Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett was an English novelist, playwright, and critic, born on May 27, 1867, in Hanley, Staffordshire. He is best known for his keen observations of life in the potteries of Northern England, particularly through his celebrated works such as "The Clayhanger Family" and "Anna of the Five Towns." Bennett's writing is characterized by its rich detail and a deep understanding of human nature, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people in a rapidly changing world. His experiences in the industrial landscape of the Midlands greatly influenced his literary voice, making his stories resonate with audiences seeking authenticity and insight into everyday life.
Throughout his career, Bennett explored various genres, including novels, short stories, and even plays, showcasing his versatility as a writer. He was not only a keen observer but also an advocate for the importance of literature in society, believing that it should reflect the realities of contemporary life. If you're curious about Bennett's unique perspective and storytelling prowess, take a moment to delve into his works available in the app. You might just find a new favorite that offers a window into the rich tapestry of early 20th-century English life.
Mental Efficiency
Read by Ruth Golding
Arnold Bennett
In this light-hearted yet thought-provoking collection of articles, Bennett offers his thoughts on exercising the mind, organising your life…
How to Live on Twenty-Four Hours a Day
Read by Mark F. Smith
Arnold Bennett
"Which of us lives on twenty-four hours a day? And when I say 'lives,' I do not mean exists, nor 'muddles through.'" -- Arnold Ben…
How to Live on 24 Hours a Day (version 2)
Read by Phil Chenevert
Arnold Bennett
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 y…
The Human Machine
Read by Ruth Golding
Arnold Bennett
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. A…
Self and Self-management: Essays about Existing
Read by Ruth Golding
Arnold Bennett
Bennett's essays always provide food for thought and bring a wry smile to the lips. Human nature, it appears, changes little over the ages, …
The Grand Babylon Hotel
Read by Anna Simon
Arnold Bennett
Theodore Racksole, a rich American multi-millionaire, buys the Grand Babylon Hotel, a luxurious hotel in London, as a whim - and then finds …
The Old Wives' Tale
Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Arnold Bennett
The Old Wives' Tale is a novel by Arnold Bennett, first published in 1908. It deals with the lives of two very different sisters, Constance …
The Card
Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Arnold Bennett
The ‘Card’ in question is Edward Henry Machin - His mother called him ‘Denry’. This light-hearted story is of his rise from humble beginning…
Buried Alive
Read by Simon Evers
Arnold Bennett
The hero is Mr Priam Farll, a painter of considerable ability. He is, however, extremely shy – so shy that when his valet, Henry Leek, dies …
Enterrado en Vida
Read by Victor Villarraza
Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett escribió Enterrado en vida después de su obra más conocida y seria, Cuento de viejas, y siempre la consi…
Tales of the Five Towns
Read by Martin Clifton
Arnold Bennett
This is a selection of short stories recounting, with gentle satire and tolerant good humour, the small town provincial life at the end of t…
The Pretty Lady
Read by Simon Evers
Arnold Bennett
‘The Pretty Lady’ is considered to be one of Bennett's most revealing and under-rated works. It is the story of a French prostitute, Christi…
The Ghost: A Modern Fantasy
Read by Simon Evers
Arnold Bennett
The novel opens with Carl Foster, a recently qualified doctor, coming to London to try and make his fortune. He meets a famous tenor, Signor…
The Regent
Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Arnold Bennett
'The Regent' is, if not a sequel to 'The Card', then a 'Further Adventures of' the eponymous hero of that novel.Denry Machin is now forty-th…
Literary Taste: How to Form It
Read by Timothy Ferguson
Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett describes a method for enjoying literature, and suggests the contents of a comprehensive library. Chapters 1-10 and 14 descri…
The Price of Love
Read by Christine Blachford
Arnold Bennett
Rachel Louise Fleckring works for the elderly Mrs Maldon, and although with the woman for only a short time, she is taken into the heart of …
The Matador of the Five Towns and Other Stories
Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Arnold Bennett
Twenty-two short stories by Arnold Bennett, mainly set in the 'Five Towns', Bennett's name for the pottery manufacturing towns of the Englis…
These Twain
Read by Simon Evers
Arnold Bennett
Hilda is saved from destitution by Edwin Clayhanger who marries her. The two, with Hilda's son by her disastrous 'marriage' to George Cannon…
Hilda Lessways
Read by Simon Evers
Arnold Bennett
This book is the second in Bennett’s four books about life in the Five Towns (the real life Potteries in Staffordshire). It tells the story …
Lilian
Read by Simon Evers
Arnold Bennett
Lilian works in a typewriting office owned by Felix Grig, a middle-aged man of means. The office is run by his spinster sister, Miss Grig, w…