolution of your immortal soul. This timeless classic is one of the first self-help books ever written and was a best-seller in both England and America. It remains as useful today as when it was written, and offers fresh and practical advice on how to make the most of the daily miracle of life.

This collection of short stories contains several gothic tales to bear macabre and chilling witness to writers as diverse as Rudyard Kipling, Guy De Maupassant, Edgar Allan Poe, Arnold Bennett, Daniel Defoe, Edith Nesbit and M.R. James. These tales are designed to unsettle you, just a little, while you sit back, and take in their words as they lead you on a walk to places you’d perhaps rather not visit on your own. Our stories include "My Own True Ghost Story" by Rudyard Kipling, "The Horla" by Guy De Maupassant, and more.

Mental Efficiency & Other Hints to Men & Women is a sharp, practical, and surprisingly modern work by English novelist and social commentator Arnold Bennett, who turns his attention to a question that still resonates today: why people devote such care to their physical bodies while neglecting the disciplined training of their minds.

Which of us truly lives in the span of twenty-four hours? When I say lives, I don’t mean merely existing or muddling through. Arnold Bennett recognized the monotony of the urban grind faced by his fellow Londoners, who often lamented the dullness of their routines. In this insightful work, he reveals how to cultivate a vibrant life by carving out time for personal growth and enjoyment. Bennett reassures us that it is indeed possible to break free from the endless cycle of busyness and to engage meaningfully with the world around us. Time, he joyfully asserts, is the great equalizer; we all ...

"These Twain" (1916) is the third book in the Clayhanger trilogy, and chronicles the married life of Edwin and Hilda. Edwin, now released from the controlling influence of his father, finds himself free to run his business and his life, a freedom that is diminished by his wife's caprices. She does not conform to the period’s stereotype of a submissive wife - which is, of course, partly why Edwin married her.

Step into the luxurious world of The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett and discover why this novel is a classic of English literature! Follow the story of Leonora, a young woman who becomes embroiled in the scandal and intrigue of a prestigious London hotel, as she navigates the complexities of love, society, and class. With its richly drawn characters, captivating plot, and themes of romance and redemption, The Grand Babylon Hotel is a must-listen for anyone who loves a good mystery or romance. So why wait? Start listening to The Grand Babylon Hotel today and be swept away by the glamour ...

Spanning nearly half a century, The Old Wives Tale is epic in scale and scope, tracing as it does the effects of time on two sisters and their surroundings. The novel is a domestic story told with tenderness, and is concerned not with heroic statesmen or soldiers, but with small details of daily life in a way which demonstrates Bennett’s great debt to French realist writers. The action is concentrated mainly within the provincial town of Bursley, a startling contrast to Paris where Sophia and Gerald elope.

Denry Machin is now in his forties and begins to feel that he is getting old, that making money and a happy home life are not enough for him and that he has lost his touch as the entrepreneur and entertainer of the 'Five Towns'.

The book, written by Arnold Bennett in 1910, is part of a larger work entitled "How to Live". In this volume, he offers practical advice on how one might live (as opposed to just existing) within the confines of 24 hours a day. The book includes the following chapters: The Daily Miracle, The Desire to Exceed One's Programme, Precautions before Beginning, The Cause of the Trouble, Tennis and the Immortal Soul, Remember Human Nature, Controlling the Mind, The Reflective Mood, Interest in the Arts, Nothing in Life is Humdrum, Serious Reading, Dangers to Avoid.

"The Card" is a comic novel by Arnold Bennett, published in 1911. Like much of Bennett's best work, it is set in the Potteries District of Staffordshire. It chronicles the rise of Edward Henry ("Denry") Machin from washerwoman's son to Mayor of Bursley (a fictitious town based on Burslem). This is accomplished through luck, initiative and a fair bit of guts!

With the advent of the modern corporate workplace in the twenty-first century, more and more people are toiling away behind desks, wearily clocking the standard forty-hour week. By 1910, writer Arnold Bennett had observed a worrying trend of exhausted wage-earners whose waking hours revolved around their jobs and who had little time to spend on the business of actually living.

"The Card" is a comic novel written by Arnold Bennett. Like many of Bennett's best works, it is set in the Potteries District of Staffordshire. It chronicles the rise of Edward Henry ("Denry") Machin from washerwoman's son to Mayor of Bursley (a fictitious town based on Burslem).

Are you really "living", or just existing? Do you want to improve yourself or just continue to muddle through? Do you use the time given you each day, or just throw most of it away? These questions Bennett asks each of us, and for those who want to really live and learn, offers very valuable advice.

Immerse yourself in The Old Wives Tale, a timeless novel by Arnold Bennett, first published in 1908. This captivating story follows the contrasting lives of two sisters, Constance and Sophia Baines, as they navigate their journey from youth spent in their mother’s drapers shop to the complexities of old age. Spanning approximately 70 years from 1840 to 1905, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Burslem and Paris, showcasing Bennetts masterful storytelling. Regarded as one of his finest works, this tale beautifully explores themes of family, resilience, and the passage of time. (...

‘The Pretty Lady’ stands as one of Bennetts most insightful yet overlooked works. It tells the compelling story of Christine, a French prostitute who has fled the chaos of wartime Ostend to forge a new life in London. Rather than seeking sympathy, Christine embodies self-sufficiency, practicality, and resilience. She is not a predatory figure lurking for vulnerable soldiers but a savvy entrepreneur making the most of her circumstances. Her primary connection is with G.J. Hoape, a wealthy man beyond the militarys reach. Through this narrative, Bennett paints a haunting portrait of a wartime...

In Price of Love, Rachel Louise Fleckring finds herself working for the elderly Mrs. Maldon, quickly becoming a cherished part of the family. As she navigates her growing feelings for one of Mrs. Maldons descendants, Rachel must confront the unsettling truth that her beloved may not be the honorable man she once believed him to be. Will love prevail, or will deception shatter her dreams? (Summary by Christine)

Priam Farll es el más reputado pintor de Inglaterra: célebre por sus cuadros sobre policías y pingüinos, es adorado por el público y la crítica. Tímido como un cervatillo, nadie conoce su aspecto, pues lleva años viviendo en el extranjero junto con su criado Henry Leek, un granuja de...

"The Regent" or "A towns story of adventure in London" is a story about London's upper class society in the Victorian era. The protagonist Edward Henry is a self-made successful entrepreneur, a "nouveau riche". He is a charming and clever man, but unfortunately with no artistic taste. Despite his wealth and accomplished political influence, he becomes bored in the small town so he heads up to London in order to get back into the competitive and exciting "game" of business.

A story of small-town intrigue that begins with a large sum of money being entrusted and then mysteriously disappearing. The novel was extremely popular and one of Bennett's greatest successes.