The Truth About An Author

8/9/2019 The Truth About An Author

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/the-truth-about-an-author 1/306



Th Tuh Abu A Auh

A B



Cpyigh ic:This wk is ics u h Caiv Cmms

Aibui-Ncmmcia-N Divaiv Wks

3.0 Ui Sas Lics.

T viw a cpy his ics, visi

hp://caivcmms.g/icss/by-c-/3.0/us/

s a Caiv Cmms, 171 Sc S,Sui 300,

Sa Facisc, Caiia, 94105, USA.

Truth About An Author

Wi By A Bwih a Imissi by Kis Ma

Ii sig a cmpsii by

Kisph Ma

This ii h x is cpyigh

by Kisph Ma © 2009

www.kisma.cm

ISBN 13: 9781453615317

ISBN 10: 1453615318

F M Imai A B, pasvisi h Arnold Bennett Society’s Ocia Wbsi:

hp://www.absciy.g.uk



T able of ConTenTs

xi

Author’s Preface

1

Chapter 1 “Was I, too, an artist?”

5

Chapter 2 “Mad on water-colors”

15

Chapter 3 “Certainly: I was a journalist”

31

Chapter 4 “Life plagiarized...”

45

Chapter 5 “I will write a novel”

55

Chapter 6 “I had been through the mill”

65

Chapter 7 “My novel ...nothing but a parcel”

77

Chapter 8 “I was an author”



83Chapter 9 “I got a new hat out of mine”

89

Chapter 10 “I taught journalism”

99

Chapter 11 “At the hands of Critics”

109

Chapter 12 “It was, in a word, a boom”

123

Chapter 13 “A commercial play”

139

Chapter 14 “A publisher’s reader” 149

Chapter 15 “Nearly all lived in the country”

161

Chapter 16 “Regrets of the dying couch”

171

Intermission - Kris Madden

175

Arnold Bennett - P.J. Harvey Darton

177

Chapter 1 “The Industrious Apprentice”



187Chapter 2 “Life and Letters”

199

Chapter 3 “The Five Towns”

219

Chapter 4 “Fantasias and Philosophies”

235

Chapter 5 “The Five Towns Novels”

263

Chapter 6 “Stage Plays”

277

Chapter 7 “To-day and To-morrow”



Textual Note

The Truth About An Author s appa siay

i The Academy. I was s pubish i bk

m by Achiba Csab & CO L. i 1903

a civ a sc piig m h Gg H.

Da Cmpay i 1911. Th x us h is a

cmbiai hs w piigs, which icus

bh h “N” (abs m h sc piig)

a h “Auh’s Pac” (abs m h s

piig), i pvi h ms cmp acmphsiv vsi h bk. Sm bvius

s hav b siy cc.



a uThor ’s PrefaCe

A rnold Bennett

SOMETIME i h as cuy I was sva

yas h ms gua cibus Th

Acamy u h iship M. Lwis Hi

a h wship M. Mga Richas. Th

wk was csa; bu h pay was ba, as i

is wh a pap has ias. I w mmbh ay wh, by i amicab macs, I g h

a ais i my av m shiigs a

cum, wih a miimum w guias a aic

xpsig h auiy ppua is. O v-

ig I m M. Lwis Hi a h s pmac

xiii



xiv


sm vy impa pay, whs am I g,i h sas sm ha whs am I g.

(Hwv, h ha has sic b mish) W

bga ak abu The Academy, a as I was a

i mys, I jusi i ig a i avic

a w-cau. “Wha yu wa i The Acad-

emy,” I sai, “is a ssaia sia.” “Ys, I kw,”

h pi, wih ha cau aziss which

us mak his m pu uacs, “a I

shu ik yu wi yu iay aubigaphy

us!” I his sigua ma was h i

h wig bk s ps m. I was i h as my w i.

I bga wi h pig chaps imm-

iay, I was ascia by his ppuiy

h uh abu h iay i, a my impa-

ic wu wai. I ha b aig a ivig bymy p a umb yas, a my xpic

h busiss i a a csp wih ayhig

ha I ha v a i pi abu h iay i,

whh pimisic pssimisic. I k a maicius

a igi pasu, as I aways , i sig w

acs which a pps accp sima a-



xv

Arnold Bennett

siis; a caiy I i spa mys. I i ccu m, v i h mis my imms c-

ci, spa mys. Bu v ha I b mp

spa mys I shu hav s, bcaus

h is su way ampig h a’s i-

s ha spa s i a cia which ccs

s.

Th ssaia sia a i The Academy

abu h mhs, bu I ha wi i a i h

spa hus a vy much sh pi ha ha.

I was issu aymusy, pay m isci,

a pay i h hp ha h L w -

s wu iug i cjcu as is auhship,

which i hy was b kp a ak sc. Th

L w s, hwv, i hig h

ki. Evyby wh ha ay is i such a ma-

sm kw a c h am h auh.M. Aw Cha, whs acquaiac I ma jus

h, assu m ha h was cai h auh-

ship h s aic, syisic vic a I

u him aig u h pags The Academy

a kpig hm. I u as a umb h

pp ig h sam. I ac I xagga



xvi


i sayig ha h succss h sia was ic—amg abu a hu pp. I happ m

s qui sa a sb wiig pss gug

wih jy v h m cci suy scs

i my aubigaphy. Bu M. Aw Cha, a

xp imms xpic, gav m his pii,

wih phaps v m ha his cusmay ba-

ss, ha h pubic wu hav us my au-

bigaphy. I cu scacy ap his viw. I sm

m impssib ha s hs a iscsu, which

ha caus such uhy jy i sm h ms

way has ha L cais, shu pass u-h by a m ga pubic.

M. Aw Cha i pubish his

paicua bk mi. I ca mmb i i

was him. Bu I kw ha i was

suy h pubishs b a as i u asps. Th was wi cmpii i, a

h was xcim i h pss wh i ap-

pa. O h h ha, h was a ga a

xcim amg my is. Th bk ivi

my is i w camps. A w w xai-

aiy husiasic a igh. Bu h majiy



xvii

Arnold Bennett

w shck. Sm—a amg hs h msiima a bv—w s shck ha hy

cu ba spak m abu h bk, a

his ay hav v mi i m. Faky, I

was sa. I supps h bk was u. May

sus ca y ak h uh i vy sma ss,

wh i is h uh abu sm smhig

hy v. O my is—vhss a aisic

vis high ak—ci ci ha I ha

b paiig mys; h isis aig h c-

a chaac as cia, whi amiig h vs

scib w acua.

Th viws vai m h facci ii-

h cius. N h bk mi v

ha such a ba pss, ayhig ik such a ba

pss. Why spcab a igi gas shu

hav b mv uy by h pubicai awk whs vaciy ca b impug, I hav

v b qui ab usa; I aack

acia iss; I i aack ay is; I

my sy a w iusis a mak-bivs.

Y such gas as The Athenaeum a Blackwood’s

agg wa hi havis aiy agais h



xviii


aymus auh. I is ms viu ays Black-wood’s cu scacy hav b m muus.

Is maks up m wi ba cmpais v wih

is ius aack, by h sam w-kw ha,

M. Ba Shaw. I ha, cus, amp p-

puiis ajusig h baac bw mys

a h w-kw ha, which ppuiis I i

iy gc. As I was cvic ha h

im ha aiv avwig h auhship, a I

immiay icu h bk i h cia is

my pubicais. Ti h h ak sc ha y

c b ivug i h pss—by Si W. Rb-s Nic. Bu his juais, whs is i h

iay i is pbaby usupass, ai m

ay ciicism.

I hav pupsy g h umb

cpis s. I was h smas i my xpic iisima umbs. I u sas h pubish-

s— my g, a ccivaby w his—

”mai” h p -a-g vum. A

The Times Book Club, havig appay bcm

pssss a ag sck h wk, i,

wih my am bu wihu my auhiy, a a ay



xix

Arnold Bennett

w pic. I hik h s bagai was v pc,bu a sixpc was ma. As The Times

Book Club saiy ciu avis h bk,

I supps ha a sixpc i mus hav ha qui

a vgu. A ay a i has b qu m wih

m m ha ay h bk mi, a has

i bviusy m h basis zs a-

ics—spciay i h Ui Sas— which h

wis hav mi m ay sha i hi

muai. I hav mys bugh cpis i a as

high as a shiig apic, as a spcuai. A w

h, a abu a z yas, is a w ii, -pucig w w h igia x i a is

iguus s-cmpaccy.



Note

This work is not a novel, but a aithul and candid

record o acts. It owes its existence to the Editor o

Th Acamy , at whose suggestion it was written, in

whose paper it ran as a serial, and by whose courte-

ous permission it is now here reprinted.

- A B



ChaPTer 1

“Was I, too, an artist?”

I, wh w si pmay ha cuius

uh-imsia pa which w ca h iay

w; I, wh w h icib paasiic a

akig abu wha pp hav , wh am a

s pubic wighig-machi up which bk-

ish was mus ha b passig m h acy h csum; I, wh habiuay hik i aics,

wh xis by phass; I, wh siz i a h p’s

pi a causy ws m i h maia which

I u i ccis sy ssays, sh sis,

vs, a pays; wh pciv i passi chify

1



2


a hm, a i agy chify a “siuai”; wham s mbiy avaicius bauy ha I isis

ig i wh v i is ; I, i sh, wh hav

b vicimiz h as g by a iay m-

pam, a gy i my vicimh, am gig

ac as w as I ca h phma h vp-

m ha iisycacy m is icpi such

mauiy as i has aai. T xpai i, xpai

i away, I sha mak amp; I kw ha I ca-

. I iv a qua a cuy wihu guss-

ig ha I cam u h cagy Max Nau’s

pysyabic accusais; h ifig ish maiscipi, which sas my ci was bai i

scic schs, xamiai ms, a aw cs.

I gw i a g ma busiss; a my kw-

g aais, my acuy h ic cuc

giais, my ski i suggsig a scap m

a imma, w mpy sv h may

aiss amg whm, by a sh a highy impba-

b acci, I was hw. Whi sicy amiig

a appciaig hs pp, i ah way I c-

sc hm as bigs apa a pcuia, a

uab ak ca hmsvs h aspha



3

Arnold Bennett

ciis; I was hm as a picma a a css-ig s was psias. Pu my ha,

c ha, I us wi hm up h isavaag-

s pssssig a aisic mpam. Th,

ay, hm : “ Yu’v g i as bay

as ay us, i yu y kw i.” I augh -

ay a h mak, bu i was ik a hucap i

my as, a su a isccig vai.

Was I, , a ais? I ay awak a igh

askig mys his qusi. Smhig hih

ma si mysiusy i m; smhig ap-

pay ig awk i my ha, c ha, a a

uaiy hch xis h. O a cai mm-

ab ay I saw as i h ys a wma as sh

a sm vss which, wih juaisic vsaiiy,

I ha wi h a musica cmps. I

wak saigh u i h s, my ha baigik a hi mm. Am I a ais? I ma-

; a h gis pi: Ca yu ub i?

Fm ha mm I aciy assum a qui

w s pssibiiis, a ibay h

us s xpi h s jus b.



4


A s, by cuagm a sig, byiuii a imiai, a phaps acai, I

gauay bcam h hig I am, h djinn ha p-

ms icks wih sm mis, a p, a pap.

A w, havig shaw h h a, as Bw-

ig i i h pgu The Ring and the Book, I

wi pc ampiy i.

L his w sp h sag agai!Ac is ’ aw m jug.



ChaPTer 2

“Mad on water-colors”

MY aigs wih iau g back, I supps,

sm hiy a h yas. W cam gh hus,

iau a I. I was i a kich a miay, a

I was waiig my i, hugy a ca, i a

aa ck wih a pia v i. I ha wash

my w ac, a i i, a I mmb hamy ys sma wih igig sap, a my ski

was aw by h vapai misu a

c ay. I h i my ha a sig a which ha

scap m a pi bk. Hw i cam i ha

chubby s I ca ca. Th miiscc bgis

5



6


wih i aay h. I gaz ha a h pap, ap wih a my pws b cmpy

absb i is cs; I p ig sm

wh was aig saucpas a h kich ag.

O my a vy g a mysius passag

a pawshp a u back bus. I ha my

bh cyig a h h h passag, a

his isy aughiss m. F mys, I

xcssivy “g” wih my pap; v sic hav I

b s wih h ss pc ighusss.

H was I, ca, qui, sa, suius; a h

was my bh, h iia yug Higa,isubig h sacsac shp, a—wha was

ws—iga his iiiy m. Disgus

wih him, I pass hugh h kich i ah

shp h igh, si cig h pag wih sapy,

smaig ys. A his pi h igh mmy is

swich . Th pi ma, which spag u

higss, vaishs back i h sam.

I cu a, I cu isiguish

m ah. I y kw ha h sigs a

ws csiu pi, a I pay a aig

wih is asss. I acuay a,



7

Arnold Bennett

sius, wis, a cmpy supi, smhigik Gg Mih’s Dr. Middleton. Wu ha I

cu iiy his my vy s iau! I viw

h u hu bks auay w; u

cass, sacchai, simaiy, I wu giv a

ya’s havs h vum m which ha a

was , ay, h a a, as hugh i migh

b a Cax. I mmb ha h pap was aiy

buish i i, vi, a ah bi. Th bk

was pbaby pi i h ighh cuy.

Phaps i was Lava’s Physiognomy Bai’s

Sermons, Bu’s Own Time. O hs h,I acy, i mus suy hav b.

A h miacuus appaac a

isappaac ha a, I mmb ams

hig iau sva yas. I was six s wh The Ugly Duckling aus i m h

machy i, gav m s h p sass

which pvas a mac, bauy, a avu.

I augh haiy a h h-bi’s wis mak

ha h w x pas h x a



8


much ah; I cu pciv h hum ha.Bu wh h ugy uckig a as fw away

his sg piis, a wh h m h swas a

was accp as a qua, h I swu,

agaby swu. I sm m ha hig

cu u, a , h gi a humiiais

h as uckig’s ay yuh. I b v h

ijusic his misus ays, a h swas

wh wcm him suck m as pu, c, a

supciius i hi piss. I hav v a

The Ugly Duckling sic hs ays. I suvivs

i my mmy as a g a cmpx aaiv,cw wih vagu a mysius ausis, a

w wih h as higs. N v—i was a

pigius v m—has m iciusy

isub m, v On the Eve Lost Illusions.

Tw yas a I a Hiawatha. Th picu which

I m Mihaha mais viviy a cuy

wih m; i smbs a simpig wax

aus habi. Nhig s ca I ca Hiawatha,

sav is, a a w ams such as Gich-

Gum. I i much ca h a. S

a I a i, I s a visi a jy-ac hus-



9

Arnold Bennett

pai gaiig a . “Wha yu ca ha?” Iask him, piig sm vy pcuia pic

gaiig, a h pi, gavy: “Tha, yug si,

is a wigwam wi h m up wih.” I pivay

ci ha h mus hav a, “Hiawaha”,

bu smhig simia a sag, smhig v

m wig-wammy. I a qusi him uh,

bcaus h was s wiy.

I mmb h iau yas.

Bu a h ag v I bcam a auh. I was

a sch u a mas wh was iy a h

mcy h w is ha aiy ccu

him. H iuc gams qui sh us, h

augh us c a h ss cic h

hiza ba; h sai m yachs us h

us caa i Eup; h pay us i sch a mach his w cmpsig pm a

hamium by hims; h sa a baig sciy

a a amau amaic cub. H v ak abu

u h, a, havig mi i, auaciusy

may impa higs is ca—wih wha



10


ighu sus I g. Oc h su h sp iau, a us a pm his w, a us

ha ay wh i cu wi py. As i w

pv his sam, h us a wi a

pm h subjc Cuag wihi a wk, a

pmis cw h bs p wih a ich gi.

Havig b cmma puc a pm

h subjc Cuag, I puc a pm h

subjc Cuag i, wha sm m, h ms

aua ma i h w. I hugh ibas

a -gis, a ci ibas h

m as ha “wav” a “sav” wu hymgh. A iba, h, was sav h cw

a wck ship. Nx, wha was py? I si

a m sucu which I migh cpy. Tuig a

sch hym-bk I u—

A i ship was h sa.I was a py sigh;

I sai ag s pasay

A a was cam a bigh.

Tha saza I ap, a savishy imia.

I a bi spac a pm u such sazas was

accmpish. I w i i c b, hamm



11

Arnold Bennett

i u w a w, a was much pas wihh su. O h wig ay I a h pm

au mys, a was hi wih mi.

Th ashig cu “wav” ha hym wih “sav”

appa m isy aisic. I ai

cciv hw ay pm cu b b ha mi.

Th squ is ha y h by bsis mys

ha v amp vs. O a ah, ach

suy sai ha h ha hig shw. (Hw

cv I !) Th I saw my iva’s cmpsii; i

a wih a i Nw Yk a may -gis;

I i ca i; I cu mak ss much i; bu I saw wih paiu cass ha i was as

a abv mi as h hav was abv h ah...

“Di yu wi his yus?” Th mas

was assig h ca Nw Yk -gis.

“Ys, si.”“A i?”

“Ys, si.”

“Yu i, si.”

I was magic m. Th , my

iva, yig y h mas’s igac



12


m iau, ha simpy ascib ih wk sm ga Amica ciai-mg.

I civ h au, which I acy amu a

shiig.

Nhig ash by h asc his py

cmpii; h schmas immiay

isiu a cmpii i ps. H us abu

M. Juai, wh ak ps wihu kwig i,

a qus us ach wi a sh sy up

ay hm w migh chs sc. I puc

h sy wih h sam as a caiy as I

ha puc h vs. I ha icuy i

ig a p which sais m; i was cc

wih a wig acci a h sasi, a i

cumia—wih a msss auaism ha v

hus ay pcaim h civ aiy bw

Faub a mys—i a iqus. I scib hws h p, a I hav as mmb

ha i ik h gap bw h a h si

a sh a pck. I his cmpii I ha

cmpi. I, a, ha achiv ci. I wach

h mas as h a my wk, a I cu s m

his ys a gsus ha h hugh i mavusy



13

Arnold Bennett

g h by. H spk m abu i i a which I ha v ha m him b a v

ha agai, a h, puig h mauscip i a

aw, h us usvs a w mius.

“I’ jus a i yu,” sai h big by

h m, a aig bu vicius asca. H usup h

paggic amchai, u h mauscip, app

h u h sk, a bga a. I ps

i vai. Th wh cass a wih augh, a

I was vcm wih sham. I kw ha I, v,

ci. Psy h a spp a scach his

ha; h m wai.

“Oh!” h xcaim. “Fishs hav pcks!

Fishs hav pcks!”

Th phas was us as a missi agais m

mhs.

Th mas u wih his assisa, a

h a as pus h a.

“Vy makab!” h sagy cmm—

b sag was his ib, “vy makab, i!”

Y I ca mmb uh impus

wi a sy a as yas. Dspi



his asishig succss, maym, a gy,I hwih aba ci a w ma

wa-cs.



ChaPTer 3

“Certainly: I was a journalist”

THE isaiy wa-cs mus hav ciu

may yas. I say isaiy, bcaus I ca paiy

pciv w ha I ha h sighs gui

apiu gaphic a. I h cuicuum Suh

Ksig as augh a a pvicia a sch I

v g by h sag kw chicay as“hi-ga ha”, a v i ha my “iig-

i” was csi b a i ws ha mi-

c. O fa ms, hw abiusy I piv yu

h gac yu Hic cvi! As h

“u” a h “aiqu”, as pigms, hs

15



16


mysis w wihh m m by Suh Ks-ig. I was a hm, aw by a ui bu

impius asciai, ha I pacic hm, a

wa-cs i paicua. I v w au; I

ha h ski, I mmb ha I ay

sympahic appciai au. I was c

cpy. I was h subsac ucs a aus i a

cmpica a impsig appaaus ass, mah-

sicks, bas, Whama, cam-hai, a ab

ubs. I s ay, I cha sch a c, I u-

ag h saciy h Egish Sabbah, my

saisy a a cpyig. I xis h GaCaa i Vic; a T, Numbug, a D;

a sps cmmaig a viw Tu’s u-

i abbys, hs abbys hugh whs maic

wiws sam a yw migh iimiab by

ay cmbiai ch, m, a gambg i

my pai-bx. Evy pica ha I puc was h

hisy a isiusi. Wih wha a sagui swp

I ai h s ba washs—h pu bu

wa, h misy s su-sp paacs, h

asuc sapphi Via a Spaish skis!

A h wha a hib muyig su, wha a



17

Arnold Bennett

aig-away magic a fai hps, as iai a ai h picu gauay s a

caiy! I is my ci ha I was aways isgus

by h auiy hs s. I hav y cas

w wha pcis pa h supm pups

was sv by sv igh yas hm.

Fm I u appi a, iv by

a piica ca The Girl’s Own Paper. F a g

pi his mhy, which I w ga as quai,

bu which I sha v spis, was my picipa

isum cuu. I a bw up h spak

aisic ig a kp i aiv. I iv m i

my s ias ashic a iqu. U is

ifuc my bh a mys sa a v-

uiay campaig agais a h accp cas

hus cai. W iv izs, as,

a pas; w cu scis; a w cai u ubigh sigs hugh ha a hus. I was mag-

ic, gaig, a imms; i shaw h

m music-ha. Visis w shw hugh u

ms by pas wh i i vai hi m us

hi paa cmpaccy. Th pssia hus-

ca was uc spchss amiai



18


u igiaiy a xaiay pis; h -ay was suck—h cu appcia h icuis

w ha cqu.

Duig a his, a wih a succssi x-

amiais ciuay mig aha, iau

v ccu m; i was g. I wk i

a m i wih phaps a cup husa v-

ums, bu I sm p ay hm. Si, I mus

hav a a ga a, mchaicay, a wihu

husiasm: sias, a bys’ bks. A wy-

I kw ha I ha a ams hig Sc, Ja

Aus, Dicks, Thackay, h Bës, a Gg

Ei. A ascc v wa-cs has

h ma i v impssib m mu-

a, i my ucis ciic, h ausiv Lagism

M. Aw Lag; bu h h ha, i has

c m h a avaag big i apsii appach h cassics a h ag

cassics wih a mi iy upjuic by ay

ccis. Thus I a David Coppereld

h s im a hiy, a I ha wi a bk

w a sm hus aics mys. Th

auh whm as a yuh I “vu” was Ouia,



19

Arnold Bennett

ca h icmpaab Sahm, h Sah-m up whs wah h su uuay w

w. I v Ouia much h impassi -

biiy h sy, bu m h scs gi

vic i which sh iuc m. Sh i was wh

ispi m wih ha as liaisons u pik

ampshas which I sha aways hav, bu which,

wig a puiaica acsy a upbigig, I

sha v b ab saisy. N v h ss

Pic ’s maym i Friendship cu cu m

his pici ha I bush . Ys, Ouia was

h uiqu uai mac m. O py,sav Hiawatha a h c a ius Shak-

spa schs, I ha a hig.

Th picipa ca aiy buy ap-

pv sh sis m ca as a a guia

apic. Immiay I w . Wha, by hchac a guia, ma m u s suy

iau I ca guss; i was igh yas sic I

ha sa w as a caiv ais. Bu I may mi

h ha I hav v c puc ay iay

wk wihu a pimiay iciv qui h

ha h iciv bui imagiai. I hav



20


v “wa wi”, ui h xisic ava-ags wiig ha ps hmsvs m. I

ca ca ha I u ay icuy i ccc-

ig h sy. Th hi was am La, a

a havig s sigh h yas, h h is-

cv h agai as a ga acss i a ga pay.

(Miss E Ty i Faust ha pass isubigy

ahwa my xisc). I mmb m. Th

sy was us. Bu I my biv ha a by

i i was smhig a achivm. N

saw i xcp mys a h ca i; i was

a sc, a w i is a s sc. S awasah ca wspap avis a sh s-

ia ca is. Immiay I w h sia,

agai wihu icuy. I was a siis aaiv

iusa h vis mayig a uk wma. (I

hik I ha jus a L’Assommoir i Vizy’s ig-

ia ii Za). Th was a s i u w

am Cmmcia S. I ai h sc h, a

ca i Spcuai S. I kw wha saiic

ciicism m i was ivv i ha chag

am. This sia was us; I suspc ha i

was iy wihu sia is.



21

Arnold Bennett

I ha maicua a L Uivsiyh yas b, a was h wkig, wihu

ha, a aw g (which I v w); isa

Ouia my ighs w giv Ausi’s Jurispru-

dence, h Institutes Jusiia a Gaius, a

Mai’s Ancient Law; h as is a ga a simp

bk, bu i ca b absb a igs whi

h su is pccupi wih h a ci.

Ou a uwiig spc h Uivsiy

L, ha augus gai h vy ia

a Uivsiy, I aba iau. As wa-

cs, my ubs ha i up g sic; a hus-cai was a a sasi.

Th i h sc wspap, a a

csiab iva, w a ask m ca

him, a h w as hugh I w h im-

pssib h a juaisic v. Th iviwbw us was hs pagiaisms ci

which a i is smims guiy . Th i i-

m m ha h ha a my siis sia wih

p is, a cvic, his usa i

wihsaig, ha I was mak u h i-

ay vcai. H m a ps his pwu



22


ga as a gua wky cibu, wihu sa-ay. H sai ha h was su I cu wi h s

su h wa, a I iy ag wih him.

My s cc i my abiiy, p i ha,

ayhig ha I wish , was hus mais

i h bgiig. Gy sh au as I h

iia c. Th maic quaiy his pis

is smwha impai by h ac, which I sha

vhss mi, ha h i was a i

h amiy, a ha my ah was sv-

a pimisic pss wh w ppig my

h pwu ga vy wk. Th iviw,hwv, was i ha pcuia phm (s

w kw a as bigaphy) sy h

“uig-pi i ’s ca.” Bu I ack h wi

pciv his sva yas.

Th sm wspap which I was waach sv sva aiy ag muicipaiis

which ay s cs gh as m i aiy

vy ag w ivi agais is. Each wi-

u c i his gaism was ps by is w

spcia csp h wspap, a I was

b h csp my aiv w. I ha



23

Arnold Bennett

hig wih h ws pam; miaps a ha. My ask was cmm

wky up h w’s aais h x ha

a cum paagaphic s.

“Whav yu , yu mus mak yu pas,

bigh,” sai h i, a h pa h w—

“Bigh!”

Nw I was iy iga my w’s a-

ais. I ha suspici h icssa cmy

muicipa i. F w ays I avs u say

hughas i sach maia, wig

wha, i h ams Hac Gy, Jams G-

B, a M. Da, my s h vi,

is aua hm. Th I happ hik am-

is. Th amis, u h bssig Hav,

w bay ai, a csiu a mac a

wh ac sav ams; as h sam-gis h ams w siv. I w suy paagaphs

ha pic, a havig hus acqui mmum,

I aiv say a h my ha cum by h

ai w mi ifs.

I u cus I ca a h c cc



24


p, a I was pu i h has h subi.I was hs quas--a-hu ha mak

i wh ivig; h sub-i appcia m;

ay, h ga m as smhig a juaisic

pigy, a his ajcivs as h a hugh h

p w xmy agab. Psy h cam

a sc i which I ha sai ha such-a-such

a pcig “smack ap”.

“Smacked o red tape?” H k up a m

ubuy. “Rah a mix maph, is’ i?”

I i’ i h as kw wha h ma, bu

I kw ha ha sc was my paicua p.

“N a a!” I asw wih ig. “Nhig

h s! I does smack ap—yu mus ami

ha.”

A h sc s. I ha aw h sub-

i.

My s jy a sikig succss. Thi

bighss sciia by h bighss h

cmms m ay h w. Pp w

wh his causic, cyica, a wiy aymus

wag was. I mys was vasy w sais; I a



25

Arnold Bennett

h su v a v agai; bu a h sam imI pciv ha I cu mak my x cibui

iiy m biia. A I i. I mi his

ma, ss bcaus i was my s appaac i

pi, ha bcaus i s iscs m h a-

i bw iau a i. I wiig my sis

I ha v hugh a mm i. I ha made

smhig, accig a m, amig ha

ci was supps fc a i. I ha -

ga ci as—ci, a ccci h pa

h Ga Caa, h Zcv a T.

Bu i his h iau I was big bgiwih i is. Th wh a g-ca spiig

as i jamm agais a pjcig bi am-i;

a cycis vs: wha was h i ha? Nhig.

Y I ha ak ha hig a asm i i

smhig—smhig ha sm impa, p-

ma, literary. I i cmph h pcss,

bu I saw is su. I cmph i w.

Th ma wh cu xpai i cu asw h -

pa cy: Wha is A?

S awas I ha a ighu iusa-

i h pw h pss. Tha was h a



26


c-huss, wh may xc pss wihu much hum i a v h cuy wa

h ppuac m b by h supi aacis

c a cca; pssiby hy ha v as

b. Evy w ha is c-hus cmpay,

imi. Ou c-hus happ b a py

ba , whi h c-hus h x w

was cspicuusy g. I sai s i pi, wih my

usua ispay vba pychy. Th pap ha

b pubish a hu b h aggiv

maag u c-hus ha s his ics

h subjc. H sai I i, ha I was upaiic,a ha h wa my ha a chag; ws

ha c. H ask my ah, wh was a ic-

bh wspap a c-hus, whh

h cu hw ay igh h iiy h scu-

ius a cway scib, a my ah, his

a ci, sai ha h cu . Agai I iv

viviy a uy. As u c-hus, i m

is ways.

Th Cuy Cuci Bi ha jus bcm

aw, a u w jy h ivsis cig

is s Cuy Cuci. Th iva caias w



27

Arnold Bennett

a bw a a pmi ay igiis. My pa-p supp h a, a h cfic

bw h cs civiizai a h cs

babaism. I ha a magic haig acss w

cums: “Bais versus B”, a xpss h

ms s cc as h su. O cus,

my wky s uig h campaig w a shi

a a buck h igiis, wh mv iv

x .

Th su h p was b auc

a h igh b h pap w pss. Th

i gav m isucis ha i w s, I was

mak u h bw, a i ay cas iv

my cpy by v ’cck x mig. W s

haviy, isasusy; h cs civiizai w

simpy wh. I a h caai h

p, a as h a bw ma his spch cmy i h w ha, I bsv ha

his ha was sv-i a askw. I as ha

ai, a w b i miai up h ac-

ius s, which I was wi ay h m-

w. I h mi h igh I was wak up.

My vab gaah, wh iv a h h



28


h w, ha b ak suy i awas yig. As his s gas, my psc a

h a sc was iispsab. I w, a ak

i w s wih my s. Upsais h ma

was ghig vy bah. Th c sc

a ivas a sai ha i was y a qusi

hus. I was absuy bsss by a icius -

ig h yay h pss. Nhig msic

cu b pmi i wih my uy as a

juais.

“I mus wi hs acius cmms whi

my gaah is yig upsais!” This hugh

my bai. I sm m b , spi.

I was isy pu big ai u a cmpu-

si s saigy amaic. Cu I mauacu

jks whi my gaah xpi? Caiy: I

was a juais. A v sic hav I b may a juais ha I was ha igh a

mig. Wih a sg ss h haica, I

w my s a aw. Thy icay xcia

h bw.



29

Arnold Bennett

Th cuius hig is ha my gaahsuviv y ha, bu sva h aa

aacks.

A w wks a, my wspap was

saggig u h bw my migai

L.



ChaPTer 4

“Life plagiarized art”

I cam L a h ag wy-, wih

i ambii, a immia bjc sav

scap m a icua a aisic vim

which ha g b xcssivy iksm m.

Sm achivm iau caiy ay i h

abyss my sis, bu I aw i mai h,vagu a ams uic. As pvicia ju-

aism, wihu m i ci, i ha aay s h

cham vy, a I ha b ig i i a p-

ucy ma. I ma amp sm F

S. Th ac is ha I was much gag i

31



32


makig a ma L, swawig i, a ayhig s; his pas ciu v w

yas. I a a scay ivig as shha ck, a

s, i a sici’s c; bu a aua gi h

ppaai bis css axai, ha highy

ica a cmpica ca, a a quay au-

a gi avacig my w iss, s pu m

i cip a icm ha may “ami” cks

wu hav vi: b xac a psaic, w

hu a ya. Ah ck i h c happ

b a a bibiphi. W bcam is,

a I w him much. H cu cha i iimaicFch ik a hus , a h kw h Bi-

ish Musum Raig Rm m is c is

piphy. H s augh m ga a bk,

as a isum baiig imai m-

i, bu as a book, pi a such a pac i such

a ya by s-a-s, bu by s-a-s, a ca-

yig cphs, giss, wa-maks, a autes

d’impression. H was acquai, I hik, wih vy

sc-ha bksa i h mpis; a

Sauay as w visi ms hm. W

iv bagais a aiis. W ma i a pi



33

Arnold Bennett

h buy bk vy ay, a wh ba-gais ai w us s u h mssgs

a Cam Cassic s—ipc ; his sis

was jus h a h high is vgu. W w

v bigig i h c miab ms—

h chic pucis h psss Rb

a Hy Sph, Ezvi, Baskvi, Giua,

Fuis, a hav kws whm. My iscvy

h Gk editio princeps Puach, pi by

Phiip Giua a Fc i 1517, which I bugh

i Whi-chap w shiigs, ay pac m

a v wih my pcp. W ciy caa ssai i h c. Th “ami” cks a

h aic cks, whm ga iqu bis as a

u aiz wih h “uami”, k a a-

iv a uac pasu i u sciy. O ay

I was xamiig v mus is u-bu i

yw ca, i h cis’ waiig-m, wh h

si pa supis m hus wasig h m’s

im.

“Wha’s a his?” h iqui piy. H

was a pi msa.



34


“This, si? Bay’s Dictionaire Historique et Critique,” I pi.

“Is i yus?”

“Ys, si. I bugh i i h uch-hu a

Hgs’s.”

“Ah!”H i abash. H was a g w,

a pss a amiai Bwig; bu h

chi hig which h ha h igh b pu

was his absuy bauiu Fch acc.

I ha scacy b i L a ya whmy i a I ci caba i a bibi-

gaphica iciay a a xpsiv bks

i a Eupa aguags. Such a schm sus

acica, bu w w pcy sius v i; a

h p u siusss is ha w wk a i

vy mig b bakas. I may mi as

ha w uch aiy a h Biish Musum, much

h im u cia uis. F mhs

w mus hav b qui ma—bsss. W g

abu as a as h Nw Egish Diciay av

i h s wy yas is i, ha is say, w-



35

Arnold Bennett

his hugh “A”; a h suy, iaiay,wihu waig, w pp i. Th m ccp-

i his iciay was s spi ha h

was a gau v i ppig i.

S a his, h maagig ck h

c, a uivsiy ma, aucaic, bu kiy a

sagacius, bugh a cuy pacic a us. H

ca m i his m say g-by.

“Yu’ busiss b h,” h sai,

shapy. “Yu ugh b ig smhig s. I I

yu h wh I visi w x, I sha k

yu as a vi . D’ g wha I say.”

I i . O h cay, his cu spch

ma a pu impssi m. H was hiy,

a a ma h w; I was scacy wy-h.

My s-sm, aways vigus, was fa i

a ss w vpms. I gauay pcivha, qui wihu iig i, I ha acqui a p-

uai. As wha? W, as a a yuh ack-

ig i biiac. A his puai ha, I am c-

vic, spug sy m h habi buyig bks

pi maiy i aguags which ih mys



36


my acquaiacs cu a. I w hus bks, bu I sm a ay hm, xcp h

bibigaphica mauas; I ha isu a. I

sca. I ca y mmb, i his pi, ha I

ay sui bk—Pa’s Republic, which I

a bcaus I hugh I was ig h cc hig.

By his, a a wkig kwg Fch,

a a iy si appaaus bibigaphica

chiqu, I ha mas hig. Th quaiis I

i pssss, a hs h quaiis I hav a-

v sic. Fis, a mivus a acius

mmy (w, aas, !)—h ki mmyha mmbs hw much L sps p ay

i cab as jus as asiy as h Shak-

spa’s pays h sck acs Shy a

By. Sc, a auay su as i iau.

A hi, h ivauab, spicab, isiguus

juaisic acuy smig kw much m

ha s kw. N kw b ha I ha,

i ay xac, schay ss, I kw hig i-

au. Nvhss, I shu hav b siguay

bi s ha I kw a m abu ia-

u ha i-hs h pp au m. Ths



37

Arnold Bennett

pp puc m a auhiy, a I spiyaccp mys as a auhiy: w my shvs

a si msai? By issib gs I bga

assum h ps a auhiy. I hav cai

ha ps i wspap cs a h vy acaa

iay cuu, a v y m wih a isas.

Y i h wh my i I hav v

ay h sysmaic suy iau. I uh,

i is absuy asy impss v pss wh i

h cusmay maig h m hav h igh

ca hmsvs w-uca. I mmb ig

vy shy igh i a awig-m ah w m. My hs ha jus u m Vic, a was

scibig h paac wh Bwig iv; bu h

cu mmb h am i.

“Rzzic,” I sai a c, a I chac

icp h k asishm ha pass b-w hs a hsss.

I qu ha awig-m a ga a

awas, a was aways xpc spak ex

cathedra Egish iau.

L h iy was a as as g as my



38


ams i, bu h ga mass h psscmpsig i, csi iiviuay, w a sa

isappim. “Wha us!” I sai mys

agai a agai. “Wha us!” I ha cm p-

pa si pviciay a h hs L-

s! I was humb ugh wh I aiv, bu hy

s cu m ha—hy w s ay b

impss! Wha suck m was h xaiay

aiy h m wh ay cu “ hi jb”.

A wh I u hm, hy w ivaiaby p-

vicias ik m wh ha cm up wih h sam

iusis a su h sam ighm. Awh w succssuy pmig ha a kw

as “gig ” w pvicias. I mys i

hi aks. I sai ha I wu g . Th “vi

” phas h Chacy ck ag i my as

ik a bug mach.

A abu a ya I i’ mv a sp.

I a m ha I hav v a b sic.

Bu I i hig. I ma , i I subjc

mys ay ma iscipi. I simpy gg

Egish a Fch iau h amusm I

cu xac m such guy, a u physi-



39

Arnold Bennett

ca xcis i bcmig h champi a xcs-sivy sububa aw-is cub. I was a ya i

cmpaig h magicc my uu igs.

Happiy I v spk hs ams au! Thy

w y h piva sac my iss. Nw i

was ha I a as ci up h vcai -

s; schaship, h iaism bs-

s, bu sh csuciv juaism a ps-

siby ci. L, hwv, is chify ppua

by gy-hai m wh wy yas hav b

abu bcm juaiss a auhs. A bu

a ua ici—h humb my Fa hasaways b u up—I migh his hav a

back i ha agic a-gua Isus.

Thugh h g cs my appciaiv

is wh ha g h am h Paazz

Rzzic, I was ab ak up my quas ih ab sm aiss a Chsa. I bga -

vv, azz, i a cic pais a musicias

wh, wihu h as acai, sp A wih

h majuscu; i, i v ccu hm

ha pp xis wh wu sp i hwis. I

was cmp s wk h csuci



40


ay a my ias. I ha iv i a w whbauy was mi, sm hugh . I

biv I ha scacy ha h ajciv “baui-

u” appi ayhig whav, sav ccis

ik Gu’s “Th is a G Hi Fa Away”.

M ak sibas w ca hasm, a

Chismas cas w ca py; a ha was

abu a. Bu w I u mys amg sus ha

ak bauy py a uasham. O h ay

ha I aiv a h hus i Chsa, h awig-

m ha jus b pap, a h pa h

iz smb hig i my xpic. I ka i.

“D’ yu hik u iz is chamig?” h

ais sai, his ys gisig.

I was h ma’s bvius siciy ha as-

u m. O mus mahgay a g p!H was a cau wh k a sius is i

h pa his wa-paps! I xpss my hu-

siasm h iz.

“Ys,” h pi, wih simp smiy, “it is

very beautiul .”



41

Arnold Bennett

This wship bauy was ciuus. Thvy asps w ba bss hi

cuvs, a as my a iis, hy wi u-

ss which hy w why uaccusm.

I pssss a rarissime iusa cpy Manon

Lescaut , which I was vy pu, a I shw i

wih pi h ais. H mak ha i was

h ugis bks h ha v s.

“Bu,” I ci, “yu’v ia hw scac i

is! I’s wh—”

H augh.

I pciv ha I mus bgi i agai, a

I bga i agai, susai i my s s by h

a-pvaig amsph a. My w ii-

mas w y ky appciaiv bauy,

hy w b caig i. Thy am ga

a-wks, vy cmpsiis, impassi sg.Music a paiig hy w amiia wih, a

m m hy w sy su iau. Th

gius acc wih which hy ch ha w—

iau! Awa bha my auhiy, my

husiasm, hy accp m wih quick, wam



42


sympahy as a w-iais. Th hy si kw wha I was gag up, wha my aims

w, a h acs xcigy icu uish.

I happ ha h ms ppua a pp-

ua wkis ha cy giv a piz a hu-

sa pus a ssaia sia. Wh h sia

ha u is cus, h i ah piz

wy guias h bs humus csa-

i i i w husa ws. I hugh I migh

y ha, bu I a ha my is wu

csi i “a”. I was misak. Thy pi u

ha caicau was a pcy giima m

a, aig much igia bauy, a hy

ug m h iss. Thy a h v i

h b jy h caicau i, a

wh, a six vigs’ ab, my wk was ,

hy cy xu i i. Ou h uss ch-ica igac hy pic wih caiy ha I

shu wi h piz.

H agai i pagiaiz h sima

v, I i wi h guias. My is w

igh, bu hy ci ami a paic



43

Arnold Bennett

supis. Thi bi i wha I cu kp mawak a ighs.

This was my s p-my, a wihi

w mhs my chag ai. I ha h m

was avab.



ChaPTer 5

“I will write a novel”

NOW I cm h humiiaig pa my iay

ca, h pi wha i F S is ca

“-acig”. I us h m “humiiaig” ib-

ay. A as au mac cics h ha

ha misab ppuis, h -ac. I -

mmb I i wha a gius hig i was b a -ac, p (bu p-

a), yig aways ’s w ivi

a iguiy, pis aways siz h psychgi-

ca mm, a gambig succss wih h cam

(s spuius) a ic i h ighh cuy.

45



46


Smims I civ mys i cmpaccy, bua m I aiz h u au h -

pis a s my h u h spiiua sham

i. Th -ac is a amp uig jbs;

a p cyig su which is bugh usuay i

au b; a puc avig sup-

py a mak whs ciis h is i igac

m ss cmp; a cmmcia av iab

csay h isc a ga Ws E

ap’s “buy”. His aiu is i ssc a aw-

ig aiu; i mus b s; h is h p ai,

h -ha, h ay--ayhig. H picks up hcumbs ha a m h ab h “sa”—h

saai, jaus, iiguig sa— h sis w,

h, wh h sa has ish. H v gs

b; h as h; i h i, a cumb wu a.

His xpic is as gaig as a cmpiiv x-

amiai, a y ss gaig ha ha h

back-a-whi ais wh ugs F S wih

a pi u his am. A h sham h -

ac is h ss a bcaus h a wisss

i—h a h psma, ha psma wih -

ga missiv, ha ha igmiy, ha ismay-



47

Arnold Bennett

ig pcss-sv, wh aps h ap apphsia pbab m six, igh, a v wv ims

p im!

Th ppua pap ha ha pai m wy

guias big acius xpss a pi wi-

igss csi my aics, a I bga u

h i a aw-c i iau; my pvicia

xpic ha augh m h ick. H was I -

gag a ay i awig up bis css ha wu

imps a axig-mas h vy as h-

a-upc; a h was h pubic i whs

chaic mi a awy’s bi xis as a s g-

, higyphic a uciphab. Wha m

aua ha a bi aic—“Hw a bi css is

aw up,” a ifig ssay h hu ws

v which I ab a cup vigs? I

was accp, pi, a wih a psa shiigs h suig Thusay I saw h

w pig b m ik a fw. Th pahs

my sagui igac! I w up his sa-

ig succss wih a cau imiai i—“Hw

a cas is ppa ia,” a ha bugh

is shiigs. Bu h vi suy cas. My



48


fgig acy cu m wih aw, a Icas abu i ui biss h subjcs. I

gw cscius h s im my ack ch-

ica ski. My aciiy sm av m, a my

s-cc. Evy igh I ab uy a b-

siay, xcgiaig, ivig, giig u, b

aways h squai a biza ass h mi-

i, a v sivig a “cachiss” a “acua-

iy”. My su, i h agac a cai achiv-

m, gacs back uivy, wih ahig, a ha

pi mia a icua ish. Th

bigh aspc i is ha I w vyhig wiha ic ga Egish; I wu avish a igh

a w paagaphs; a yas his pa sviu

m wih a xiy i h haig scs

ha si supiss h pssss i. I hav ha

F S hacks wh guay puc sixy

husa ws a wk; bu I w kw ha h

a may m wh ca cm sh a pi

w bks, a h ais u hm, a wi a

-hu-w causerie hm, passaby sy-

isic, a isi sixy mius. This mas ski, a

I am pu i. Bu my cssis as a viw



49

Arnold Bennett

wi cm a.N! F-acig was pcisy a iumph

m. Ca i my Purgatorio. I sh smims

wih a b fick, i ha-cw paagaphs, a

i jumpy aics u aiaiv is ha w

a h fa a pik yw cs-bi.

Bu I ca sa wih sm caiy ha my a-

igs i h mass i xc h pc a hu.

Duig a his im I was ciuay spu by h

aiss au m, wh aivy biv i m, a

wh w cgiza y my succsss. I v

spk a; I us i my m wih -

jc su as impassiv as a wu Iia; whi

pig vps a bakas I ha h ms p-

c cmma my aus. M vaiy aways

i a aways wi pv m m ackwgig

a vs a h mm; i I hav iv mypsii ca I a iscmu. Csquy,

my sma w ga m as much m suc-

cssu ha I ay was. Ha I iv agai, which

Ap bi, I wu pusu h sam picy.

Duig a his im, , I was absbig



50


Fch ci icssay; i Fch ci I icuh wk Tugv, bcaus I a him aways

i Fch asais. Tugv, h bhs

Gcu, a Maupassa w my gs. I ac-

cp hi cas, a hy m wih a g-

a sc Egish ci which I hav v qui

s. Fm h cmpsii Bits aics I u

ami Fathers and Children Une Vie, a h

vic h cas v suck m a h im.

I i ga mys as a ais, as mia

by mpam. My ambii was b a jua-

is my—c, sma, igius, qua vymgcy. I pi mys my impassiviy. I was

acquai wih m wh wp a music—I

su ha Sai Cciia a h havy chi cu

aw a sig a m my juaisic y. I

ai pciv ha my appciai Fch

ci, a h haagus ci which I iv-

my iimas, w ssiay mia i

chaac, a I g ha h sigh a succssu

amais b h cuai a s-igh aways

caus m shak wih a mysius a pu

agiai. I mi hs acs shw hw I mis-



51

Arnold Bennett

us, ig, h pgss my spiiuavpm. A cisis was a ha. I su m

ismia a h icua cmpais, a

w csu a physicia wh was as a i,

“Yu kw,” h sai, i h cus ak,

“yu a h ms highy-sug m I hav

v m.”

Wh I ha cv m my supaci,

I gw wih pi. Wha a hig b highy-

sug, vusy gaiz! I saw mys i a w

igh; I hugh b mys; I ah k

w c, igius juaiss. Phaps I imy

suspc ha F S was b h

a higs m. I was s awas ha h

aiss whm I ha wi abu hi mpam

accus m shaig i wih hm h u. A-

h supis! I was i a sa m h. BuI ha acqui such a mmum i h cmpsi-

i aics si jci ha I ciu

hughu his cisis puc hm wih a gu-

aiy ams supi. My is bga iqui

i h au my uima pups. Thy spk



52


a ag wk, a I pi ha I ha spaim. N cu qusi my iusy. “Why ’

yu wi a v Suays?” hm sug-

gs.

Th ia was gais. T cciv such

a ia was a p imagiai. A h ai

wih which hs husiass sai hs higs was

iy spi a magic. Bu I was jus

h my cvic ha I ha vcai h

v; I ha ac a si mua Tugv.

Agai a agai my husiass u h

chag, ug by I kw wha isic. A

as, pas hm, qui hm, I pmis y

wi a sh sy. Wihu much icuy I

ccc ccig a ais’s m, a s

i a wky which givs a guia ach wk a

piz sy. My a w h guia.“Th! W yu s!” was h chus.

A I s cvic usimaig my w

pws; au a ugh i my ca!

Hwv, I isis ha h sy was spi-

caby ba, a cmmcia puc, a h py was



53

Arnold Bennett

ha I ugh x wi a’s sak. Isa,I w maiy’s sak. I was a sy wih

a y pups, aig wih h agy a cu-

sa’s i. (N, I ha h a “Spus

Misès s Cuisas”). A pmi phia-

hpis wih a cy aism, wh m-

aiy’s sak was uig a mhy magazi, was

much impss by my a, a a sm u-

b—h cibus w supps cibu

con amore—I g ah guia. This sy y

pas m a w wks; is cuiy was ga-

ig. Bu I ciu wi sh sis, a sv-a hm appa i hapy vig paps.

Gaiig i ski, I aim piica skis i aaiv

m a h m xcusiv, h csciusy supi,

py vig paps, a w hs hi

h mak. I ami h su gay. L, I ha is

m a ccc Bits aics b h scpi-

sig cabi miiss! My s-cc bga

u.

Th, ay, bc a aab

ay, my bai was visi by a P. I ha a pvi-

si ha I was abu wi a uy xc sh



54


sy. I k icib pais b aisic, syisic,a a h h istics, a h su amaz m. I

kw ha a as I ha accmpish a g hig—

I kw by h gw wihi m, h mia aigu,

h visa sw ab bhi m. Wha mv m

ispach his jw, his bi cavia--h-g-

a, h i a ppua wky wih a cicua-

i a qua a mii, I ca xpai. Bu

s I i. Th i u i wih a say

ha h ik h p, bu h sy was bw his

saa. I augh, a, m happiy ispi, s

i The Yellow Book, wh i uy appa. TheYellow Book was h i apg. Sva cy

iay paps sig u my bauiu sy

spcia pais.

“By hav!” I sai, “I wi wi a v.” I

was a mus sui.I saw ha I cu write.



ChaPTer 6

“I had been through the mill”

BUT b ciuig h aai my av-

us i ci, I mus pc a i uh i

h usy acks juaism. Wh I ha ab

siy a h ms pa icivy as a

-ac w h yas, I bcam, wih su-

pisig suss, h assisa-i a ais’pap. Th caus his spi mamphsis

was say umaic. I ha bmba h pa-

p, m h sh a psuym, wih aics

uxamp biiac. Th i ha ivi

his mysius a a cibu i h

55



56


iia sacum, a h im him ha hisxcusiv svics, a a gus saay, w m

absuy ssia h uu wa h -

ga which h ha hih assis y ccasi.

I ha v wi a i h pap, ay

ais’ pap. I bai h siuai by “ifuc”,

a ha h gsss ki. A ha I psay

i was uish a is h wspaps a pi-

icas which I ha cibu, a sm spci-

ms my pi wk. Ths spcims pv

ah m ha saisacy. Th i a

smass; smass was h “” his pap;a h iscv sva vaiis smass i

my pucis. A u s iviw, a aways

awas, his aiu was m was u ap-

pciai a kiss. Th ps was a g ,

a hu a y a ya wh ay a

u ha-ays a wk. Y I was aai ak i.

I was aai xchag w hu a ya a

hu a y a ha my im, I wh ay

wish b a juais a hav isu h

imiai u ay Gg Sa! I h I was

hus i h siuai. My cwaic was sham-



57

Arnold Bennett

u; bu i cig i I am ucscius hac ha uh maks piquacy.

“I am sy say ha I sha hav av

yu a Chismas, si.”

“I!” xcaim h awy wh ami

Bwig. “Hw is ha?”

“I am gig h sa a pap.”

Phaps I hav v pu ha wh

I u hs ws. My pi mus hav b

isgusig. This was h as im I v sai “si”

ay ma u h ak a kigh. Th c-

i a iab ck wh cmbi cuig i

h ppaai css wih a hu a hiy

ws a miu a shha was ciy a bw

my xc mpy; g css cks a a

ha u ps; bu h su i wih impassiv

sicism; I ik him ha.

O a Nw Ya’s Day I s ag Pic-

caiy h s ay’s wk my pap. “My

pap”—O h jyu su! Bu h bas w

bu up; hi ashs w v c; a my mi,

i h mis a his biss, was vx by gav ap-



58


phsis. Supps h pap xpi, as paps i! I kw ha h xisc his paicu-

a pap was pcaius; is uais w

x i h ak backwa a abysm im—i

was w yas . Nvhss, a iispuaby

a sy, I was a as a juais, a i s

scib mys i paish giss, cuy cu

summss, juy paps, a icm-ax us. I

six mhs I migh b a amp spig i Taaga

Squa, bu ha ggus ay I was a jua-

is; ay, I was sc i cmma v a ch

wm whs cvss, I us, wu b su-pass y by hi cham.

Th c was i h Ws E—ix

smass; aiv a hiy s, a as-

c h sui i a i. O smk cigas a

cigas icssay. Th was iscipi, a iscipi, sic h i sa csis

y h i, mys, a h i’s ay-sc-

ay. Th cas bw his a h xac iua

a sici’s c was mak a ighu. I

a ajiig sui h sam f a mi ac-

ss si, a a mi ac s i us,



59

Arnold Bennett

gaisy, uig h mig, accp a cigaa a ciga (accig his uga cus-

m), cha gaisy, a gaisy pa.

Pacs w csay aivig—bks, ps,

pcss-bcks, samps sap a css: his

ciuus pcssi pacs impss m as

much as ayhig. Fm im im w-ss

a a wm ca, cc ps, submi

awigs, sca xcuss. This was “Eva”,

wh w abu h i; ha was “Agiqu”,

wh i h cky; h h was “Ei”, h

w-kw ashi ais. I ach cas I was cus iuc as h w assisa-i; hy

w aab, wihu xcpi. A ’cck,

havig appay i bu ak a smk, w

w u, h Ei a I, uch a h Ci.

“This,” I sai mys qui pivay, “hismay b a v by Bazac, bu i is my i

juaism.”

Th igs h a, hwv, b

a cs smbac my i juaism.

Tha ay happ b pss-ay, a I pciv



60


ha w gauay bcam vy busy. Mssg-byswai whi I w paagaphs accmpay p-

ais, whi I guaiz h syax a cip

s à la Normande, whi I am w

ak is m The Morning Post wih u is

mbiy. Th i was cha wih my

scia paagaphs; h sai I was b i, a p-

haps I was. I icy ask i wha pa h

pap hy w shi.

“Gw’s cum,” h pi.

“Wh is Gw?” I ma. Wks

b, I ha ami Gw’s bah viw

a wy gasp higs, quaiis a i a wm-

a.

“Yu a,” h sai, “a I am. I’s y a -

c sigau.”

Nw, ha was wha I ca juaism. I ha

b ak i, bu I was ga hav b ak i.

A u ’cck h bga aicay ica

h wky L L which h cibu

a Iia wspap; h cpy caugh h Iia

mai a six. A his was wha I ca jua-



61

Arnold Bennett

ism. I mys b i my m; I iv. Aa hu which I g w pa gh h

pis, a ish . I was a wh h pap

“w w”. Th x mig h ay-scay

ha m h s ugh “pu” h

issu, a I gaz a i as a mh migh gaz a h

sb.

“Bu is his a?” a my hughs. Th ac

was, I ha xpc sm pcss iiiai. I

ha k “juaism” as a s mp

mysis i which, uy impss, I shu b

cmiusy gui. I was ca assisa-i

h sak gaiquc, bu cus I kw

I was chify a m subi, a I ha aicipa

ha h sub-iia ca wu b a cmpx ch-

ica busiss quiig g suy a pacic. O

h cay, h sm m b ams h-ig i is chiqu. Th icks makig-up, mak-

ig-ay, masuig bcks, uig-u, cuig,

savig a i, a s : my chi assum i h

mai ha I us a hs, a I caiy i

gasp hm isicivy; hy appa chiishy

simp. Yas awas, a cibu c



62


m ha h i ha h ha h augh mhig a h s ay, a ha I was a b

juais, I siusy hik ha I was a b

juais, a I mi his ai, m ay

vai-gy v a if, bu shw ha h arcana,

juaism paak h au a impsu.

Th sam may b sai a pssia arcana,

v hs piics h sw-mb.

I a w, I was a juais—bu I jus

h sam as b.

I vaguy iica my igs his pi

h chi.

“Ah!” h sai. “Bu yu kw yu’ b

hugh h mi b yu cam h.”

S I ha b hugh h mi! Wiig ai-

cs a igh a gig hm back h x mig

bu , a ya w—ha was gig hugh

h mi! L i b s, h. Wh h m vi

my psii, a xpss hi pii ha I ha

“g a s hig”, I iica ha h ps-

was h ui h pas, a ha I ha b

hugh h mi.



63

Arnold Bennett

Juaism wm, by wm uh ici m, is a aai a c axius,

agab a ica h m wh ic. I is

a juaism by is, apa m h juaisms.

A i is h y juaism ha I iimay kw.

Th cmmcia si i, h qu acia basis

i, hav a pcuia is, bu my schm s

by ay mas icu h wihawa hs

cuais. I am cc wih s, a s, I

a, hav i cci wih wm’s juaism.

I a hig s i ha c, sav a w

h m bvius juaisic vics, bu I aa g a abu cks, hush maagm,

a h sc au wm, spciay h s-

c au wm. As cks, I hav sicy

i g ha bach huma kwg;

vhss h habi, acqui h, gacig

s a a wma’s ski a h shs, has v

m. My appicship cks was su wih

mbaassig siuais, which I wi mi

y . I us up sm sigs a ay.

A ay, phaps I ugh xpai, is a u

a w-b bab, a auay i is ppa i



64


avac h sag’s aiva. Uah a pag ay iusais I c pu h g, cc

i i hu a iy-i cass u a hu-

sa—bu his was h husah—Cut-to-measure

patterns supplied . Th scism sas a iy

agais m h h pap; a h cc-

i i, ik h cci a gaucherie, is p-

sisy hauig.

A h I sha qui a im h mii

amsph, a h pah which I bga by caig

usy, bu which is b ca fwy. My aciviy

i ha pah shw uh vpm ui

a I ha wi my s v.



ChaPTer 7

“My novel ...nothing but a parcel”

“BY hav!” I sai, “I wi wi a v!”

A I sa w my ak buau wih h

ai a ma wh has sv cmmi a sup-

us cim. Phaps i i was a cim, his my

s sius chag a gcu a cass

w. A ay a i was ma b h bgiig

h , h big w—am a a hu-

sa a ya. Yu mus ba w i mi ha I was

by mas h iay ps, a my v was

by mas b h iay v. I hs cass

h vy ssc h siuai is aways ha

65



66


is iay. I ha jus iscv ha I cuwi — a wh I us h m “wi” h, I us

i i a spcia ss, b appcia y by hs

c wh ca hmsvs “wi”, a icu

cmphsi by a hs. I ha ha a conté—x-

quisiy Gaic as spii a m—i The Yellow

Book, a ha conté ha b au i The South

Audley Street Gazette sm ga suciv

ciicism. My is biv i A, hmsvs, a

m. I biv i mys, A, a hm. Cu ay

ac b ackig h sc subim a

hisic?

S I sa w wi my s v, u

h sw ifucs h Gcus, Tugv,

Faub, a Maupassa. I was b iy

uik a Egish vs xcp hs auh,

whs am I sha mi w, h a-s ha I hav a-im ma my amiai

ha auh vy pubic. I cay mmb ha h

pups uppms i my mi was imia wha

I may ca h physica chaacisics Fch

vs. Th w b pica quais i

my v, is h chaps; h aaiv



67

Arnold Bennett

was b ivi iguay i scis by R-ma umas y; a i was iispsab ha

a cai ppi hs scis shu bgi

abupy. As hus, a bgiig:—“Ga

suy chag h cvsai, a akig h

a mach m his machbx a as ag igh

a ciga.” A a ig:—“H muus ys

sugh his; bahig a sigh sh mumu...” O

succssi s, chag wih sigicac vagu

bu mus, h w b hus yu

i my v, bcaus yu pay s impa a pa

i h iau h cuy Vic Hug aM. Lub! S much h physica chaacisics.

T cm a h su i, my v was b

a msaic csisig xcusivy Faub’s mots

justes—i was b mots justes cmps i h

amus éciu ais h Gcus. Th

scs w pm h ick “h is a

a”. Th ajcivs w hav c, h vbs

w hav c, a phaps i was a sine qua

non ha v h pus shu b pismaic—

I g. A a hs cs w b bai

wihu h ms ifig sacic uh. Th



68


was b bwig i h hus h Rimm simaiy. Li big gy, siis, a m-

achy, my v mus b gy, siis, a ma-

chy. As a ma sic ac, i sv

hs pihs; I was havig a vy g im; bu

a wy-sv is capius, a iab i

jugm—a iabiiy which uay isappas

a hiy-v s. N saig vs w ccu

i my v, ayhig u h way ha migh

big h bush sham h msy au;

igius cmbiais, amaic supiss,

a abv a cicics. I was b h Usuamiacuusy asm by A i h Subim.

Th s iby ha I migh pmi mys

i haig h Usua was giv i a hyhmic

cu—a pcius isici i hs Ybcky

ays.A hs caia pis big s, I

pass h busiss chsig a subjc. N I

say ha I chs mys? Bu, i bic my phi-

sphy, I ma mys a aiu. I ga my h

wih a ai “Th, bu h gac G, gs



69

Arnold Bennett

m!” I ci ha h shu g hugh ms my w xpics, bu ha isa am a a

husa a ya h shu aiv uimay a isi-

usi a a saig sububa msiciy. I sai

I wu ca my v In the Shadow, a i suggs-

m by h m Bazac’s Country Doctor—

“F a wu ha, shaw a sic.” I was

b a vy us, his Odyssey a L

ck wh—Bu I mus iscs ay ai h

p.

S I sa w, a w a ai qua

sh, In the Shadow, a u ha, “I”. I was a

igius i, a augus a impsig cmia;

a I was h ciaig pis. I h w fig

isas bw h acig h “I” a h

acig h s w h aaiv, I happy

a pu; bu immiay h uama bai-wk bga, I s ay a my cc. Wih

vy sk h iusi gw hi, m m.

I pciv ha I cu bcm Faub by

akig hugh, a his ah bvius uh ush

v m as a supis. I kw wha I wa ,

a I cu i. I , bu I cu xpss.



70


My scs wu psis i big amabyMuisqu. Th mots justes hi hmsvs

xaspaigy bhi a cu. Th succssis

s k my auus. Th cham, h py,

h isici, h iviabss, h igiaiy,

h c, a h ivauab hyhmic cu—

hs w aywh sav my pag. A wis

a amiia wih h au spai ha sus

wh a cmpsii, pusa, bsiay pss

is as a sis i sysms ws ji by

cjucis a s h, smhig ik his—

subjc, pica, bjc, but , subjc, pica,bjc. Pu, however, pica, gaiv,

iiiv vb. Nevertheless paicip, accusaiv,

subjc, pica, c., c., c., vm. I

su ha spai. Th pp my is g

h as ba a hav a ik, a a bi

Comus Urn-Burial , bu a ha im I ha ski

i wahig ai-cycs, a I v wa

ik a sikig sam i a havy sa.

A his was wha i was, i sius as,

b a auh! F I ck ha i wiig h s

chap my auaisic v, I may bcam



71

Arnold Bennett

a auh; I ha ug a cai appicship.I i’ ik a auh, m ha I ha

ik a juais a simia ccasi. I, a

ss: I ik a , a icmp ass. I sm

hav a ia ha h was such hig as

iau, ha iau was a miag, a c

hypism, a cc au. A a, I

hugh, wha i h am cmm ss is h

us ig his siy iay sy vyay

i? Wh is h pi? Wha is a, ayway, a a

his cha abu uh i, a a his igma

cas?

I ish h chap ha igh, huiy,

puciy, a y bcaus I ha sw ish

i. Th, i bic a isic which a Gub

S has , I pick u h cc Yellow Book

m a sh a a my bauiu sy agai. Thaha m a i, s my aih i h

xisc a, a suggs h cmab bi

ha higs w phaps as ba as hy sm.

“W, hw’s h v gig ?” my i

h wa-pap husias iqui jviay a supp.



72


“Oh, !” I sai. “I’s gig b imms.”Why shu u hs ighu a

ssss is, I ca guss. I migh jus as w

hav spk h pcis uh him, his was a

su sig by pvic h cuagm

hs. Si, havig ma ha mak, I a

i my piva a ha ih h v mus b im-

ms I mus pish i h amp mak i s.

I six mhs I ha wi y abu hiy

husa ws, a I h s ai ha

pbaby succs six mhs a ami. Bu

vig, i h mis a chap, a su a

mysius saisaci bga wam my ims

big, I kw ha ha chap was g a gig

b g. I xpic happiss i h vy ac

wk. Emi a chiqu w cci.

I was as i I ha supisigy cm up h chawih h b- css shwig wh h Spa-

ish asu was bui. I pp my p, a w

u a wak, a ci giv h bk a

iy sh sa. I cauy a hugh a ha

I ha wi. I was ba, bu viw i h mass i



73

Arnold Bennett

puc m a s cumiaig c whichI ha aicipa. Cciv h p Usua a

h bm a figh sais, a h gi

h Subim a h p: i sm m ha I ha

agg h hagga hig haway up, a ha i

ay h, i bu sa, awaiig my sc .

Th x igh I bac mys his sc ,

a I hugh ha I succ.

“W’ ig h ick, Chai,” Emu

Ka whisp i h a his s uig a pi-

ga sc “Buus”. A i h vy cisis my

mia chaps, whi my h was ushig a-

ay h h gyss h sububs a a h

w was a is ms siis a ms machy,

I sai mys wih g: “W’ ig h ick”.

My ms hav aways b a sis vi c-

ass, a I was w jus as upi as I ha bb pss. Th w ius ub a

icuy, bu h wh I was cham wih my

v. I wu b a spicab acai is-

guis h ac ha I m i a uy isiguish

pic iau, iisycaic, y imagiaiv,

a hyhmic cu. As I appach h ,



74


my s-sm vp i a crescendo, I ishh a, havig sc my h a maiag

iaiby isasus, a h ’cck mig. I

ha ab wv hus wihu imissi.

I was ga, his sp; i was hisiic. I was Du-

mas v agai, a h aig Fch is.

Nvhss, mys I i y a

ca mys a ais. I ack h cuag biv

ha I ha h sac , h ib a --

b-acqui visi. I sm impssib ha his

shu b s. I hav iicu h wh ais ib,

a, i h pusui my vcai, I sha ubss

iicu hm agai; bu v siusy. Nhig

is m py i m ha my vc

h aisic acuy. A whv I say, “Th ma’s

a ais”, I say i wih a isiciv smiy ha

s a as I am cc s a iscussi. DaI u his ga sayig my shavig-mi? N,

I pa ha I a . M ha a ya aps

b h i ici scib a h cmmc-

m hs mmis pvi m wih h auac-

iy i- m h auh In the Shadow ha h

bg h wi ib Bjami.



75

Arnold Bennett

Wh my v ha b ypwi a Ia i i c b, I was absuy uab -

ci whh i was vy g, g, mium, ba,

vy ba. I cu ciiciz i. A I kw was

ha cai scs, i h vi h écriture ar-

tiste, psis bauiuy i my mi, ik is

m a avi p. I s h bav p hig

i h w v a ps-c cu. “Wha

chac has i, i h ay?” I xcaim. My v

ha bcm hig bu a pac. Thus i w i

sach is a.

I hav scib h cmpsii my s

bk i ai as aisic as I ca mak i, pay

bcaus a w yas ag h aig viss h

ay sm i a cspiacy sim-

aiz h s-bk pis i hi biia cas.



ChaPTer 8

“I was an author”

“WILL yu sp his way?” sai h pubish’s

maag, a a casig by may shvs a

wih scs cpis h sam bk ai fa i

pis— a auh h ms pssig sigh i h

w—I was ush i h sacum, h sa-

chamb, h , h wb h spi.

I bh h pubish, whs am is a

hush w whv h Egish aguag is

wi psiy. Ev a ha im his impi

fam h i-pags w wks

a ahss au. My mauscip ay a c-

77



78


casia ab by his si, a I ha h cuius i-usi ha h was psig his phgaph wih

my mauscip. As I gac a i I cu hp

hikig ha is psc h b h mi-

acuus. I ha pa wih i a a ps-c. I ha

b samp, s, chuck i a va, whi

hugh h pius ac L’s c,

chuck u a va, s agai, a iv

wih may h simia pacs a h pubish’s.

Th pubish ha sai: “S his S-a-s

a”. Th m pis by a a ai, m isks

xici a isiai. Th S-a-s,pbaby a cu ma, wih a paa cy by h

sickiss may mauscips, a a sh way

wih w auhs, ha a i p a

i. Th ay h hi a cmi. A

h i was, I saw i c m, sa!

W iscuss h wah a w pua-

is. I was vus, a I hik h pubish was

vus, . A gh, i a ma mysius a

ixpicab, h ak shi my mauscip. Th

pubish pmi hims a w cmpims

h gua s.



79

Arnold Bennett

“Bu h’s my i i, yu kw,” hsai.

“I supps ,” I ass. (“Yu a a ass

assig ha,” I sai mys.)

“I ivaiaby s my v w auhs,”

h mak, as i I was bam.

“Yu i’ s much v Ms.. —,” I

pi, amig his ius succsss.

“Oh, well!” h sai, “ course —. Bu

I i’ mak s much as yu hik, phaps.

Pubishig is a vy uy busiss.” A h h

a: “D yu hik yu v wi succ ik

Ms.. —’s?”

I sai ha I hp i wu.

“I’ b pcy ak wih yu,” h pubish-

xcaim, smiig bcy. “My a iks

yu bk. I’ yu wha h says.” H k a

sh pap ha ay h p h mauscip

a a.

I was cha, sp-bu. Th amss

iay avis us phass which h w-

ig a spcims (I am cig wih xaciu):



80


“Wi wih ga kwg a a g a isigh”. “Chaac ia by a succssi

a a sub uchs”. “Livig, cvicig”.

“Vigu a accuacy”. “Th sy is g”.

I ha ia ha pubishs’ as w

capab such auai.

Th pubish a : “I hik i ik-

y b a sikig succss!”

“Oh!” I mumu, shck by his bu-

ss.

“Th’s my i i,” h pubish -

pa, my. “Fis bks a isky... I shu

ik pubish i.”

“W?” I sai, a paus, I ha h ha

wihaw wihi hims i p up

h chacs his ib isk. S as icm-

m him wih my gaz, I xami h c,

which smb a sma awig-m ah ha

a c. I saw au m sig pais a h

aig is h suy si Gub S.

“I’ pubish i,” sai h pubish, a I b-

iv h ma a hs amp k ik



81

Arnold Bennett

a phiahpis; hwv, h amp ai. “I’pubish i. Bu cus I ca y giv yu a sma

yay.”

“Wha yay?” I ask.

“Fiv pc. — a h-a-six-py

bk.”

“Vy w. Thak yu!” I sai.

“I’ giv yu pc, a h sa

v husa cpis,” h a kiy.

O iis!

I mg m h wb h spi ium-pha, a accp auh. Exacy ays ha

aps sic I ha s pa wih my mauscip.

Oc agai i was pagiaizig ci. I cu

biv ha his hig was u. I simpy cu

biv i. “Oh!” I fc, icuus, “Sm-

hig’s bu happ. I ca’ ay cm .

Th pubish migh i, a h—”

Pc by hav accu his g

s, h pubish iciusy suviv; a a

a ay wv mhs (wv cuis—uig

which I imagi ha h uivs hug miss



82


a xpca i h vi!) h accmpish his s-iy by ay a uy pubishig my bk.

Th impssib ha ccu. I was g

a m juais; I was a auh.

“A a, i’s hig!” I sai, wih ha i-

s a uigia humaiy which isiguishs

a us. A i a biig fash I saw ha a auh

was i ssc h sam hig as a gc a uk.



ChaPTer 9

“I got a new hat out of mine”

MY v, u a w i, was pubish bh i

Ega a Amica. I acuay cc y-

viws, i, a h mus hav b may ha

scap m. O hs y-, u w uav-

ab, v mig pais a bam i abu qua

ppis, a wy-six w umisakaby a-vab, a w hm big husiasic.

Y I ha pacicay is h pss.

O i I ha, a ma pw, a h viw

my bk wih a appciai a ki; bu his

aic cam as a cmp supis m. Ah

83



84


i I ha, sub-i a sciy wky, a hask m a cpy my bk s ha h migh

“k a i” i h pap. H is pa h -

su:

“H has a h yug vis’s aus...

Ths a gaig aus; , giv ack is,

a upasa scs, hw ca a bk b xpc

b ppua?”

A hi i I ha, wh kw h chi c-

i- viw a ga mig pap. H ask

m a spcia cpy my bk, a qui his

w iiiaiv, uk aag h aai. H

is pa h su:

“Th is much b sai ih

agais—by M. —”

I ha h is h pss, is

wh ha is h pss.I migh asiy buch h viws yu

amusm, bu his pacic is bcmig i. I wi

qu a sig sc which pas m as much as

ay:—“Wha u h’s a was hs wh ca

kw u, bu us assu hm ha i is

iscvy hy wi a L i a ab



85

Arnold Bennett

as i is, as h buk macs pai i.” Ah picipa gas w supisigy appciaiv.

A h majiy h viws ag ha my

kwg huma au was xcpiay g,

ha my sy was xcpiay g, ha I ha i

m h makigs a vis, a ha my ps

subjc was wak. My subjc was wak; bu

ha pass. Wh I fc hw my bk fu h

accp cas Egish ci, a hw may

aspcs i mus hav ay i viws u

, I am cmp h ccusi ha viw-

s ac a vy g-au cass pss. I shau his isig pi a—a I hav

scib hw I bcam a viw mys. Th ac

b ass is ha I, qui bscu a s-

ss, was a vy w. I cu a smi

m a high aiu a h mak The New York

Observer ha “h sy a chaacs a cm-

mpac i h xm”. I ha I ha iv

i vai, a ha ki spiis w aba i h

a.

My ps m his bk wih h xcp-

ia sy a h xcpia kwg hu-



86


ma au, xc h cs havig i ypwi- by h sum svig. N was I, am

I, isps gumb a his. May a s bk has

cs is auh a hu pus. I g a w ha

u mi.

Wha I i gumb a was h ish

h pph i his w cuy. H I mus i-

cay ca ha my v was auaisic, a

ha i scib h ca a yug ma a i

L. I ha “aism” i h vuga ss, as

sva ciics ami, bu si i was spay

xac i pacs, a I v suu h ha

a spa wih h au a sima imp-

m. Th ga a ga sap mak: “W

csi h bk a hahy . W say

m.” Nw yu mus imagi his xcssivy m-

v pu b a s simab pp whsias ci ha b m u h ifuc

Dicks a Ms.. Hy W, a wh ha

v chag hs ias. Sm hm, phaps,

ha a a v yas b hy a

mi. Th su was appaig, ighu, agica.

F mhs I hsia visi h w a which



87

Arnold Bennett

ha h sigh ba m, a which is gig b amus ha sc. I was casiga i h ca

pap. My as a as pay vusy wih

hi ba wh my v was mi a i.

A aiv i a isa ci ub hims

im m ha h bk was agmay a abs-

uy whss. Th ba-mi my wish

ha I ha v wi h bk. Th isc -

civ i i sic. O ic ps, whm

I hav h wams ga, hugh ha my v

migh b a suiab bihay ps his as-

c s. By chac h pus h bk hims h bihay v. I was ha ih ha

igh h x i h g a wik sp. His

asc s caiy v g my bk.

Ms auhs, I hav a quiy, hav

su m his sag ack appciai ih vy cic wh appciai shu b kis;

i au is’ u, ah is; bu hy aw a

vi acss ha ak aspc h bigh aucia

ca. I, hwv, am yig wihu vis, a

hc I h ma.



ChaPTer 10

“I taught journalism”

MY chi sig his psii h pap wih

i iv h sphs aciviy. Th ws

his sigai was a bw m. I hap-

ps ha wh a i waks u a c i

h xcis -wi, h sa ws him u

cmpusi. I F S h is scuiy u uss is igius ugh b h p-

pi ’s pap.

“I sha v g wih ay as I hav

g wih yu,” I sai h chi.

“Yu ’,” h asw. “I’m su hy’

89



90


hav h ss giv yu my pac i yu ask i”. “Thy” w a ba ics.

A hy ha h ss; hy v ha h

ss wai ui I ask. I hav b -

mak ha h humb my Fa has aways b

u up. Si h gius si hiy, si

yug, husiasic, a a py ighu iu-

sis, I suy u mys h i a L-

wky pap. I was a aig ga, bu i

was a L wky pap, a i ha psis;

a as I ha. My am was iscib i vaius

auas c. I i as a i wih h

is. I mmb ay siig w ab

i a ppuus hau juaiss wih ss ha

u is. “Th yas ag”, I sai mys, “I

shu hav m his a impssib aiy a”.

I kw w ha h a hus pss iL a swh wh ga v is wih

g a cscig ai. O as.

I a sub-i, a my s ac was

acqui . I ha h wh w suggig

ay-juaiss sc m: chs was a a-



91

Arnold Bennett

ms subim uci. F sm mhs pviusyw ha b civig paagaphs a aics m

a usi cibu whs fair i h iscvy

subjcs, whs ic simpiciy sy a g-

a iiss “cpy”, ha aways impss m. I

ha v s h, a I kw hig abu h;

bu I ci ha, i sh pas, his ay shu b

my sub-i. I w siig h ca, a sh

ca. Wihu much pac I h h siua-

i; sh accp i.

“Wh cmm m yu?” sh ask.

“N ,” I pi, i h ô Jsph Pu-

iz; “I ik yu su.”

I was a maic sc. I mi i bcaus

I iv a chi-ik jym m ha mig.

Vaiy was mix up i i; bu I agu—I yu a

a i, b a i imagiaivy. I sm smb Luis h Fih bgiig ig a

h ah h Rg, bu wih ubsm

Fuy i h backgu.

“Nw,” I ci, “up gs h cicuai!”

Bu cicuais a b bui i



92


ascsi. Thy wi y is h piis acauy csuc picy. I hugh I kw a

abu juaism wm, a I u ha I

kw scacy h ig i. A ma may b a sub-

i, v a assisa-i, ha a iim,

a y mai iga h u sigicac

juaism. Ths s mhs w mhs x-

pic i a vy piga ss. Th ppiay

si cai micais i h xisig picy.

O ha mysius “picy”, which has b ca

a bui up u aics, paagaphs, a pic-

us! Tha hic-mysius “pubic as” whichhas b aim a i h ak a hi! I s a

h ic bw gisau a xcuiv. I

cu “xcu” ayhig, m a ugy a phi-

ahpic uchss a Pais ashi . I cu

isuc a ashi-ais as hugh I kw wha I was

akig abu. I cu pay Buch a h Wa

h avism-maag, I cu iviw a

bauy a mak h say h higs ha a bauy

mus say i a iviw. Bu vis h cs

a issu, pa hm, baac hm; sai

wih his wi a ack agais ha; kp a s-



93

Arnold Bennett

siiv c g h aiy baig pus hib may-ha pa; wak i a saigh

i hugh a s back as miigh; guss

h i h cicuai-bk wk by wk;

kw by isic why Smihs s i a pa-,

why Simpkis’ was quis ss; kp

y h majsic mach h w, a h h-

h vagais a bazaa-p wh has -

g h aw ib: hs higs, a svy-sv-

hs, a h a juaism. I is hs higs

ha mak is saic, gy, uappachab.

Uiqu amg a suspss is h susps

ha ccupis h iia mi bw h m-

m ay gig pss a h mm

xamiig h issu h mig pubicai.

Es, appaig a isasus s, wi cp i;

a hy a imiab h. Ths mishaps ccu h ms xa paps, a paps, xcp p-

haps h Voce della Verita, which, big h ga

h Pp, is psumaby iaib. Tas cicua i

F S ha mak h hai sa ; a v-

y i says: “This migh hav happ me.”

Sub by a subis is h magic a siis



94


chag ha happs yu issu i h machi-m a h pis. Yu pass h a pag a a

sms ai, aaciv, cv, w-sig... Ah! Bu

wha yu s is wha is h pap; i is h

fci h bigh imag i yu mi wha

yu i! Wh h as husa is pi

a h pacs a i h vas, h yu gaz a h

uaab hig, a yu s i cy as i acu-

ay is. Yu s wha yu i, bu wha yu

hav accmpish. A h ic! I is ik h

chi, sy aw a h vagu py a mi

igh.

Th is pac a i. H may ac

h ac akig a hiay, bu h wm app-

hsi is aways gawig a h pasu.

I c pu my ga b a w by a a

ai i a pc iium jyus aicipai my hiay. I was ca by a gam ha a

wih a sg ss iic hum ha bu h

piig c h gu a sy v-

sixhs my i issu. I such ciss smhig

has b , a quicky. Yu ca say

yu pubic x wk: “Kiy xcus h absc



95

Arnold Bennett

h as umb, as h was a a h pi-s”. Yu pubic cks s, m ha

h Ga Ps Oc, i is aiu was a

cks, cgizs h xisc gs i wi.

A hi is, h u juais, h

picipa chams F S. Hi is h a-

s why a i’s i is a c isuab a

wh ivig. Th a xcuss. Evy kws

ha i h ca Highga Hi w bus a

buy L i ava mw, h wspaps

wu shw ac h isas xcp a ac-

cu i. Tha hugh is , hic, wh ai hiks i.

A i a i kws pac, h kws

pw. I F S, as i h ss, h ppua-

i ivis is i hs wh wa smhig

a hs wh hav smhig bsw; hs wha axius giv a uch, a hs wh ig c-

casiay accp a uch; hs wh hav a ax

gi a hs wh pssss h gis. Th

chag m h psii h h was

m a s ah isccig; I cu u-

sa i; h was a appa uaiy abu i; I



96


hugh I mus b misak; I sai mys: “Suyhis uusua igaiaig aabiiy has hig

wih h acci ha I am a i”. Th, ik

h s h ws giss, I gw accus-

m h wship, a cyica wiha, c,

suspicius, a biig. I bcam b by h

xcssiv cmpaisac ha ha c ick a

fa m. (Nvhss, a I ha cas b

a i I miss i; ivuaiy I ciu

xpc i). Th siuai h i a ais’ pa-

p is piquay cmpica, i his spc, by h

ac ha sm wm, may—bu a w, hava xaiay bi i, a mak uscupuus

us , hi mii asciais. Th a b-

ig “ic is “ is iigy pacic by hs

w; , I kw, wih biia sus. Smims

I hav sa i my c, wih h cham ppsi,

a saicay fc: “Yu hik I am vv-

ig u yu i g, maam, bu yu w

v m misak i yu i”. A y, bahs

h h ma wih su s uimy c ha c

wic i such cicumsacs h wma was

igh a a? I ca . Th wh subjc, h



97

Arnold Bennett

subjc ha sag, isubig, isacig, m-ia amsph miiiy which suus

h ma i cmma a gup m ss

a wm, is a supm icacy. I cu

y b a say i a v— h vs

which i is my x ii v wi. This I

kw a am, ha h avag wma-juais

is h ms ya, as, a achab ps u-

h su. I bgi sima wh I hik

h asuig asss, v i gaspig h

iv ca Egish syax. Syax, ba wiig-

wm, I hav sp scs icua hus iyig icua h ugammaica sx agais

yu s! A hw siusy hy w, a

hw siusy I ak; a a h whi h a

mysy h igi a siy a i ay hick

a uic abu us!

Ths syax-siigs iicy a w

vpm my aciviis. O ay a ma ca

m wih a iuci. H was a c-

ia iay ass. I ask i wha ma I

migh sv him.



98


“I wa kw whh yu wu ca ach m juaism,” h sai.

“Tach yu juaism!” I ch, wig

by wha upciv achmy I mys, bu ysay

a y, ha b mamphs i a pss

h ms cmphsiv a cas.

“I am yu a h bs ps cm

,” h sai.

“Why ?” I hugh. “Why shu’ I?”

I hav v us wk wh h pay has b

g. I am a ha migh hav igh him,

bu i i . A s i u ha I augh ju-

aism him, a hs, a ya w. This

vcai sui m; I ha a apiu i; a my

am spa aba. Sm h gas xps i

L cmpim m my mhs a my

sus. Oh a m ambiius schms, hwv-, iuc m aba his ucaiv , which

was haig gw ism.



ChaPTer 11

“At the hands of Critics”

I cm w a qusi y ss ica ha

ha h cfic sxs i juaism—h qus-

i viwig, which, hwv, I sha a wih

m m. I I hav a apiu ayhig a

a i s, i is ciicism. Whv I a a

wk imagiai, I am isay wih iasccig i; I m i viws abu is mi

mi, a havig m hm, I h hs

viws wih sg cvici. Dia hm uss

m; I mus hump h ab i supp hm; I

mus cmp pp biv ha wha I say is

99



100


u; I ca agu wihu gig sius i spi mys. I iau, bu i hig s, I am a

ppagais; I am c kp my pii

a hs kp his. T hav a whss bk

i my hus (sav i h way busiss), kw

ha ay i mi is jyig i, acuay is-

sss m. Tha bk mus g, h psis

ha bk mus b xps, i I am jy pac

mi. Sm may suspc ha I am guiy h

h acai a ps. Ray i is s. I

say mys, a h ha a agum, a -

uciai, a s: “Wha s i ma, ?Th ga mua mvm wi ciu, h

sia ba wi .” Bu wi i? Smhig

mus ma, a a, h mua mvm

mphaicay wu ciu. A h iumph

a g bk, a h igmiy a ba bk,

ma m.

Th ciicism imagiaiv ps iau,

which is my spciaiy, is a v-cw a

vy muaiv aciviy. Evy iig

miciy i F S hiks h ca appais a

v, a ms hm, jugig m h paps,



101

Arnold Bennett

sm mak h amp. A s qui auayh pay is as a u cmpib. T his ,

h, wih h ii iig i a p-

ab sca havs is a pis i h au a

hp. I uk i i icc a high

spiis, m a pu isic. I ha smhig

say. O a yas I hav cm h ccusi ha

h chi chaacisic a ba viwig is h ab-

sc gui cvici, a mssag, a ca

ci; h icmp viw has iv his

piis.

I succ a s by i igig

h may aws juaism, -wi, ha i-

s accp viws m casua usis. I

w a sh viw a Fch wk a s i

The Illustrated London News, aways isiguish

is su iay ciicism. Ay xp wuhav m ha I was wasig ab a psag.

Nvhss h viw was accp, pi, a

hasmy pai . I h s a viw a w

ii Ewa Cap’s Towards Democracy

a vig pap, a his, , achiv pubic-

iy. A ha, sm mhs, I ma pgss.



102


A h I ha h chac a iay causerie ia wky pap: igh hu ws a wk, hiy

pus a ya. I w a samp aic—a I w

mmb h icib pais I k shw ha

Ms.. Ly Li’s In Haste and at Leisure was

hughy ba—bu my aic was literary. Th

i wih hiy pus a ya sp iay

ciicism w i sach a cci ss aus

ha mi. Bu I was bak g. Th i-

ay cum my w pap ( which I was h

y assisa-i) was ps m my

assuac ha I cu iv i up: sv huws a wk, a wv a six-pc. Th su

ha I w was iy usui h as u

pubic ; bu i aac ai m h sas

h mighy, a i as aac—a iumph

h spis viw!—pubishs’ avisms.

I w his cum vy wk sm yas. A

I g ah , by askig i. Th I s-

c sm my bs a wiis viws, a s

hm h i a w-kw ga cuu

wih a suggsig ha my p ugh a

h chams his pap. A i sagaciy a



103

Arnold Bennett

pspicaciy, h ami h suss my sug-gsi wihu cavi, a h su was muuay

saisacy. A h ps im I am ciuay

usig ciica wk. I ck ha a avag I

viw a bk a a aci a bk vy ay

my i, Suays icu.

“Th,” says h ma i h s iviaby,

“yu mus sp a vy ag pa ach ay i

aig w bks.” N s. I my viwig i

h uccupi cs my im, h mai

pis which a giv h mauacu

vs, pays, sh sis, a g iay s-

says. I am a auh sva ss. I hav vaius

sigs my bw. A I kw my busiss. I wi

ha a mii ws a ya. Tha is xcssiv;

bu i is passab iusy, a waays I mak

a pi wkig ha. Th ha miiws cai w bks, w pays,

a umus ifs cc wih iay

ciicism; y abu a hu a y husa

ws a viwig.

Th ss jusic h ma i h s



104


is v. “Yu a hugh a h bksha yu p ciiciz?” h his. I hav

v kw a viw asw his isiuai

saighway i pi, bu I wi asw i: N, I

.

A h ma i h s says, shck: “Yu

a ujus.”

A I py: “N a a. I am my a x-

p.”

Th pmacs h xp i ay ca

wi supis a amaz h ixp. Cm wih

m i my suy a I wi supis a amaz

yu. Hav I b haig vs ba-a-

chs a hs yas a a jug hm

by ay pcss quick ha ha mpy by yu

wh my pick up a v axai a i-

? Assumig ha yu as is aiy su, usb c wih h sam w v, a I wi

shw yu, hugh yu a a quick a, ha I ca

aicipa yu jugm ha v by a mii-

mum y-v mius. Th i-pag—ha c-

juci h i, h am h auh, a h



105

Arnold Bennett

am h pubish—spaks m, ig m ass higs. Th vy chap-haigs iv a

mssag sy. Th aaiv vywh iscss

m h mis a cs h wi; auh

v iv wh cu wi a pag wihu givig

hims away. Th wh bk, p i wh I wi,

is mumuus wih iicais m. I h cas

i bks , a hm hugh wu b

a wk supgai—i wu b a siu

was im h pa a pssia viw.

Th majiy vs—a a hs maks ap-

py y vs—h supis h ps-sia viw. H ca hm as h auica

amaac s asmica phma. Th

cusmay sabish ppua auh sm

v vias m his appi ack, a i is h

cusmay sabish ppua auh up whm

chify h viw is a paasi. Nw auhs c-

casiay caus h viw hsia i his swi

vics, spciay wh h vic is ici

b avab. Cai pubishs (ha is say, hi

“as”) hav a kack acquiig w auhs

wh ca imia a xcc i a asishig



106


ma. I sm cass h viw mus ibay“g i” h bk, i b civ by

appaacs, i ci psiivy whh

h auh has gui imagiaiv pw, a i s,

whh ha pw is capab a susai .

Bu hs icu isacs a a. Th mais

h wk h u ais, h wk ha h -

viw hims amis a jys: say bk i

y, i a hu. Th viw as ha

hugh.

Bi fci wi cvic ay ha i

wu b cmicay impssib h viw

u his xaiay bhs h ma h

s a vy bk hugh. Tak yu L-

mig pap, a bsv h cum v

, ci h ay. I cmpiss sm hu-

ws, a h viw civs, i h is wpai, h guias i. Fiv vs a iscuss.

Ths vs wi amu six hu pags

pi ma. Raig a h a igh ws

a sc, h viw wu accmpish w pags

a miu, a six hu pags i hi

hus a wy mius. A a hu ai y



107

Arnold Bennett

mius h cmpsii; a w hav hus, w ays’ wk. D yu imagi ha h

viw a L mig pap is gig

hi u his imma su, his xpic, his m

ski, a h a hiy- a sixpc p ay

igua jbs? Scacy. H wi a his h

guias isi h hus, a i wi b w a

uy a. As a juyma auh, wih h abi-

iy a iciai u my p i ay ici a

qus, I g ag sabish a u v wk

ss ha shiigs a hu pic-wk. I

a i cmmissi a aic, h civ mm as much uama bai-pw a as much

im as h aic ma—up h imi his

pay i ms hus a shiigs apic. Bu

ach ya I ais my pic p hu. O cus, wh

I am wkig my w iiiaiv, h s a-

vacm my aisic puai, I ig ac

a hik gy a. I ca, hwv, b

cay us ha h pssia auh,

h ma wh ps iy his p h

ciuac bah, a whs icm is a h

mcy a iss a haach, is ay cm-



108


pmisig bw gy a smhig m iba wam a ighs. H abs i h s pac

sh, ais, a wma, Eupa av,

hss, sas a h pa, g cigas, ambsia

vigs i sauas; a h givs gy h bs

chac h ca. I am spakig giuss wih a

maia psiy; I am spakig huma bigs.

T u a ccu his chap. I

cvic—ay, I kw—ha h wh v-

iss g a i m ha jusic a h has

hi ciics. I ca ca may isacs i which

my pais has, i h igh uh csiai,

xc h ss a bk; bu vy, vy w

i which I hav cas a su gui mi. Ciics

usuay ispay a cy was a gus

kiss, paicuay Scish viws; i is ams

a u h vcai. Ms auhs, I hik, cg-iz his pasig ac. I is y h miiy, abi

vasig auai, wh cap; a, capig,

ma h scaps muip-viws as a ib

xamp a waig h sma y.



ChaPTer 12

“It was, in a word, a boom”

SERIAL ci is s a bugh jus ik ay

h acy gs. I has is whsa huss, is

cmmcia avs—v is uss a “cs”.

A i may sm as si h wk

a paicua auh; h may ag g b ha

auh ha auh’s ag; bu i a c hasb sabish h wi b m by pi gs

a h imai ha M. S-a-S, h

Such-a-Such Syica, is h pp qua

appy ; h h i is awa ha h wi g

wha h was sy by mh paym—

109



110


hugh h s. A csiab pa h cibusiss is i h ha a w ag syicas—

syicas i am y, a mi-m i ac.

Thy pm a usu uci. Thy wi s

h i h i ighs a sia, hy wi

s him h ighs a paicua isic—h

L isic, h Machs isic, h Jh-

’-Gas isic—h pic vayig i ic ai

wih h siz h isic. May L paps

a c buy h L ighs y a

sia, buy h Egish ighs as isic m

h Scish ighs, buy h i ighs miush ighs w ag pvicia isics.

Thus a sia may mak is igia appaac i

L y; i may appa simuausy i

L a Machs y, i L y i

Ega a hughu Sca, i y pacs

a c i Ega a Sca. A a a sia

has appa h s im a u is cus,

h wkis sma a bscu ws, h pu

gas a h i Pigs, buy a if

h igh pi i. Th sias sm auhs

suviv i his ma yas i h m



111

Arnold Bennett

pvics; pick up h ca sh i a cuyi, a yu may phaps shu agai v h

xciais a sia ha yu a i bk m i

h a- iis. S, a iia puss a sui,

h syicas ap much p, a hy a i a

psii pay hi auhs, bh am a wi,

a jus mum; up ccasi hy ca v b

gus h vg a impuc.

Wh I was a i, I u i cvi,

cmica, a saisacy buy a my ci

m a ag a pwu syica. I g impa

“ams”, h ams ha ss h i-pags

aiway vs, a a ma pic, a i was

hig m ha my sia was appaig as i

Kiicaki, h Kckmiyw Muais,

h Sciy Iss. Th psaiv h syica,

a ma ch wih auhiy, ca guay; hispay his aiy vis, his aig is, his

avis, his isig sas, his ak hss, a his

a bagais; I u hm v, ik a wma

ma-ay a a ap’s; a a h iviab

Oia chaig, w cam ms. I bugh

Chismas sis i Mach, a sasi ci



112


i Dcmb, a g si Baig-Gu LQuux L. T. Ma a h ya u.

Excy as hs igius aaiv c-

cis sv hi pups, I am sm-

hig b. A i my am a su a baui-

u hugh accs m: Why shu a h buyig

b si?

A h x im h psaiv h

syica ca up m, I m his vus wih

ah.

“Why shu a h buyig b si?”

I sai. “Yu kw I am a auh.” I a ha i h

ha s ay my bks, I mus s him cp-

is. Thy w xquisiy i m his was,

bu I sai hig abu ha.

“Ah!” h pai my. “W v buy sias

m is.”

I pciv ha I was by mas h s

asu i wh ha i mig s

busiss wih ah. Si i was pai m ha

my g i was ig i a i icu

cmbi h aabiiy a s wih h y isi-



113

Arnold Bennett

ciai wh is qus buy i a cw- mak.

“I shu hav hugh,” I mak, wih

a ipmaic uch ayac, “ha yu wu

buy whv yu cu g g su.”

“Oh, ys,” h sai, “ cus w . Bu—”

“W,” I ciu, “I am wiig a sia,

a I ca yu i wi b a g . I my

mi i yu. I yu ’ ca i, I acy I

ca iscv sm wh wi.”

Th, havig caus fa bw us,

cu-ik, h sigicac h iispuab ac

ha h w h syicas i h w, I p-

c chaay h ma his visi a

gav him a g . H was a ab mcha,

bu I ha mv i ga cics hig.

Busiss is busiss: a h as w as I kw ha

abiay us h xcusi is mus giv

way b his ga a subim uh, h ua-

i Ega’s gy.

Th x hig was ccc h sia. I

ha i a cmpac wih mys ha I wu



114


v “wi w” h pubic i a g ci. Iwas ams bu pa h vuga as,

a ay a a as , i my iig, i

my aics, a i my sh sis, bu I ha sw

smy ha I wu kp h v-m usu-

i h pu xcis h ais i m. Wha

bcam his high cmpac? I my ig i.

I i up a i was g, h isa I saw

a chac aig h my sham. I vis

xcuss, cus. I sai ha my awig-m

wa w uiu; I sai ha I migh i h

ssaia sia a high pac, hus svig hcaus a; I sai—I ’ kw wha I sai, a

my cscic. Bu I bga h sia.

As a i, I kw h quaiis ha a s-

ia ugh pssss. A I kw spciay ha wha

ms sias ack was a ag, ca, uiyig,viviyig ia. I was vy ua i ighig up

such a ia my s sia. Th a igia

hms; pbaby wi v i iv a igi-

a hm; bu my hm was a biia impsu

igiaiy. I ha, , gau a passi, a

aasy, a i was iimica h pju-



115

Arnold Bennett

ics h sia a. I uh i was a hmwhy much b am ha I acc

i. Thughu h cmpsii h a, ui

ay h , I ha h uasy ig, amiia

a wis, ha I was iig away a ay g

hig. Bu as h cimax appach, h siuai

k h m, a i spi mys I w my

bs. Th a was ivi i wv isams

v husa ws ach, a I cmps i i

wy-u ha-ays. Each mig, as I wak

w h Thams Embakm, I civ a chap-

w husa v hu ws, a acha I w h chap. A isiciv ss

m hp m pa h vs i a impsig

shap, a i abma iviv acuy

pvi a hi h ccusi ach sci.

Fuh, I was cau bgi h sy h s

pag, wihu pimiais, a ish i abupy

wh i was ish. F h s, I pu i gus

quaiis wah, uxuy, mii bauy, su-

pis, caasph, a gia, icuab pimism.

I was as sais wih h su as I ha b wih

h amus pm Cuag. I su ha h



116


syica ha v suppi m wih a ssaiasia ha as g as mi, a I cu cciv

pa up which hy wu b jusi i usig

mi.

Thy bugh i. W ha a ic cc-

ig h pic. Thy sixy pus; I hugh I

migh as w as y g a hu, bu wh I

ha i hm up svy-v, h c bu

wu uh g, a h bagai was cs. I

saw ha by wiig sias I cu a h guias

p ha -ay; I saw mys mbakig up a i

wha Ebz Js ca “ssai a v”;

I saw my pics icasig, v h hu

pus a sixy husa w ya—my imagi-

ai spp h.

Th igig mais a aisic c-

scic pmp m sig his y-smiig wkwih a psuym. Th syica, sic my am

was qui ukw i hi w, ma bjc-

i, a I iv sva aiass, which

hy ik. Th a i ps m wih a g-

gus psuym—“Samps Dah”. Suy, I



117

Arnold Bennett

hugh, h syica wi appcia h subpw ha! Bu ! Thy av ha hi a-

s wu b pss by Samps Dah a h

ha vy isam.

“Why sig yu w am?” hy sug-

gs.

A I sig my w am. I, appic

Faub Ci., s h h uivs as a

ssai-mg.

Th syica sa ha hy wu ik

hav h usa ah sia m my p.

I ccig h ps h s , I

pciv a h ppuiis I ha miss i i,

a I ha visis a ssaia sia absuy

subim i hs quaiis ha shu chaaciz

a ssaia sia. I kw a abu Eugè Su,

a smhig abu Wiki Cis; bu my csaic

cmpai a ia sia sa a by

hs. I imagi a sia ck wih h pus -

am a Eas picss, a sia a c ga-

is a wiy, a c m a asca,

a sia which h is shu gauay cs



118


h a ik a vic ui i bcam iab, Isaw h wh L pccupi wih his s-

ia isa wih cick a piics. I ha h

aiaca Ciy yuhs iscussig i s-cass cm-

pams h Ugu wha wu happ

x i i. I wiss a i i F S bcaus I

ha, acciay pups, ay my cpy

wy-u hus, a h i The Daily—ha

b cmp cm u wih a apgy. Lasy,

I ha h sigh i xha hav by a

wh pp, wh i h a isam I sv

h mysy, ui h k, iv h cu sus-ps.

Such was my am—a am ha I v

aiz, bu which I biv b capab aiza-

i. I is cas sic v a sc-cass imagia-

iv gius v is iy h cu hiay risson. Su xci a ai by amiab

ssaiaism. Th a migh b accmpish

agai, a i his a s pic i Naps h

pss, i sms sag ha Nap has b

ab gaiz h ssaia sia a Nap-

ic sca.



119

Arnold Bennett

I i aiz my am, bu I was ispiby i. Oc m I civ m h gs a p

sciiaig wih pssibiiis. I was ss ha

h pvius ; i was h ah ahy; bu i

bga wih a sc qui uiqu i h aas sy-

icas, a by his im I kw a i b hw

kp h buig. I avish wi a sy h

hig, a h is maia sp

m i ha I u. I pug i i wih a

my gy a husiasm, a w h

isams i ays; I i as much

ik Dumas pére as I cu. Bu wh I ha I, physicay, ah m ik h agi Shy

sm wa cua ha Dumas. I was a wck.

Th syica w wiig buy his sia,

bu hy m icas as. I ci

accp h ms, a h h syica ivi- m uch. I ma h gas acia

misaks my i ha accus ay, a my y

xcus is ha I was uaccusm big ivi

u uch by syicas. I ugh hav kw,

wih a my bas kwg h w busi-

ss, ha syicas ivi ams ukw



120


auhs uch wihu xc as. I haus h syica’s , a h syica ask

m am a pic h i ighs my a. I

am a pic; i was a g pic m, h; bu

h ws w scacy u my muh b I

saw ha I ha bu. T a! My ms w

quiy accp. L m cas sighs aspsi

up h mhs h syica: h bagai was

cmp b uch ha cmmc.

Th syica isps h wh s

sia ighs my a a w-kw L

wky. Th ppis h pap gag a

s-cass ais iusa i, hy issu a spcia

cicua abu i, hy avis i vy wk

800 aiway sais. Th i h pap w

m a xmy appciaiv as h c

h sia m his pi viw. Th syicaim a i mi ha i was h bs s-

ia hy ha v ha. A uig i L i

va h pvicia pss ik a cus-swam. I

was, i a w, a bm. I cam u i vum m,

a immiay w i a sc ii; i si

ss. I was h s my bks ha The Times



121

Arnold Bennett

v csc viw; The Spectator k isiusy i a cum a a qua; a my is

k i siusy. I v civ cabs m ig

as wih s buy asai ighs. I bcam

kw as h auh ha sia. A a his, sav

a isigica if, h p a xc-

igy asu syica!

Subsquy I w h sias, bu v

agai wih h sam vv. I u a u my

gis m amusig a m muaiv ha

h ccci sias; a I am a siais -

g.



ChaPTer 13

“A commercial play”

WHILE y a assisa-i, I bcam a amaic

ciic hugh h uwiigss my chi

a a haica maié pmac giv, by

sm i sciy, w uc, h

juvai h Egish ama. My ic h

pmac amus him, a s awas hsuggs ha I shu u amaic cum i

his sa. Bh m a “s-igh”! Wh, wih

my bs pssib ai chaac a cusm,

I sau i my sa a Lycum s igh,

I gac a h s ws h pi wih c a

123



124


a isai. “D’ yu wish yu w m?” Ihugh bhi ha supciius mask. “Yu hav

s hus impis bw paa i

aiigs. May ims I hav s wih yu. Bu

v agai, misab piis!” Nvhss I

was by mas cmab i my sa. Au

m w zs amus ius acs,

h aig psaivs a ha is giig

a aciius i h ciy wah, pasu,

a smass. A vyby sm kw

vyby s. I a sm b u i h

c. My xaspa s-cscius acy pcivi vy haughy sa h quiy: “Wh is his

whipp-sapp i h ss-sui ha bviusy

cs u guias i Chapsi?” I kw a su

i ha biia s. Duig h ivas I w

i h oyer a is h phass which h

ciics ss ach h v hi iquu-gasss.

Nv was such a gia cusi “O Chap”,

“O Ma”, “O By”, “Da O Pa”! “A hy

a b-bhs?” I ask mys. Th baaiy, h

pc ack ay s ashic cuu, which

chaaciz hi maks h pic, asu



125

Arnold Bennett

m. I sai agay: “I I ’ kw m abuh a h ha ha h wh cw

yu pu gh, I wi g u a hag mys.”

Y I was uspakaby pu b amg hm.

I a c I caugh sigh a w vis

whs wk I spc. N ic him, a h

k ah sy hims. “Yu a I...!” I

hugh. I ha a may s ighs b

I iscv ha h hau haica ciics

whs aics i is pssib a wihu aigu,

ma a pi v avig hi sas. Thy w

by’s chap, a by’s pa. I cpihi bhavi.

Fis my w pap, a subsquy

w hs, I pacic amaic ciicism

v six yas. Ahugh I hw i up i h

maiy m sh assiu, I jy h wk.I mas a ighs, a a ighs a pii;

bu h is a micius gamu abu i ha

aacs h ish mh i m, a his I am bu

ami. My ifig ifuc v h pubic was

ciy h si h ags. I gauay

u ha I pssss a ch hy h



126


ama, i ciica saas, a a h s h appaaus; i sh, ha I ha smhig

say. A my vics ha a saisacy habi

ciciig wih hs h w ms haica

ciics i L—phaps i Eup (I

am hm). I is a smwha sag ac ha I

ma scacy ay is i h ha. A a

hs yas assiuus s-ighig, I was ams

as siay i h auiium h vig wh

I ba a blasé aiu h ciica bch as wh

I igiay i. I aci I ha was my

im a impai my csiui i muaigh achivms Théphi Gaui, Hazi,

Facisqu Sacy a M. Jus Lmaî, say

hig Bu Ck a M. Cm Sc. My

hah may hav su; bu, as i happ, I ha

qui was my im.

“Why ’ yu wi a pay yus?”

This bu qusi was pu m by a

i, a amau ac, whm I ha ask g

up sm i pic h a aim i

h Tha Rya back-awig-m my hus.



127

Arnold Bennett

“Qui u my i,” I pi, a I wasabsuy sic. I ha i whav

wiig h sag. I su ha I ha h

apiu.

“Nss!” h xcaim. “I’s as asy as

aig a g.”

W agu, a I was h pi usig

h suggsi, wh h spii wi avu

vcam m, a I gavy pmis my i

ha I wu cmps a ugu i h a his wi

wu pmis pm i a my pay. Th aai

was aag. I w b wih h cvici ha

i h a uu I s a ai chac kig

a ass. Hwv, I m wih wha I hugh b a

amusig ia a cuai-ais h x mig,

a i h a I w h pic cmp. I

jy wiig i, a as I a i au mys I augh a i. I iscv ha I ha via h

ga ca amaic a,—Nv kp yu

auic i h ak, a his ub m (Pau

Hviu ha h msa by his L’Enigme

ha ha ca may b bk wih impuiy); bu



128


I cu b a h ub csucig hwh pay h sak a Aisia maxim. I

a c ps h igia a my i wih

his : “Da —, H is h pay which as igh

I uk wi yu.”

Th pic was amiaby a

auic sm hiy imma sus— cus

vy sympahic imma sus. My igs, as h

siuai which I ha iv gauay vp

i smhig aiv ha iy mak-shi sag,

w pcuia a, i a way, aamig. Evy

wh has iv a m-ca kws h ucay

ssai ha sus wh h s im i

yu i yu pu h saig v, a h Thig

bah yu bgis mysiusy a miaby

mv. I is a c a asishm, a , a

a igh. I ik ha as I wach h pgss my s pay. I was as hugh I ha uwiigy

iba a gy ga ha I kw, acuay

ca smhig via. This iusi physica

viaiy is h xcusiv pssssi h amais;

h vis, h p, ca sha i. Th pay was

a icius succss. Pp augh s much ha



129

Arnold Bennett

sm my ms sub jcsiis w w ih appciaiv cachiai. Th a appaus

was mmab, a ay a m. N m g-

au ca simua h uiqu ig gui

appaus, a his appaus was gui. I was a

micscpic iumph m, bu i was a iumph.

Evy sai m: “Bu yu a a amais!“

“Oh, !” I pi awkway; “his if is ay

hig.” Bu h si sma vic my vigus

s-cc sai: “Ys, yu a, a yu ugh

hav u i u yas ag!” Amg my auic

was a pubish. H ivi m wi him ai bk -ac acs amaus; his ms

w agab. I w h such acs, givig w

ays ach, a h vum was uy pubish;

bk mi has cs m ss ub. Th viws

i w avish i pais my “uaiig wi”; h

cicuai was mic. I was ask by cmpais

amau acs up a w h cuy assis

a hasas hs pics; bu I cu v

h gy cmpy, sav c. I hak a h

pssia sag. By his im I cu s ha I was

bu siusy i h mauacu



130


sag-pays. My as wi hav bsv ha cagai i my hisy h iucm mbak a

sh p ha b qui xa a aviius.

I ha a yug i wih a xaiay

u biia pigam a a quay xa-

iay gi h visig massiv hms. H

shw m ay h mauscip a pay. My

aih i my isic m, whh i ama

ci, was cmp, a I saw isay ha wha

his pic ack was m, which mas iigi-

biiy. I ha vyhig xcp iigibiiy. “Lk

h!” I sai him, “w wi wi a pay gh,

yu a I. W ca smhig ha wi kck

sps —” c., c. W mi up a ga

awig-m mama which shu ui sy

wih hs quaiis ha mak acia succss

h Biish sag. I a w ays my i p-uc a is abu a z “ias” h pic. I

chs h w ags a amagama hm. I h

cci h p, a as hughu h -

i pcss mauacu, my xpic as a a-

maic ciic pv vauab. I biv my i ha

y s w pays i his i. W accmpish u



131

Arnold Bennett

s ac i a mh s, a wh his was a h scai h h h wi u, w

im ach h ha h su was xcigy

g.

Pa my sha i h pay was s i. I

kw bu ma ay impac i h hai-

ca w; h gav m a iuci h maag-

a Ws E ha sc i psig

a wah. Th iuci ha wigh; h ma-

ag iima by ha his s bjc i i

was sv m, a i h maim h suggs

a appim. I ca igh wih u s ac

a h scai, a ami h uxuiusss h

maagia m, h ama c, h

Tukish cigas, I xpai ha maag h

u gass u pay. I hav v b a

wih a m isiguish piss; I migh havb Vici Sau, Ibs... (, Ibs). I

qui a w ays h maag ph my -

c a ask m ca h sam vig. H ha

a h mauscip; h hugh vy highy i,

vy highy. “Bu—” W! Dsai! Dissipai

aiy cass! I was ppsus u pa



132


xpc ha u s pay shu b cmmissiby a aig ha. Bu i w ha xpc

his miac. Th aa “Bu” as m a icuy

casig h picipa pa; s h maag

m. H was agai makaby cuus, a h as-

suag h ig his usa by imig m ha

h was ay i a cuai-ais wih a pa

a cai acss his cmpay; h aci ha

w cu suppy him wih h si bibelot ; bu h

wa i a c, wihi a wk. Wihi a wk my

pa a I ha ach wi a -ac pay, a

i ss ha a igh I civ a hi iviai iscuss c, Tukish cigas, a pays. Th

maag bga ak abu h pay which was

u my w sigau.

“Nw, wha is yu ia ms?” h sai,

wakig a .“Ca i b u,” I hugh, “ha I hav acu-

ay s a pay his amus maag?” I a m-

m my simp ambiis bus ik a Rma

ca i iumab bigh sas. I ha b

c hih wih h pspc sm am,



133

Arnold Bennett

a husa a ya, a a w ms uxuis. BuI kw wha h aigs succssu amaiss

w. My husa icas ; my mi

w a h cmpx sybaiism Eupa

capias; a I saw hw I cu mak us h u-

qua avism haica w

a ay mak h ms aisic ci ha I

was capab wiig. This w schm higs

spag i my bai isaausy, u-gw.

I h ha a accp amais.

I v ais bu i pus. My ki maag

mi u syisic awig-m mama

ah maag wih such auai ha h sc-

maag was ag s i. Havig s i, h

was ag buy i. H gav us a hu w

ish i i h mhs, a wh w ha ish

i h sa a cac puci wih ahchck a hu. A h sam pi, hugh

h miai h i wh ha s iuc

m his w wh hus w hw

abu ik vs, I was cmmissi by h ms

pwu haica maag ah assis i h



134


amaizai a succssu v; a his ah cmmissi a simia au, m

muaiv ms. Th a cai maag -

gaph m (i h ha a busiss is by

gaph a cab), a m a cmmissi

cmpss a v-ac O Egish cmy i h

acs.

“W migh hav his S-a-S

S-a-S,” hy sai, sigaig pss imp-

ac. “Bu w p cm yu.”

“I assum my am is appa?” I sai.

Bu my am was appa, a I bgg

b aw ci h wk.

I suy u mys ms amiia-

iy wih sm h ga s h sag.

I u mys ivi i h Gaick Cub,

a i h m Bhmia amsph h

G Rm Cub. I bcam accusm ha-

ig h phas: “Yu a h amais h u-

u.” O a I was wakig w B

S wh a ha was pac my shu, a

a vic is ich a bauiu quaiy x-



135

Arnold Bennett

caim: “Hw h vi a yu, my a chap?”Th spak bas a am amus hughu h

Egish-spakig w.

“Yu a aivig!” I sai mys, aivy

pu his gig. I ha aways us ha

h haica “ig” was impab a u-

si; a y I ha spp i h vy mi

i wihu h as ub.

My caba a I h w a ac.

“W ca’ xpc s vyhig,” I sai him

waigy, bu I s i qui asiy. I I s i,

puchas i, a s i agai, wihi h spac

h mhs.

Rass isci pv m m cay-

ig my haica c by his pi.

I hav spk h aisic si his

pay-ccci, bcaus i scacy has ay. My aim

i wiig pays, whh a i cabai,

has aways b sicy cmmcia I wa my

i haps, a I wa avism my bks.

H a h, i h cmis a acs i which

I hav b cc, a i gui amaic a



136


has, I acy, b iuc; bu supiiusy,a qui ukw h maags. I hav v

bas i i maagia apams. Tha I hav

amus mys whi csucig hs aabsqus

iigu a pigam is iubiab, whh

my ci isci as a sius ps. I augh

csay i wiig a ac. I hav u i a

asi cmps a cmmcia pay ha a aisic

v. Hw u pics h amaic kigm

ca civ sp w yas v a sig pic,

as hy say hy , I ca imagi. Th avag

pay cais m igh wy husaws; h avag v cais ighy husa;

a a, wiig is a qusi ws. A h a

a husa ws a ay, cu wi a pay

h ims v i a cup mhs; px a

mh—hiy si ays Tim!— h p-

cig h p, a yu wi b ab cacua

h umb pays pucib by a xp cas-

ma i a ya. A usuccssu pays a ciy

m muaiv ha may succssu vs. I

am qui cai ha h vas majiy aius

puc i h Ws E ma hi auhs a



137

Arnold Bennett

miimum muai pus p husaws. I h ci-ma pus p husa

is gi puc. I am ih Sau, Suma,

Gg R. Sims, bu I kw wha I am akig

abu, a I say ha amaic cmpsii h

mak is chi’s pay cmpa h wiig

c avag ci—pvi has a isic

sag c.



ChaPTer 14

“A publisher’s reader”

IT cus m h ha cmpa Egish wih

Amica pubishs h isavaag, hwv

sigh, h m; bu h xigcis a uhu

aaiv ma m m his sacic psa

ig h g i “h spig-ca mbmaic

Biish pis”. Th psaiv a gaAmica m cam v Ega a missi

cuiva psa ais wih auhs pu

a pabss. Amg h cums a

simia au, h ha a iuci mys; I

was a auh pu a pabss, bu

139



140


I was ciy i h mvm a a usu s ps kw. W m a bcam is, his

ambassa a I; h ik my wk, a su avu

my sm; I ik his gia shwss. Shy

awas, h appa i a cai pap a

usig aic aig, i a ba suvy ag

b masy, wih h vui h iay

mak uig h as hiy yas. My Amica

pubish a h aic—h a vyhig—a,

immiay ciig i his w mi ha I was

h auh i, h w m a husiasic

appciai. H ha b civ; I wash auh h aic. Wihi h x w ays i

happ ha h cu a Egish pubish

wh cmpai ha h cu a saisacy

“a”. H im h Egish pubish my

xisc, ugisicay my aic, a

gav his pii ha I was pcisy h ma whm

h Egish pubish . Th Egish pubish

ha v ha m (I bam him, I my

c), bu h was s mv by h Amica’s

ai ha h ivi m uch a his cub. I

uch a his cub, i a isc s Piccaiy



141

Arnold Bennett

(a ag a a su wi!), a a uch, myhs w m u ak a ag h subjc

auhs, pubishs, a cash, a h ipay

hs h. I ak. I ak a vy g whi,

jyig i. Th xpic was a w m.

Th pubish i ag wih a ha I sai, bu

h ag wih a g a i, a a h cs

h smwha xhausig assiz, i which bw

us w ha jug h vau ay vy iay

puai i Ega, h m h ps

picipa a his m, a I accp i.

I is, I biv, a hisica ac ha auhs

sm a h ua a pubish’s a.

Thy appv h spuu, bu , sav sm-

ims i a spii cius hum, h p-

cssi h igiy hi massiv gus. Nv-

hss, h pubish’s a is h ms bvps ah. H is s pc. H may bgi

his abs i h saughus vi The Saturday

Review; bu im a h xaiay v m-

iciy mauscips s cu him ay such

cy. H cms us bu mais accp.

H mus accp smhig— wh is h jusica-



142


i his xisc? O, a a pg u ba mauscips, I hav sai mys: “I I ’

g a chac cmm smhig s I sha

b ask sig.” I g k a mauscip

a say ha i is g, ha h a g sv-

igs bw h is. Isa sachig

aus I sach hi xccs. N auh

v ha a m i auic ha I, I h au-

h wu y biv i, I wa, I acuay si,

b avaby impss by his wk. Wh I p

h pac ypscip I bam i wih kiy

ys, a I hik: “Phaps h is smhig ayg h”; a i ha sa mi I cmmc

h pusa. Bu h v is ayhig ay g

h. I a xpic vas, bu xig v

sm yas, y bk wih v a uch g-

ius has pass hugh my has; ha bk was

s auy a s wiuy wi, ha I cu u-

svy avis is pubicai a my m ci

i; I hik ha h bk has b issu

swh. I hav “iscv” y w auhs

a; hs is vy swy achivig a pua-

i; h h I hav ha hig sic his s



143

Arnold Bennett

bk, which su i a acia ss. Tim a i-casig kwg h w acs hav issipa

m h machy a acig g i-

ay a gig a-bggig bcaus h ii-

c pubishs. O yug auh a, wu

ha I cu yu a mak yu usa hw

h pubish yas yu as h v his

v! Qua pubish’s a, I am a sa ma, a ma

cm i isappim, a ma i whm h

phm ciu hp is ams iaia.

Wh I k back ag h ighu visa u

mauscips ha I hav us accp, I m-b h uu Egish iau ( shu

mb, i I iaiby kw ha h uu

Egish iau is pcy sa a a)! A y

I hav by mas uk h ws h cup

miciy. Th way mik h mauscips s

my mpy has aways b skimm m

by hs; I hav ha y h cam sav. I am

ask smims why pubishs pubish s may

ba bks; a my py is: “Bcaus hy ca’ g

b.” A his is a pu uh smy u-

cia.



144


Pp hav sai m: “But you are so criti-cal; you condemn everything.” Such is h cmpai

h aiy agais h iiia, agais h ps

wh has iigy pacic h cuivai his

as. A, ughy spakig, i is a w-u

a xcusab cmpai. Th ps as

s cm ay vyhig. H aks his pa-

su i a umb bks s imi as b a-

ms hig i cmpais wih h a mass

puci. Ou w husa vs issu i a

ya, h may ay jy ha-a-z a h usi.

A h husa i hu a iy-uh umps gh i a whsa cmp which

aws isicis. This is igh. This cibus

h psvai a high saa. Bu h a-

iy wi v b psua ha i is jus. Th pi

I wish mak, hwv, is ha wh I si w

a my pubish I s a g my i-

ay xcusivss, I sik h ashic aisca a

bcm a pai ma. By a iba ac imagia-

i, I pu mys i h pac, h ypica av-

ag a — h is such ps — bu

a cmpsi h vaius genera avag a



145

Arnold Bennett

kw pubishig scic. I am ha cmpsi h im; a, big s, I mai quisc a

aw h bk puc is w c m. I

mpy cas, us, masus. Ds h bk

b m—ha cms i. Ds i is m, v

s sighy—ha is ugh i i uh

csiai. Wh I hav ci ha i iss

h imagiay cmpsi whm I ps, h I

bcm mys agai, a pc sciicay

qui why i has is, a why i has

is m isy; I pc caagu is

g a ba quaiis, cacua is chacs, assay is may wh.

Th s gi a pubish’s a shu

b imagiai; wihu imagiai, h pw

pu hims i a psii i which acuay h is ,

as is usss—i, i is ws ha us-ss. Th ia pubish’s a shu hav w

pcis—pc as a pc kwg

wha h vaius kis h pp m b

as. Such quaicais, v i a m a m

pc, a a. A ma is b wih hm; hugh

hy may b cuiva, hy ca ih hm



146


b acqui. Th muai h pubish’sa ugh, h, b high, avish, picy.

I i . I has hig appachig hs chaac-

isics. Isa big ga as h uima sa

icig gy, h bai wihi h pubish’s

bai, h a xiss as a s sh,

a acci, a xa mchaism which mus

b mpy bcaus i is h cusm mpy i.

As fcs up h xpic a jugm

which as mus pssss, h spsibiiy which

wighs hm, a h big hypchias is

g by hi mysius caig, wsha hi saais ab hm si i

Pak La Ca Hus Tac. Th uh is,

ha, hy xis pcaiusy i Waham G, Cam-

bw, u i h cuy wh s a w.

I hav ha piqua avus as a pub-ish’s a. Th vcai ais i piquacy: ha

is pcisy wh i s ai. Occasiay wh

a mauscip cms m sm sabish auh

wh has b m h piva ppy ah-

hus, h is h xcim iscvig m

h ia vic h mauscip, m h



147

Arnold Bennett

cicumsaia vic pubic acs cauy c-a, jus why ha mauscip has b

my mpy; a h iscv as is aways

ih amusig shamu. Bu such xcims

a a, a vy hiig a a. N! Ra-

ig a pubish s s h jy i. I

hav v i wih husiasm; a, aky, I

ciu i m m habi ha m icia-

i. O as much i h . Th gi is

h gigba, a h bm is h y, a

pubish’s a. Th saisics cicuais a

b him; a wh is awa h acuagus which iay avisms a iusy

sig cca ca b ca happy ui h is

a.



ChaPTer 15

“Nearly all lived in the country”

WHEN I ha b i L a ca, I s asi

m mys a viw my siuai wih h

g-ik a ach impaiaiy a ai ais-

ic bsv. A wha I saw was a yug ma wh

p-miy kw his way abu, a wh was ap

b ah cmpac v his ac; a yugma wih sm biiac bu a m shwss;

a yug ma wih a highy vp acuy

makig a i g a g way; a yug ma wh

was accusm b is wh h hugh

spak, a wh was ciy m ici

s qusis ha ais hm.

149



150


This yug ma ha iva h w as ack a wy-v shiigs a wk, payig six shi-

igs a wk a b-siig m, h- pc

his bakas, a sixpc his vgaia i.

Th cuai as h pgu. T yas aps.

Th cuai iss h gu a i, v-

is, amais, ciic, cissu a as. S him

i his sububa sic, wih is ppa-sha

ga, is bicyc-hus a h xmiy h,

a is hiz cmps h Disic Raiway

Li. S h suy, i wih w husa bks,

gaish wih phgavus, a uish wih awiig-buau a a chai a hig s. S h

awig-m wih is aisic wapap, is Km-

scs, is wa-cs a pai bu iubiab

isici, is ga pia which a a Wag-

ia sc a Bach’s Tw-pa Ivis. S h

bach’s bm, s aus a pcis, whi

Bsw’s Johnson a Bauai’s Fleurs du Mai

xis pacaby gh h igh-ab. Th -

i machi spaks wih vic, a i s yu

ha h a fis ha yug ma, ha ha

yug ma v givs h wg chag. H is i



151

Arnold Bennett

h mvm, h is cc; bu a h sam im his s simp as smi wih cmpuus

ai a a mvms a a ccss. H

kws. H is a cmp gui a a i. His

ic ib is v b a a ss, a v

b cai away—sav w a h, bcaus a c-

casia csasy is g h su. His kwg

h coulisses h vaius as is wu. H

umbs pais, scups, musicias, achics,

amg his iima is; a aisic mais-

ai ca pssiby ccu ha h is uab wihi

wy-u hus assss a is u vau. H isib agais cabotins, ma wh h s

hm, a his sms b his hbby: xps

cabotins.

H is a yug ma mh; yug m

aiv wihu mh a h cii big cycpias; his wach is as cc as his

jugms. H bakass a igh shap, a his

huskp ss h kich cck v mius as,

h is a ib Iva a bakas. H gacs a

a cup wspaps, s a h is “pubica-

is civ”, a h a h ws. O cus h



152


is hwik by wspaps. H wi m hig i The Daily—a uch a wi a

h u iwass ha xp canard m

Bi. Havig assss h wspaps, h may i-

p his w saisaci a mvm m a

Mza pia saa, a h h wi bush his ha,

pick up suy bks, a pass say h sa-

i. Th sai-mas is spcuy cia, a

qui ay xpai him h sc causai

ays, his sas-ick is a whi . H gs

i a cmpam wih a sckbk, a awy,

a a-mcha, a immiay as wk;h s his mi viwig i h ai, sig

aihiaig puais whi h aiqu gi

buws bah h squas h Ws E; bu

his bai is s uy ccupi ha h ca

spa a c i mia up h xa-

iay igac a simpiciy sckbks,

awys, a a-mchas. H achs his c,

a w h hus pacics ha ccupai

wachig h pp wk which is ca i-

ig: a pcss aways ig, ciyig,

ayig w h aw, big k up , shw-



153

Arnold Bennett

ig hw a hig ugh b a ca b , big fa a caj, ispsig jy

gm—i sh, h Jupi a Shah Psia busi-

ss. H h pas, as chuch, his gi-m,

wh a w mms hims a h ck h

a axius csuai ci which paicu-

a chp which paicua sak u a mass

chps a saks sha hav h h susaiig

him i a-im. Th pac is u iay shahs

a hs abu b shahs. Thy a a i h

mvm; hy csiu h mvm. Thy i

h cmic-pa whiwis pubic pii aic h a-cup sms ppuaiy. Th yug

ma casss ms hm wih h sckbk, h

awy, a h a-mcha. Wih a w h a-

izs, a hs w sav hi acs by appciaig

h hum h hig. S awas h gs

hm, iggig u h gavs m pua-

is, a, suu by h w husa v-

ums, h wks i scusi a his vaius aciviis

ha h may iumph py. H scs i

saig ha h has wi s may husa ws,

a xc ws —syisic, amaic, ,



154


wiy. Th may b a haica s-igh wa,i which cas h us w a sis i h sa

h agui a spac. O h says wihi s

a iscusss wih xcssivy sphisica is

h gviy iusis i iay pp. A

gh h is a as hims sp. His as

hughs a h g, g hughs his pc

as a iss iusy, a h ashic ak-

ss which cvs h ah....

Such was h yug ma I iimicay bh.

A I was sais wih him. H was ggus,

bu suciy ggus. H ha much i

yas, a I xcus his aci pi, bu h ha

ugh. Th cuai ha is h s

ac h ama i, bu h aci, h iigu,

h passi sm hsia a ha. Was his h

aisic a caiv i, his aiy u? Was hish aiy ha which I ha am? Wh was

h ss mac, h csciusss iciy?

I ha I ha sipp i a gv which w

p vy ay. I sm m ha I was

a i w. I ha gw way juaism.

Th cssiy big a a cai pac a a cai



155

Arnold Bennett

hu s may ays h wk gw iksm m; I ga i as ivasiv my ighs as a -

b Egishma, as shamu a scacy ab.

Was I a hs ha I shu b i h cub

by a Ba Dics? I bjc h hy

ppis. Th ccasia ccs wih h

Ba, hugh cuc wih a h iua a

xm pucii, w a iigiy. Th suav -

quss h chaima: “Wi yu kiy us—?”

A my siv pis, a h h ismissa:

“Thak yu, M. —, I hik w ub yu

uh his mig.” A my xi, iia by hhugh ha I was abu b iscuss wih h

m ha Bas i ccav pmi hmsvs.

I was as ba as big bui by L Uiv-

siy a a xamiai. I g his Ba,

wih whm I was s amicab ucia cca-

sis, ha hy w usig a az cu w. I

g hm ha h usig hi xc

a pcius ga was siusy iig wih

h cmpsii ga wks a h mauac-

u a azzig puai. I g pi u

hm ha h im wu cm wh hy wu



156


mi hi is wih aba casuassa cv pi ha hy ha c mpy m,

h uiqu m, a a saay masuab i hus.

Fuh, I was i-pas wih iay L-

. “Yu hav a iay i h,” a Amica

i c sai m. “Th is a iay cic,

a amsph. . . W hav such hig i Nw

Yk.” I asw ha ub w ha; bu I

spk wihu husiasm. I supps ha i ay

“mv i iay cics,”, I i, h. Y I iv

sma saisaci m my icusi wihi hs

cicumcs. T m h was a ack z i

h amsph which h Amica i u

s ivigaig. B i us ha wh I say

“iay cics”, I i h as ma g

Bhmia, h w ima A-Hms ha a

a maiy, wh h i is gw hichais i a w agais a awig-m wa, a

h hsss cgauas hs ha vy sig

capiv i h sa has “ smhig”. Such p-

i ackig, such isc gis h high i-

cuaiy, may sui h ga ifs, h auhs

mgaphs Vasquz, g, Da, aspaagus,



157

Arnold Bennett

yais, pig-pg, a Empi; bu h busissm wh wi m y husas ws a

wk wihu chaig abu i, hav us

h iay magi. I iv amg h a busi-

ss m—a v s I was issais. I biv

ha hy w issais, ms hm. Th

is a ici i h ai L, a zymic ifu-

c which is h mysius caus uauass,

ps, acai, aiciaiy, ma uiis, a

saiy. O ss gasp h ssias i a uu

pccupai wih h vacuiis which sciy has

iv. Th isacis a muim. Ov gs a chac ak cmm-ss wih ’s

su.

Thiy, h a a which I was makig ha-

way i pas m. My puai was gw-

ig, bu y ik a ca-. May pp ha ay m, as whm h uu h big

higs. May pp k ca a ams a

ha I w. Bu my am ha sigicac

h ga pubic. Th mi my am wu

hav bugh cgizig smi h avag

ps wh is “ aig”. I wa



158


smhig ag, asig, a cisiv. A I saw chac ig his. I ha may is i h

. I was iig mys away i a muiu

ivs aciviis h p.

I p up hs csiais

a g whi. I saw y way u, a, a as,

cicumsacs appaig cspi a m

i ha way, I w a my Ba Dic-

s a sig my iia ps. I ha ci

aba L, ha cab paais my

yuhu sis. A T- ic fuish suy

i my -ga, a my w bcam awa

ha I was gig s i. Th majiy hugh

m ash a uwis, a pic a igmiius

u F S. Bu h miiy uph my

sui. I ach w a map Ega, a

sai ha I mus iv a cai mai-i a a c-ai miimum isac m L. This x h

ighbh my uu hm. Th x hig

was ha hm, a wih h ai is

a a bicyc I s u i. O w ay I

s u L i a w qus mac. N

sm b uamay isub v my



159

Arnold Bennett

xus. I mak mys: “Eih yu a a a-sig a b w, yu a a . Tim wi

shw which.” A ha igh I sp, ai

sp, i a hus ha was ha a mi m h x

hus, h mis m a sai, a h mis

m a w. I ha h haus m wih a

vgac, a iciay I ha a gua i-

cm.

I a v h is u ms wis:

hy ay a iv i h cuy.



ChaPTer 16

“Regrets of the dying couch”

WHEN I ha s w i h ascap,

bugh my iv-sck, sui mauas hss,

iig, ivig, huig, gs, puy, a wifw-

s, a isiguish bw wha a bay

a bw a six-ya- a a ag scw, sh a

spaw h c y i was a bas,uk h chy-bay h Eizabha i,

pay i h viag cick am, a cas

s-cscius i iig-bchs, I pciv wih

absu caiy ha I ha ma ; I kw

ha, cm pvy h ichs Iia sh s-

161



162


is, I shu v agai iv pmay i L-. I xpa, a i my xpasi I ah

sy Ls. I pciv, , ha h cu-

y pssss cmmcia avaags which I ha

ai appcia b. Wh yu iv w a

a ha mis m a aiway yu ca cu a ash

a icm which i L sps mibus isa

cab. F mys I hav a pu bi i h

cacy cuig a ash. Yu ivi a ifuia

i w h wk-. Yu m him a h

sai wih a ic i gy ma i a pha, a

a uimpachab Damaia uig bhi. Thu-u is hig a, bu h pig pi i

h pikiss ha g’s chaps a i h xiguiy

his ai, sp h as ich, wu giv

a cs’s ca. Yu s ha yu ifuia i

wishs cmm, bu as yu gah up h is

yu cauy bgi ak abu h wah a

pics p husa. Yu ush him hm i wv

mius, skimmig ga pss. O May m-

ig, pupsy uig i , yu huy him i a

g-ca bhi a bw cb sh m a p

bas, a yu whi him back h sai i



163

Arnold Bennett

mius, up-hi ha h way. Yu fig him i hai, wih scs spa. “This is hw w

i i hs pas,” yu suiusy chaa ac

says him. H hiks. I a w hus F S

bcms awa ha yug S-a-s, wh ay

bui hims i h cuy, is aiv a usy. Yu

sck iss. Yu g up . Yu x spc. Yu

a ick i h iv bais iay Shahs

as a succss. A yu si hav h g a-

h ay.

I h cuy h is py spac a

py im, a amab x ai b-

w hs w; i h ws, a paicua hu

s impy a paicua sp yu, a his is

smhig a auh, I u my ays succig

ach h wih a isuy a aab my. I

ig v bakas ik a , pusig h p-vius vig’s paps wih as much gus as hugh

hy w h m h pss. I k siways a

my wk, wih a -cmmia ai, as i sayig: “I

may yu I may . I sha s hw I .” I

w u a wak, w by gs ss spcacu-

a ha h Damaia, cc ias. I ha h-



164


ig hik abu bu my w ic puciv-ss. I spp xami h pgss s,

iscuss mgy wih a ms, w

why ambs aways wagg hi ais uig h ac

akig susac. A was camss, siy. Th

mby h aic h chap aiy aum-

ba is i my mi, assum a m. O ia,

h ah; h a acai wih h gs,

ig i casigai, isiusi, a pssimism

hm. Suy I xcaim: “I hik I’v g ugh

g wih!” A I u back hmwas. I

ach my suy a sa w. Fm my wiwsI bh a magic paama his. Nw h

cmpai his is upiig h su; i as

ispiai a iucs biiy chaac, bu

i has a cy i wih acua cmpsi-

i. I sa g a hs his. Shu I wk,

shu I wk? A bi pi aways su

wh h s w mus agais ay wk

big ha ay. Th I siz h p a w

h i. Th ah au a isccig

paus, a ias havig scu away ik mic

hi hs. W, I mus pu smhig w, hw-



165

Arnold Bennett

v iicuus. I w a sc, ig s hai wu sv a h ha i wu hav

sv, ayway. I gac a h cck. T wy-

v! I wach h cck i a s hypism ha

auhs kw , i i shw -hiy. Th wih

a hib wch I pu h p i h ik agai...

Jv! Ev y-v, a I ha wi sv hu-

ws. N ba su ha! I, vy g!

Tim a ciga a a s u ha wis-

m m h ga. I sum a wv, a

h i abu w mius i was ’cck a

uch im. A uch, s h way a higsig; sumb; ah s. Aiva h sc-

ps a Russia py ha cs y shiigs.

Ta, a pusa h mig pap. Th ah

sp wk, a h ay was g, vaish, is-

i away. A abu v ays ma a wk, a

y-igh wks a ya.

N wspap-ppis, cibus, ci-

cuais, pacas, ap-machis, has, pas,

ccs, picu-gais, cubs, sauas, pais.

Ugus! Nhig aicia, xcp mys a

my wk! A hig, sav h a -ay,



166


cm bw mys a my wk!I was u, yu wi m. Bu I yu i

was magic. My, siu, a ssia

h u aciviy h ais. Jus as a hs is s

bs wh cusig a v a ga pai, s h

c a caus gism h ais cms is

pci i a vas xpas cusm, isu, a

appay vacuus vi. T isis gig

his wk, kp his mi a bak ui h wk,

g b h i chck, ushs i ha mp-

iss a s i up—ha is h scs

imagiaiv cai. O cus i is a cip

vy ais. I hav kw aiss, a gui s,

wh cu kp hi mis mpy a suck i h

bauy h w vm wihu h sigh-

s icuy; wh y w, as h ay Bis

hu, wh hy w hugy a h was h-ig i h p. Bu I was ha spcis. O h

cay, h icuab habi iusy, h ich

h p, was my chis cus. T b upuciv

m ha a cup ays s was b mis-

ab. Lik ms wis I was quy h vicim

a igica, isib a causss ma-



167

Arnold Bennett

chy; bu ki machy cu aways bxpai, a ha was h machy iss.

I cu v iv mys wih hbbis. I i

a much, xcp i h way busiss. Tw hus

aig, v Tugv Bazac Maig,

wai m u. A auh c mak m:

“I know enough, I don’t read books, I write ’em”

I was a haughy a aga sayig, bu h is a

ss i which i was u. O I hav ik ha:

“I kw ugh, I ugh. I my uu is as

g as my pas, I sha si b ab pu w

h h pa wha I hav aay acqui.” Thcsciusss his, wha a xaiay a

wu musum pcpis a mis my

bai was, susai m may a im agais h

chagis, h ays, a h as h aisic

ca. O hav I sai iway: “W, wh I

ak wih yu, i wih yu, wag wih yu, v

yu, a ha yu, I csc!” Evy ais has

sai ha. Pp ca i cci; pp may ca i

wha hy pas. O h gas higs a ga

ma sai, is:—



168


I kw I am augus.I ub my spii iica is

b us....

I xis as I am, ha is ugh.

I h i h w b awa I si

c.

A i ach a a b awa I si c

Nvhss, m, h cm h

uima i supass h cm h p-

uima. A h i was, phaps, ha I -

sc L m im im ik a w h , a ma h w awa, a sach

is vish jys a spac, a h, sui a

avis, w back a aps i my g

my. A smims I wu suy ha

a ass mys:

“Yu may b ich yu may b p;

yu may iv i ga pmp a uxuy, i ss.

Th pi is ha yu wi aways b, ssiay,

wha yu a w. Yu hav a saisaci

k wa xcp h saisaci ciu-

ay ivig, acyig, imagiig, scibbig. Say



169

Arnold Bennett

ah hiy yas hs mia iguiis,hs imiab vaiais h hm bauy.

Is i g ugh?”

A I asw: Ys.

Bu wh kws? Wh ca pcu h -

gs h yig cuch?

Th E



I nTermIssIon

K ris M Adden

I was isappi h s im I ish

The Truth About An Author. I v h bgiig

wh A was h is a i ha ha ‘ags-

-ichs’ quaiy abu i. Bu a, my bcms

his bsssi, a wiig a m mas a .

I’s ccusi wih him iig h cuysia givig up i a wiig, a sayig, ‘yah,

his is kay, I guss I’ his ‘i I i, whav.’

I hugh, ‘Nw I kw why his has b u

pi s may yas bcaus his.’

I was’ ui I w back a k a h

171



172


a ha i was pubish a u ha i wasp pi him wiig h 30+ bks ha h

wu wi iaia am . The Truth About

an Author is a k a A B’s i jus pi

him wiig hs impa wks ha wu

a him his iay saus as h ga ais

wis h wih cuy.

Th truth abu A B i’ ay

a him iig h cuysi, bu bga

h. Th bk was impa A B

wi, bcaus i aw him vic a his

hughs a ccs; askig h qusis havy asks abu i, ccupai, happiss, c.

Whi I csi h bk b pac

cagicay i h agy sci, h sy

B’s i is ms caiy iumph. Th

bk is cuagm hs ims wh w usvs i h cuysi a hav giv

up, mmaiy, u hps a ams, a

w, “wha s i a ma?”

B i’ kw h wu b mm-

b v a hu yas a his bks w



173

Arnold Bennett

wi. H i’ hik h was gig wi ay-hig b, m ppua ha wha h’ aay

wi. H hugh h’ hi h p, h hugh h’

achiv vyhig h cu i his i. Li i

h kw, hw a m h p h was. A ha his

iay ca was ay jus bgiig.

I mis m ha h bs higs i i ha

sm a, u sigh a u ach, may b jus

aha, waiig, a w sps m wh I sa w.

Th x sci is h s a ms

hugh ciicisms h i a wk A

B. The Truth about an Author is y ha h

sy, bcaus i’s abu hw A B saw h

w, bu i’s i his bigaphy by P. J. Havy Da-

w ca s hw h w saw A B.



a rnold benneTT

B y P. J. HArVey dArton

175



ChaPTer 1

“The Industrious Apprentice”

BY a cusm uusua amg auhs, A

B has uc gi his gpas. I

may b a m pvsi msy; i may b

hs pacica, isiius aacks h pub-

ic mmy which a h sypig such

abs as Hy Ivig Ha Cai: whav h

caus, h vis h Fiv Tws has sugh

a am. H was chis Ech A B.

Which , h s am may b smb

is s h, whm w a ha h “was”.

177



178


A B cam i h w 27h May1867. O h sam ay h sam ya was b

h Ca, Ewa Hy Machi, a i h sam

ya h upias h Busy wivs, Csac

Pvy a Sphia Scas (és Bais), w c-

ba. This xac chgica paa bw

ca a ca is hay pu sigi-

cac, bu i is a umb mi cicic-

s h ki.

“Th w which ha h sigh

ba m, a which is gig b amus ha

sc”—a chu pic mck gism m The

Truth About an Author—was, m sicy, h is-

ic Sh, h-as Hay, i “Th Fiv

Tws” Pis. I is bvius ha ha wh

gi ma a iib impssi h yug

A B. H was viy vy ssiiv ay impssis, a h miuss h ca

scipis i h Fiv Tws vs fcs his

xaiay byish cpiviy. H says h Ba-

is’s shp, isac—h sc much The

Old Wives’ Tale—ha “i h svis, I ha iv

i h acua ap’s shp, a kw i as y a



179

Arnold Bennett

chi cu kw i.” H mmb as h su aig saucpas wh h was abu w

h, a “a vy g a mysius passag ha

a pawshp a u back bus.” Ths

a uxciig ais, bu hy suggs ha sag

pcss ucscius assimiai vim

uig yuh which s may auhs asmu i

a ays i h abic i.

A B cay iscv h sac

iau, i ay a ss, a his sch ays

w v, a i may phaps b ccu ha

h wh h civ i yuh i via cuag-

m was s. I was i ha h

pi pssi wiig was uish him wih

h ba a bu i, much ss h caks

a a. Lik Ewi Cayhag, h was uca

a Nwcas-u-Lym, a h Ew MiSch. H maicua a L Uivsiy (“ha

augus gai h vy ia a Uivsiy”)

abu 1885, a hch v hims h

suy h aw, i h c his ah, a sici.

H h Fiv Tws i 1889, a w



180


L, wh h a sici’s c, a“cmbi cuig i h ppaai css wih

a hu a hiy ws a miu a shha.”

H civ £200 a ya hs svics, a i

was sm im b h aiz ha h was

Nau’s juaiss, a cu a ga sums by

m cgia wk.

Y h aizai migh hav cm him

v ai. B h Hay h ha b a

upai cibu a pmi ca pap. I

may hav b h w-kw Staordshire Senti-

nel (h Signal h vs); i may hav b a

vasc iva, ik hs cc wih “Dy”

Machi a Gg Ca, h bigamus husba

Hia Lssways. F sm such jua, a ay

a, h ac as ca csp, a u

u, uaiigy, ha-a-cum a wk aciusa saiica cmms up h w’s pubic a

smi-pubic i. H i as, uig his ay pi-

, wi a sh sy a a sia: bh aius.

Ths xpics, ub, hp giv him

aciiy, whi hy cu hay hav a him

m usss vaiy.



181

Arnold Bennett

I h sici’s c i iv him iiau, i a ay a pmi h suy i.

A B cc bks—as a cc,

as a a—a “simpy gg Egish a

Fch iau h amusm I cu xac

m such guy.” A chac bsvai by a

i, accig his w accu, va

him ha h migh b a ashic si a a

s: a quay uius mak, a i a,

suggs him ha h hims (soi-disant , i h,

h ms caus a immbi phisphs)

migh pssss h aisic mpam. H w apiz wy guias i a jua which i is ha

iiy as Tit-Bits. H ha a sy accp

by The Yellow Book. Th hig was , bh psy-

chgicay a i h acs h mak: h was

a auh, a ma s. Th a his w

bih may b pu appximay a 1893.

Th Tit-Bits piz was awa a cmpac

humus cmpssi ha amus -hu-

sa-pu cmpii sia, Ga A’s What’s

Bred in the Bone. The Yellow Book sy (“A L

Hm”) w appas as h as Tales o the Five



182


Towns, wih h “wi i 1893”; i ap-pa i pi i 1895. Tha sam ya, 1893, saw

h appaac a wk a c ss ambiius a

ss uy pcaim—a sia sy i h chi-

’s magazi, Chatterbox, ca Sidney Yorke’s

Friend .

His aciviy s bcam muiaius a i-

cssa. A B u -ac juais,

cibuig a ma aics a ma

magazis. H aai vy s a psii sm

scuiy a spsibiiy, as sub-i a subs-

quy i h wma’s jua, Woman (w

uc). B g h was a gua cibu

The Academy, h passig hugh a S. Mai’s

summ iay xcc u h iship

M. Lwis Hi (ispi as H. G. Ws). Th

mak The Academy hs ays was xmcass a fxibiiy xpssi, wi kw-

g, a a w-baac ass jugm:

h is -ay iay jua qui h yp.

Duig his pi, A B as ac

as a fu a misci viw, a amaic ci-



183

Arnold Bennett

ic, a paywigh a a pubish’s a. A amusigaccu hs ivsis appas i The Truth

About an Author.

Ths w h uwa sigs h app-

ic auh. Th iwa gac was a vy iba

a cscius suy wha wiig ma. I 1896

A B sv kp a jua.

“Aay h ha ci b a succssu

auh, a, as h viw i, h kpig a

jua was a ms vauab pa h ap-

picship ha ca... Th pi h ms

a was iss, a h si hikig

wihu wiig.”

Th quai is m a pivay pi

vum scis m his jua (Things that

Interested Me, Busm, 1906); sm xacs as

appa i Methuen’s Annual (1914). Th iay-

kp sv wi i h jua s may

ws a ay, impv his pws bsvai;

a h kp his w. Th ucm such isci-

pi, ji iusy, may b jug m a -



184


y ma h yas a:

“Suay, 31s Dc. 1899. This ya I hav

wi 335,340 ws, ga a. 224 ai-

cs a sis, a u isams a s-

ia ca The Gates o Wrath hav acuay

b pubish; as my bk pays, Polite

Farces. My wk icu six igh sh

sis y pubish, as h ga pa

a 55,000 w sia—Love and Lie—

Tiss, a h wh a, 80,000

ws, my Sashi v, Anna Tetti-oright .” (Ri: Anna o The Five Towns)

Th h cuy, m ss, css

his pi. Th bks acuay puc uig i,

apa m mi aymus wks, a hs

aay c, w The Truth about an Author,

Fame and Fiction (bh which appa i The

Academy), A Man rom the North (1898), Journal-

ism or Women (1898: h ui xpics

Wma), a ubss h subsac How to

Become an Author (pubish i 1903). I 1900 A-



185

Arnold Bennett

B w iv i Fac, maiig hay igh yas. May his bks w wi

h, a a cag i Faibau.



ChaPTer 2

“Life And Letters”

IN yas s, h, A B ha

a h wh vaius ui iay puc-

ivss, a ha “ci b a succssu auh.”

Hw i h pgss was uig his hps?

Wha was h ai, a his pi his ca,

bw his i a his “s”?His s v, A Man rom the North, p-

vis a ix ambii a accmpishm.

I maks is auh a c as a cscius, v a

s-cscius, iay ais, sivig a a cai

bjciv c. I was pubish by M. Jh La

187



188


i Ega a h Ui Sas i 1898. T a x-p, ha sam a says much. Th m pi

a biig h s ii say ss. Th bk

was, i ac, a puc “h igh-iis”—

ha suus a w im pi iba a-

isic hypphy, wh h Biish Babaias w

smi m h hi-ps, wh The Yellow Book

was b a i a The Savoy s m is

ashs, is a phix bu uimy, wh Wi

a Dws a Basy w hugh shckig,

a Whis qui spcab. Hw a w

sms ha isca iupi i h Viciaa; hw a is A B.

A Man rom the North was phma. (I

us h a ss h w is y why b-

s.) I was i h mvm, bu ms isicy

i. I was b h mvm, i ss.I w h iay ai h w ashic vu-

i. I is by a h ms “iay” A B-

’s bks. Lik A L Hm, i is wi wih a

visib amp a “sy”—a usig ws sy

as ci, umia uis i a mass. Bu i as

wih h vy cass ms abh by h h yug



189

Arnold Bennett

is. I is h sy a yug Busy ma—a a-i h Cay Vs, ypica Fiv Tws ais-

cas—wh cam L, a awy’s c,

i bcm a auh, ha i v wih

wma, a mai ah (a a-shp waiss),

vuay jcig, h sak his maiag,

ha aisic ca which h was phaps

why . I is, a ga x, a chic

h impssis L a i mak a p-

vicia wh is a mixu busiss abiiy, aisic

mpam a ssuus cuisiy.

Nw h is h s a gas mysy

iau i his bk. O may say A B

was ac by h as, h avac as, his

ay; cus h was. O may say ha, ik may

auhs, h w up sm his w xpics;

vy iky h i. O may say ha havig a,by ga iigc a pacic, wi, h w:

h i s, vy skiuy; as Ais iscv, yu

bcm g by big g. O may say ha h

a a absb much Fch iau. I is a

qui u. Bu w i hs iubiab

acs xpais h ga ac auhship. Thy may



190


hav b h pacica, miig causs hw i which succss i iau ma A

B. Thy w h causaiv causs, h

s simuus. Hw i h awy’s ck really b-

cm a vis?

Such a qusi ca v b asw.

N auh—uss aks qui siusy P’s

c-b, as i w pshumus, accu

h aximy which puc The Raven—has y

civ va h bscu pcss by which

h viaby a msaby pus ws gh

i ha which w ca py ps. A

B s us ha simuus iau h

civ was a i’s mak ha h was “highy

sug”. “Wh I ha cv m my supac-

i, I gw wih pi.” Tha sc a is a

wh pim psychgy. Highy-sug piwu wi s-csciusy; i wu sc ajc-

ivs, ack h mot juste is ai i h cba

wiigs, imagi a ma ssiiv fuigs

which cu y b a mis by a pahic

aacy. Bu i mus hav sm subjc ma, sm

quick a xpic, up which wk. A



191

Arnold Bennett

i mus smhw big h imms gap bwccpi i h bai a h xcui hs

back a whi maks pap w ca ws.

“Csis ssaiaism”, i h phisphic

ss, “is spchss”: vy mi is v b

i ca pssiby b c. Wha appas i pi

is a hybi impssis a fcis, vayig

i quaiy a siy, accig h m h

mm; sm sciiss wu say vayig acc-

ig h sa h igsi.

A Man rom the North may b ak as,

h wh, h wk “highy-sug pi”. Bu

h subjc ma was puc u pas xpi-

c—u c, ha mis; a h acua

xpssi was c by h bss sugy

juaism, by h skiu maipua ws,

whs busiss i is, abv a, mak his csppy. Ths w as pssssis quaiis—

xpic i a xpic s—A

B has aways ai. Th pi, h mi-

a cci, h was vy s suppss m visib

appaac.



192


Th pacicay cva v, The Gates o Wrath, shws pi cci y i a waywa

m—h cci a ma gius sig u

shw ha h ca h ss higs i h s

wi. Nay vy w-kw vis s

a ubs a is wi a ssaia v

b ha h ha psss ha a.

A B is m his ws i achiv-

ig m succss ha ms hm; hugh The

Gates o Wrath was a vy happy bgiig i

ha vi. High spiis a i i, bu ih h vi-

a sgh xpic h ssiivss “pi”. I is cc wih a p away wih

a vy ich yug ma i h iss his baui-

u wi. I is wi i h pp mus ma-

, wih papiais a aams iumab. I

is ga impac. I may b mak ha

i vas smhig A B’s cuiusy

miu is i isss, a iucs a mh

mu—h cucig a chi a v pa-

i—us v agai i Leonora, a w yas a.

Th w habks juaism a h

ciica ssays i Fame and Fiction hay h



193

Arnold Bennett

sam psychgica is as h wks ci.Obviusy, h qusi “subjc a bjc”, h

mis which mak up psaiy,

i hi csiui a a uy. Thy a as

jugms up pab xpic. Fame and

Fiction, i, is ypica ha si A B-

’s wk—h pi his iiviuaiy which

is iy caha has ma up is mi up

a ams usympahic baac csiais,

a says wha i hiks qui paiy. Y h jug-

ms s iv a a bm mas aih,

a h aih bhi hm is xcigy sigica.A B sas u, i hs ssays, as w

pss—as a ca-ha, cmmss aays,

h highs pw, i ac, h ski ab; a

as a cvic iay mca.

“Th avag a [h asss] is a ii-

g a asab big... H has his ws

a his b s, a h a ims wh

h wi yi h m; bu h wh

his impuss a g... I vy wi wh

as his spc a uig v h is



194


sm ca ighusss, which is capab big ac xpai, a a which i

is impssib s.” (Fame and Fiction, p.

10.)

Tha amus bi i h “csa”

humaiy— h aih ha h is a siua -

m agm i a mas pii: vy

w pp ca g i a h accia ms,

bu smwh h is a siuum. Th g

hig mais as a auh’s si viu, h may

xcsccs ashi pjuic pass. Fam is;h su ivs. Tha is h bi uyig hs

ciica ssays; a i is a mcaic bi, ivc

m aih i pubic sch a uivsiy uca-

i, ak, cassica aii. I is a us i

h uima g ss iay m. I s

pcu, i v ivvs, a isus hi ps

ssssss. A B is u why

hy a ssss i ga paicua bks, a

wh h gai g ss is hi.

Tha pi viw, a gma mcacy,

is as a cay ski ab. A xpic



195

Arnold Bennett

juais kws b ha ay ha humbug,piusss, chapss ca y pay ciuus-

y i hy isguis hmsvs uy a bcm i-

higs. Bu auhs ca chag hi us

i ay a ss; a as, vy w ca. Th, i

hy ciu b ppua v a g pi, h

is smhig i hi wk wh csiai. A

phisph wu say ha sg hsy is

ui sm aci i has bcm aih. A jua-

is wu say:

“I 50,000 pp buy a v whs sh-cmigs i h-a, w may b su

hy hav cspi s, a as

ha hi appay sag uaimiy is

u chac.” (Fame and Fiction, p. 5.)

Tha is A B, h juais, spak-

ig. I is as A B, h s h ms

puy mcaic sciy i Ega, h Fiv

Tws mi cass.

Journalism or Women a How to Become

an Author ai us. I vy iay aspi-



196


a wu a hm, pubishs a is cuak six mhs’ xa hiay vy ya. Supi

pss may spis such guis h Tmp

Liau. Th wis, v i hy hm,

ca appcia h saiy a hughss h

hp . Th is v ay ag ha ais

pci wi puc pci.

W a , h, wih h hisy hs

achivms, The Truth about an Author. I ca

b am mphaicay ha his is h uh

abu a auh. F sm as h—maiy,

ub, bcaus h mmis viws a

ap b yug a sh ag—his bk

is issu i 1914 was a as pacicay a w

wk, hugh is auhship ha g b a p

sc. Mv, is subsac, v i 1914, ap-

pa hiy may as, wh w icapab hikig ha h cmmc i sius pi

ma cu pssiby b si. Tha h was

as xpss h s appaac h bk i

1903, a ai i sia m. I ca y say, m

psa xpic, ha w i The Truth

About an Author is xagga, a ha pp



197

Arnold Bennett

wh wi my ca hp sig ha myis bauiu.

Th bk is a m ba uciiy. I is

wi a csuc wih h csumma aci-

iy xpic, a as a maiciusy accua ph-

gaph acs i ca bu a amusm. I

pvs, i p w , ha a appay (bu

ay) amphus bk ik The Old Wives’

Tale has bhi i a vas accumuai ha wk.

A w ga auhs hav v ha wk—

ask wk, ha is say, h ha h siab

fw gius. Thy a vy w. A iay hack

may k back up h cmpay his a, a

ak ha; bhi him, i h bscuiy hi

ay ab, sa Shakspa, Fiig, Jhs,

Gsmih, Thackay a Dicks. Th is

sham i aig ’s busiss, y i makigu ’s ba a bu.

Whh The Truth About an Author is h

uh abu A B is agh ah

qusi. I hav sai ha h psychgy i-

ay is a pbaby isub mysy; i is as



198


iab, iscibab a hig—i, muchh sam hig—as h psychgy py, which

a ps iy. A B s h

xi acs his vui, a a i h -

igs a hps which aima him. Bu hugh h

has a uusua gi gig usi his w ski,

psa ispci, h a ms i

his chaac which h hims ca hay xami

wihu pjuic. H sms smb his

w iimiab h, h Ca—a busiss ma

wih h akish, is ispiais gius, bu

abv a a Fiv Tws ma. I is im, h, csi m csy A B’s “mici

igi”, as h phasgy Amiay, Divc

a Pba wu ca i. H ibay chs h

pssi iau; h a miuy h busi-

ss i; bu i was uimay his vim ha

cii his pgss i ha pssi. I is his

ca vim, , ha givs him a m ha

ca impac Egish iau.



ChaPTer 3

“The Five Towns”

THE Fiv Tws i i h h Sashi.

Thy a h c h gas py mau-

acu i h w. “Yu ca ik a u

a acup wihu h ai h Fiv Tws; yu

ca a a ma i ccy wihu h ai h

Fiv Tws” (The Old Wives’ Tale, p. 3). As AB uss h m, h v ws a Tusa

(“Tuhi”), Busm (“Busy”), Hay (“Ha-

big”), Sk-up-T (“Kyp”), a Lg

(“Lgshaw”), wih Nwcas-u-Lym (“O-

cas”) as a sixh: “Ocas”, i, is m

199



200


pmi ha “Lgshaw”. Piicay, h wsa wships a iy gup, a a

g v. Nwcas is a bugh by is: i has

b a bugh igh hu yas, a i ivs

up ha aci igiy. Th h sss

humaiy a chify h ucm iusiaism.

Thy a ccivy am Sk-O-T, which

cmpiss Sk-upon-T, Hay, Busm, Tu-

sa, Lg a F, wih hi sububs: his

hug w bugh, wih a ppuai 235,000,

was ca i 1908, a bga xis ciay i

1910.Th Fiv Tws a as h sc i

smig a ca-miig. Thi achicu is h-

“a achicu vs a chimys”, a

h amsph “is as back as is mu... i bus a

smks a igh, s ha Lgshaw has b cm-

pa h” (The Old Wives’ Tale, p. 3). Ta-c-

a a uvy usas bick a h maias

is buiigs; w a ha h mi h

ih cuy, a h cab which as

a gy igiy a Ggia hus h bu accu-

as ugiss.



201

Arnold Bennett

Y a w mis away, i iy viags wihwhich A B, by his us hi ams

h pupss i his bks, is viy amiia, is

h iay, uchagig cuy i Ega.

Sashi is h ms Egish cu-

is, w-wa, u s a maws a

i his, g a i, wih aci chuchs

a bigs, a a caha w, Lich, ha

has a i y gacius wih h mmis is

ighh-cuy igiy, bu ams cva wih

Chisiaiy i Ega. “I has vyhig ha Eg-

a has.” Qui hugh is gh a bah us“h iv T, h cam a chaacisic sam

mi Ega,” which iss h mis h

h Fiv Tws, h hi scib by A

B as “amus is igius gis,” bu

m sympahicay mmb i h hisy

Egish Ncmiy as Mw Cp. O h ws-

bs i h maic mach as h D,

h Sv a h Wy; h h a ws h

Dbyshi Ms: h suh h g ba-

s a h spia m acis Wcs-

shi a Wawickshi. A ma migh am a



202


siay i u i h cmpai sams ams, mis m Busm.

Sm hs aua phma a imp-

a his ciica xpsii. I, a ais

vy vim a impa: i is uwhy

mak (A B maks i) ha hiy

mis Waig S u hugh Sashi: s

g a a h has ca i. Bu h

is wh sci h cuy which may b

gc as uy by h ciic as i is by h i-

habias h Fiv Tws: h ua suuigs

ha uba isic. Nwh i a A B-

’s vs, wh i ayhig h cs ay

his chaacs’ mis, is h ais ac ay

appciai v ay pcpi scy

“aua” bauy. S Lich a T, m a

maw, may vaish m his suvy ik h abic aiya; h sha b g shas shi-

ig cha pac Suay cam i hs pags—

hig bu m a wm a huss, a h

s ha bu i a h.

I i w u ha h a pp h P-



203

Arnold Bennett

is (usi vs) ca hig his qui as-pc bauy, h aci a gus pas

Sashi as a wh—i ha w u, a

i may may b u—h h wu si b

immia gu cmig hi is-

sibiiy. I is a ugiiv a cis ashic ha

shiks m h us a ha miy. Th

cci bw mac a h i-

has bcm a cmmpac, a, as M. Mas

has shw, i is pssib giv a savag bauy

h ms si bsiaiis huma au i ua

isics. A Fiv Tws passag which iscvs hsp ha may i i gim svs b ak

m is cx:

“T h Eas is h wi gy-g ma

wih miig viags whs sps

a wah i smk a . Ws a

h a suh a h Fiv Tws... H

hy hav bah a husa yas;

a h -ay hy pa i h v a

quick vui, wih a hi vas ap-

paaus mays a am a chais



204


c, hi gas a hi ciciy, hiswi asp, hi aiy pap, hi i-

gis, hi c pasus, hi vics, hi

passia sps, a hi sc ias!

Busy Tw Ha is ighig is cck—h

g ag v i is g visib—a

h cck Habig O Chuch asws;

a h bu ac amps Kyp shuig

ya fick i big; a u h hi-

z, a i h ps vay a Cau,

h yw s uacs gw bigh i

h s cmig h usk. Th immscgis ss a squas, i

huss a ga has a mauacis,

chuch spis a pu smkig chimys

a chap ws, mig gh i

wus gaism ha schs a s

uvy away mis i h gimy miss

is w ss paig.” (Whom God hath

Joined , Chap. 1)

Such is h aspc h Fiv Tws: a pia

smk by ay, a pia by igh. Wha w-



205

Arnold Bennett

ha s u h gius pac (a spii w ws ss ha haus pac)

shu s aways i such a paga “h aua,

bauiu, iviab maisai h isuc-

ib c ha is wihi us”?

Up h m miu aus his vas

ccus ams A B has a wih

uss a csiscy. Ay Fiv Twsma ca

cgiz ms h pacs m h scipis

i his vs. I ik ma, Fiv Twsm ca

iiy cai pss a vs, spciay i h

sh sis. I wu b isc giv h

acua ams h pp. Th impa pi is

h ac A B’s iy a i,

phass i.

H has, h wh, w h pi as

w as h pac his w i, bu y a sci h Pis’ i. Th pp i h Fiv Tws

vs bg hay a z amiis. Excp i

a w pimiay scs h a h, hy a a

abv h ps cass; hy a h m ss

pspus asm a mi pssia m



206


a cmmcia c. Equay, hy v mpa h upp uig casss. Thy a h mi-

cass, pai a immiigab.

Th a w ws which A B-

csay uss abu hm—“maiy” a

“gism”. Th s is, s spak, his ix

jugm—h ca’s cii h ca. Th

sc is a quaiy bjcivy ispay by h p-

ss, a ivvig cassicai jugm

a a. Th maiy Daius Cayhag migh

b ca w bu sg, his s Ewi high

bu wak; bh aik a giss. O h wh,

h Fiv Tws maiy, i h vs, is vigus

a cas, a hi gism csa. Bu i yu

appi ih m h mi cass h au-

hs, yu wu g vy p sus. Th wu

b py iisycacy, bu i a maiy.Thy wu b giss ah ha giss (a sub

bu a ic—a gis is cci, a gis

my s-c). Thy wu b suac yps,

ccis iims, s spak. Th Fiv Tws-

m a cca a gui. Thy shw i

a appa hypcisy. Thi subsac, as w



207

Arnold Bennett

as hi appaac, is baac a si; hy amusy bus a aggssivy s-spcig.

Thy hav a cpa a iiviua psaiy.

Fuh, as a as scia vaus as a c-

c, hy a py a avwy mi cass.

Thy a s-sais as w as s-c. Thy

a fa a fu by h iusis h

Cuss Ch i hi civic i; bu hy

, h wh, wa smb m a gu-

a pa h sciy sh qus. I his c-

ci h Fiv Tws shw sm h high s-

spc h aiia Egish mi cass, which

phaps has v ay xis xcp i a w L-

mchas abu 1450.

Egism, h, ma a scia, is hi

pmia chaacisic. I is a ca cii,

xpai by ca ciis. Th Pis usaiways a s. Thy ha b gag cu-

ss gais i sig s-sucig a

pspus ca. Thy psv, h, wihu

chag, my hi a cusms, bu hi

psa mas. Thy w, ui qui c



208


yas, a pic Ega wa i h vy ha Ega. Th m a h aiway hav ma

ga asmais; bu ui 1880 a i a

h Twsm w ik h Abaias b h

Tukish Rvui, wh, wh h Yug Tuks

s pvai, w bsv cm m hi

hi sss, bikig, cuius, am wih sag

waps, i a w, a scia , hy ha v

s.

I hav xagga hi acua isai a

i. Bu i is a a hig, a h may quai-

is ispay by A B a by h pp

i his bks. Thy aways hik hmsvs igh,

isac. Thy sm aw ay h pi

viw ha hi w. C wih w ai

ias a saas, hy shw a picky siv-

ss vy icu vcm. Thy hav v hah gss amiy. Th p baks

w h gais ag—scib wih i-

b c i Chaps IV a V Clayhanger—w

a ghasy ba, wh piy wakss

u m iv. Th Fiv Twsm 1860

1900, h, ha aii m i-



209

Arnold Bennett

h spii maia icus. Isa, hyha is cvs, a high saa cm a

cicy, a h pi ha gs wih such a sa-

a. Such pi v kws wh i is giima

a , wh usmy a igb.

H h Fiv Tws, i, a up sg

aiv gu. I hy a pach wih ugiss,

hy cu asw ha hy a m i h amy

a ga kig. Thy mach i h aks a ag

g civiizai. Thi i, uvy by h ga

saas Miaa humaiy, maks h

ivs h m m uab a m

bauiu. Egish ahwa -ay (xcp is -

s pucs) may b saisacy m a ais-

ic pi viw. Bu i is puc by a maua ski

h pcig which iumab gais

hav g. Th civic accmpishm Lich,ha h civiizai Sashi, cumia i

h sway Aa Swa; wh sha say wh

py wi cas? A uima a pu cash

ias wu b ais by h cy a i ay

Fiv Twsma: “W ma ps a pas h b-

v a s Lich s. W a h pp



210


Ega. Yu a h imias Gc aRm a Nazah. G yu Capi.”

Fiay—a h h Fiv Tws a ik

h ga w—h pi cc wih

A B’s i a wk is abu which

ay gaizai ma my -ay may b i-

ab -mw. H as wih h uba

pch a h bgiig a w . By 1880—his

vs cba chify h h cas m ha

ya was, spciay h mi —Vicia

Ega was g Vicia. Th cs

h Iusia Sysm, h Rm Acs, h Fs

Eucai Ac, a h pa h C Laws c-

ici abu ha a puc a w Ega

which w, is ss, ca y s i pspciv.

Iusia i a is suuigs, sb-smig

b h, y c, wh i s s up hsi ay Vicia uais, appay ga-

ish a i-baac, bga civ ha sh a

vivi cmmcia quickig which w a ap

ca, wih sm ijusic usvs, Amica.

Eciciy iva sam; muicipaiis gw m

cpa; cm a wah a ppuai w



211

Arnold Bennett

ub. T a ma i ha w h w Busyh w mus hav b wha A B says

vy g juais s i—isig a vy

mm i. “F h majiy pp h ah

is a u pac... Th ms umus xcpis a

vs a juaiss.” I is a chaacisic su

his vim ha a Fiv Twsma shu v

i u, a shu biv hims uiqu i

his chy aih.

L m h capiua h h ms

i A B’s chaac as a ais. H is

a Fiv Twsma—k, is, xcigy

shw, vy pacica a ci, imi i c-

ai icis, ah cas-b i hs. H

is a ai maipua ws. A h is highy

sug, which mas i spi a ms ci s-

c—i, as h su i—h is aways(whh h wishs i ) xpssig sm aspc

his xpic, pig sm iy wiw his

su, spakig u (hwv aiy) sm whisp

psaiy. Yu ca b highy sug a

s; h p yu ssiiviy a h m sub-

y yu siv hi yus, h m uy yu



212


appa i yu wk—hugh vy may s yu. Ay c wi yu ha h mask a

vus pai is wha bays him. I is h sam i

iau. A g auhs a “vus”—hugh

vai, ysppic, aisic ga ha a usuay

h ajcivs iagsis. Th uh abu a au-

h wi u, v wh h is i isguiss i.

Note On The Topography Of The

Five Towns

I is pssib iiy i ai ms h

pacs i h Fiv Tws vs. Phaps h aibu-

is a aways xac, ay m ha i h cas

Thmas Hay’s Wssx: bu hy a a ay a

vraisemblable, i aws a w i iscp-

acis h a h, a ca chags m im

im.

Th ciius ams h chi ws hav

aay b mi. “Tuhi,” “Busy” a

“Habig” a hs ms quy us, a

hs h Busy has h p-mic. I h mi-



213

Arnold Bennett



214


Busy, i h mak-pac, sas ( si 1911) h Tw Ha. Oppsi is h Lpa

H (h “Tig”, amus is bamai). H

as is h Buch’s Mak, Shambs. Th i-

gua spac is a gagi ss. Easwas us

Ma Ra (“Mh Ra”) Sma-

h (“Mh”); h his a is h

Bugh Pak, a ss (“Bycas La” a “Pak

Pac”) ga impac xcp i Helen

with the High Hand a The Price o Love. Busy

aiway sai is as h, a smwh i h

h-asy gi h mak-pac c ay“h B Tub.”

A h h-ws c h makpac

buchs Livp Ra (“Tuhi Ra”); a h

ws, Nwcas S (“Ocas S”). Ag

Ocas S, pas h vay i which h Ta Msy (“Kyp a Msy”) caa us, is

h u h ashiab subub (ay sub-

ub, bu a spaa paish) Wsa (“Hi-

p” a “Phi”—Nwp, Lgp a a a

Phi a a by h way). “Shawp” Sai, i

h vay, is Lgp Sai.



215

Arnold Bennett

Tuhi Ra a Ocas S a h h mak-pac cumia, was h

suh, i h ms amus a hs haus—S.

Jh’s (“S. Luk’s”) Squa, wh w h shps

h Baiss, h Pvys, M. Cichw, H’s,

a h c Dy Machi. Bas’s ccupi

ms h suh si h Squa, which, ik

h h si, was spi up by sva as. Suh-

as sch “Bugham S” (which is m

ik Navigai Ra ha ayhig s). Fm h

suh-as ag Chuch S (“Kig S”) a

w h paish chuch S. Jh, a m hsam ag, ams u as, Qu S (“Wg-

w S”) “Duck Squa” a Wa

Ra (“Taaga Ra”). Th h-ws c

Wgw S was ca “Bu Tac”;

h Dai Pvy mu his wi.

Th Duck Squa gi is a i bscu;

appay i is h ah shapss i ac b-

w Wa Ra pp a h mak-pac,

wih a chap, a sch, a a paygu h

as si. A is suh ( h suh si

Wgw S, ha is) s h Sam Piig



216


Wks Daius Cayhag; M. Duca’s c,s sc h Ca’s aciviis, was as i h

Squa.

H agai is a gagi as, h chi

hm Wa (“Taaga”) Ra, h mai uk

i bw Habig a Busy. Wh Taa-

ga Ra ji “Abuki Ra” “Wam La”

(Ni S) s h “Dag”, whi xacy

paa Taaga Ra, sm isac, a

“Wisu Bak”.

Th w Mhis chaps—Pimiiv a

Wsya—a sai hav b i Kig S a

Duck Bak spcivy; bu cai ais h a

icguus wih -ay’s pgaphy. Th h

Agica Chuch, S. Pau’s (“S. P’s”), is a i

isac u h-as h mak-pac.

Fw w Taaga Ra. Ha-way agi, was Habig, is Cbig, h siia

subub ca “Bakig.” Smwh h—p-

haps a h c Em (“Oak”) Ra—s h

w hus h Cayhags, x h ga

h Ogavs, magica gv v. T h ws is



217

Arnold Bennett

Gg Fam (“Ma Fam”). N a h as Cbig is Sy G (“T E”), h high-

s pa h Fiv Tws. A s Habig,

whs ca Squa (“Cw Squa”—Cw

Bak is cs h Mak Squa) is y ah

c ac. Bu Habig is wh s v-

igy a micuusy scib as Busy; h

chi aus w h Saac’s Ha (“Tuk’s

Ha”) a Bsck’s a Bu’s ss, which as

hav a igias. Th Cau I Wks a

h suh: smims hy a uisguis, bu m

“Cau” sas A B’s bih-pac, Sh.

Nih is Tuhi Kyp much imp-

ac. A Kyp is h chi aiway sai, wh

Gg Fas avi his wg wi; a Tu-

hi Hia Lssways w sm cag ppy.Has Hi (“Pihi”), si h chi imay, is

bw Kyp a Ocas. Lgshaw is hay

mi.

A w uyig isics a bugh i. “

Sy”, hm h Cuss Ch, a a Su-



218


ay s bs, is bviusy Tham, icy h Duk Suha’s sa. Sy is a

amus Sashi amiy a pac am. “Mai-

” a “Ax” a m icu; ach is mis

m h Fiv Tws, a hy may b ma

h sam pac. “Mai” is “h mpis

h mas,” a ha impis sm w h

h as. As a ma ac, h a Mai

Vay, h as, is a Fiv Tws pasu s—

a w. “Ax”, as h ms, is sai i The

Price o Love b ws Habig; bu h a

ms i ha ici. Lk, abu i mis h has, h Dbyshi b, a uy

“h-as T E,” is h ms iky igia

his w, m which Sphia Bais a away

may Ga Scas.

Eas Ocas a a cup viagswhich pvi a pmaau am—Siva +

Chs = Siv. Nh Tuhi is G-

hi (“Sivhays”); as is Chay, which is

isguis. “R Cw” shu b Back Bu, a ai-

way sai h-as Tuhi.



ChaPTer 4

“Fantasias and Philosophies”

THE cassicai his wiigs which A

B awas ap (h was ih h s

m vis h s iv such a

vauab gui his iis) icus six ha-

igs—Nvs, Faasias, Sh Sis, Bs-s,

Dama a I Cabai. Th as sci s cc us much. Dama bviusy quis a

chap is. O h u vs i h 1914

is, a ams why wih Fiv Tws i, as

pacicay a h sh sis. Thy mak up

s ag a pi h auh’s wk, hy a s

219219

Arnold Bennett



220


cay his s a ms chaacisic puci,ha hy mus b a a gh i hi sigi-

cac is bcm pai. W a , h, wih a

cci amaic, -Sashi wks

csisig u “vs” ( which A Man rom

the North b csi), six “aasias”

(a svh, The Gates o Wrath, havig b aay

iscuss) a a umb “bs-s”. I may

sm ha hy m a hgus cw. As a

ma ac, hy hav a vy isic cmmuiy

ispiai a xcui. Vsai as A

B is, h is Pus: h is smhig c-sa i vyhig h wis. A hs wks a i-

maisais a Fiv Tws mca wh

was wiig a ivig.

Tak h ssaia vs s. Thy w

am “aasias” aasicay. I ak i ha

h i ay cvys h auh’s pii h

bks. H ppuay shws vi music, a

h w is pbaby, h, a maph m

music. Tha is say, hs bks a b ga

as vivacius, skiu xciss up cai ca

ias i ach cas: xciss caig high spiis,



221

Arnold Bennett

chica aciiy, a xubac am. Thya saas, pas, ais— i Ecs’

vi: bu hy a smhig m ha ivus

impvisai—m spsib, m ibay

cmps, wi wih a ciica smi ah ha

a spaus augh. Yu migh say hy w h

haiwk a iay “Ca”, shwig i a

chaacisicay supisig ma.

Tha impis ha h is a g a c-

scius a ucscius ps abu hm. A

B is as capab ps as ay ma. The

Truth About an Author shws wih sius mcky

hw h mus hav jy wiig his s aasia,

The Gates o Wrath, hugh h ca i my a s-

ia i hs ays:

“As a i, I kw h quaiis ha a si-a ugh pssss. A I kw spciay ha

wha ms sias ack was a ag, ca,

uiyig, viviyig ia. I was vy ua

i ighig up such a ia my s s-

ia. Th a igia hms; pbaby

wi v i iv a igia hm;



222


bu my hm was a biia impsu igiaiy. I ha, , gau a passi,

a aasy, a i was iimica

h pjuics h sia a. I uh i

was a hm why much b am

ha I acc i.”

Tha is h spii a h aasias. Thy

w a wi pasu a p, mivs

iissuby mig. Thy a vs ias vig-

usy wk u, bu ga ias. Thy a

ach wih a chaacisic phm maiaciviizai, ais is highs pw. I mus b a

phm pai h avag ma, bu uy

a giusy aiz. Th auh aks i, a

shws vy ccivab sp i, a sm

iccivab sps as w. H bigs i, i a

gais spii isiv cuu, vy pssib

iusaiv am. H as pus xcim,

suss asii, apiiy mvm, a

a wy, causic hum. Tha is h wh pscip-

i. I spi h vy ccpi, hwv,

a hi agi miy, h aasias hav a a -



223

Arnold Bennett

c xcui. F bvius ass, h dénoue-ment i ssaia ci shu b ay as g

as pssib. A B psps his vais

y. Bu h ivaiaby vcws his p a s

ags h uig. Th sikig iiia ici i

ach cas appas b h summi his ispia-

i. H avishs ga ca up i, a h s

appa ub s much abu wha ws,

s g as h ca pi up ssais apiy. Th -

su is ha h a, by h h bk, ss

h simp aih which h pig sc aways

ispis. I is a cuius wakss s ci acasma, a suggss ha h ab aasia-

makig is iksm a h s impus is sp.

This c is pacicay abs m h w vs

wi i cabai wih E Phips.

The Ghost is as am a aasia, bu iis m is ws i aig wih h spiiua

w, h vy maia hs a m-

s. I s hw a masu p v a pa

sig s cy ha a his ah his ghs cu

iv i i: h bcam “a maig a jaus

spii, usig his spca ifucs cush h m-



224


as b ugh v h wma whm h hav ah.” I is, ik “h spakig mab

h su-subuig Chigg,” a wk h Eva

Gbi Sch, i which h b m-

us sys h musss.

Tw uh wks a vs mi.

Sacred and Proane Love has cs vy simia i

igi hs The Ghost , bu i i ma-

. I is wi ssiby i h s ps by a

Fiv Tws gi wh was “a sc vuiay.”

A a piva cus bi iau, sh

“cas b asham ayhig ha I hsy

ik.” Sh hsy ik vupuusss a ah

pmiscuus v (“subim immsy a u-

wiss,” sh ca i), s ha h ca was

a ay a uusua. H jy was b “a s-c-

siu aisqu,” “a py, puig payhig,” “a ma’s wma.” Oy i h mm h ah

is h a hi smhig p ha h ms

vai ssuaiy.

Bh hs vs ay su m issi-

biiy ig a hikig. T am h



225

Arnold Bennett

viss wh shik m acs, such bkscu hav b wi, ah, cu

hav b wi s, by M. Mas, M. C-

a, M. J. D. Bs. I ma ha hi

auh acks suby. A B is iiy

a spiy sub wh h is wkig up

Fiv Tws maia, a h is ccasiay sub

as i hs mi vs. Bu his ic a his

spii a his iay ss aik (s a as hy a

va i his bks) a iaquay mp

issus. I is ujus h mcacy

u mi say ha h y jys a vicisa as h su ca b xpss i w

ws: i ws, ha is, ubb smh ac

by usag. Nih ca h mi iumph casy,

i is h h mi bu h aima bai asw-

ig, viuay, a physica simuus.

This cuiy sxua a psychica mi

i A B is mphasiz by cai pis i

The Glimpse. This, by sm abai h paci-

ca juais, was Black and White (w

a) as a sh sy. Th i jusy bgg a

i, a A B ci i sv b a



226


v, a sh sy. S a v i is: h mbyis mbam i The Matador o the Five Towns u-

h sam i.

I The Glimpse a h waksss h Fiv

Tws iais a say, v pahicay, mai-

s. I is ha biv ha, wh h w i, is

auh i hik i a maphysica psychica

cum gui vau. I is quay ha

augh a i. Bify, i s hw a ma h w-

- mi cass appay i, ha a visi

h a i, a u his ps mic

w. I may b sai a c ha h h h

imagiaiv aiss h sam subjc i m

Egish iau—Bwig’s Epistle o Karshish,

Evy Ubi’s Grey World , a H. G. Ws’s

sh sy, Under the Knie—a s a abv The

Glimpse ha i i is b a a a hy mus bg. Thy suggs a spiiua w, a “w”

i which psaiy, pu a simp, psiss i a

ma cmpaib wih sm ha sugg c-

civ wha psaiy ay is. The Glimpse my

s h cu maphs spiiuaism visuaiz,

wih a puiy hugh. A B-



227

Arnold Bennett

is , i mas ik his, a sciis: h ca,as H. G. Ws s, suggs h ciuiy b-

scu “physica” cs which wu giv pausibiiy

a ba assi. N is h a maphysicia ik

Miss Ubi.

I am h w such a aiu as his.

Bu I mus a ha i is a cmp aiu i ai.

I cais pviciaisms which mak i impssib

accp h chi ma a wma a hi ag

L vau. Th “asa” scs a wi i a

sy xuba Laiiy which wu pu a ba-

is sham. Th ccpi wma mua

is Vicia-Tukish; a a ma’s ss hum

mus b mpaiy i abyac wh h s him-

s wi a ma su-m ha “h wma I

ha ca... was y a iab xsi my

gism.”Th xsi A B’s gism i

hs h vy uua bks is a avu

up gu usui a chaac s ai a

s mpamay isps. Ths a vs bas

up mi ah ha xpic, a mi



228


is h bs svas, h ws a as sab mass. Th pcuiaiy A B’s gius is

ha i is a is highs wh i is ms svy c-

. I hs bks i is m capic—a capic

csa wih is w’s xpic i a

capaciy s.

Th w maiig vs, h h ha,

a ma by i-quipp xavagac. Thy

a viuay aasias i ccpi, bu vs by

hi p aiy. Buried Alive is a gui cm-

y, wi wih a humus aciiy which y

i sc is m m miu a hugh-

u bsvai. A Great Man—“a ic”—shws

h sam pws cmic bsvai, appi

y h busiss si iau bu as h

psychgica sa auhship. I is ams a ci-

ius appix The Truth About an Author.A sigh jjuss scia bsvai may

b mi h. I as A B w a

h us h sam ais m ha c. F

xamp, h mpys pcisy h sam imag, a

ams xacy h sam ws, i The Honeymoon,



229

Arnold Bennett

Ms. Bach Hasam, h a vis, a iBuried Alive, Piam Fa. Th a sva i-

sacs h pacic: phaps h ms icab

is h mpym wic v a scipi a

paiss’s wk—i Anna o the Five Towns a

i a sh sy. O cus i is via c g-

ius. I simpy suggss a cai pig-hss

mi which is h ag cicy.

Nw a h vs a wih i his chap-

a, s spak, pasims: xpims, s

a s-xpssi, which A B ma

ccuy wih his m iba wk up

his aiv aw maia. I mus b ak as a s-

vi ppsii ha h Fiv Tws vs a

a high achivms. Ths wks a my

cv. A h sam im, h “highy-sug pi”

h auh cps up i hm—i h fair asupisig siuai, h vi jym i; i

h spa asss h assi his w

bis—bis up mas, as I hav sai, ai

his mpam; i h qui achm h

hum. Th “Phisphis” shw h pcsss

bsvai a s-aiig a xpic which



230


w gig bhi h xpims. A B- i, i hs vs, sui pubic as—

suppy a mak. T ha , h ai his mi, h

a his a, h mua his ias ( sm

hm) i vy isic ws. H aiv a a gsp

ma a ma a pacica cicy which

h ha hih b wig wihu wiig i

w. Th pck phisphis cai i.

Thy appa i Ega u a hai-

cap. Expssig h viw ha i is as, hy

a ab as hugh hy pcaim ha i is

humbug. O hi wapps appas h aguag

wha us b ca avism: i is w

pubiciy. O bk, isac, is sai cai

“big, sg, via hikig... hughs ha mak a

ma ach up his highs s. F may a a

a chac cu wih his bk may b h ssp h a succss.” Smhw, succssu

m aways caim h bs bh ws... Hw-

v, “big, sg, via hikig” is jus wha hs

makab i bks cai. Thy c-

ai h cmps cmm-ss, xpss wih

asishig simpiciy a icss, a bas



231

Arnold Bennett

up uimpachab hsy uk. Thy aa gui cicy, s-hp, pacica ia-

ism, ass iigc, siwy cuu,

vy high quaiy which vy ps wh ss u

avis h cass Bi has aways hugh h

cass Bi s shw. Th Ui Kigm is

quick wih h isic mi-mig, a ams

vsck wih agcis h pups, m h

physica gis M. Saw h bv

wiigs h a L Avbuy. Wh A

B’s habks The Reasonable Lie i

m h scs bks a cus a chaswih simia aims is i cmy, cass, a cm-

phsivss aguag. Thy a qui pc

ay sms. Bu hy a igia.

Th maiig aspcs his phisphy a

va m biquy i Paris Nights a ThoseUnited States, wh h appas as wha h is p-

ssy axius sm—a ypica Egishma.

H is ach, humus, s-pciaig: h

kws a xpais hw much b may ig

cusms a achivms a ha hi cu-

pa i Ega. Bu h ca hp, m ha a



232


Times a-wi, a cauy suppss ss paag.

Th chi s av i hs w bks,

h wh, a pacica—cc wih ma-

s a aciiis ah ha ias. Bu hy shw,

much m ha, isac, h habks, a

m ha ms h vs, hw wi is hi

auh’s ag kwg a xpic. I h

chs wi i a sy cib ausivss, ik

M. Kipig, A B wu b amus

his ci chica aig. Bcaus his mh

is si, mphaic, his cuius sms b

my cau phgaphy. H has assimia as

w as caagu.

I Liberty a h aics i The Daily News

uig h wi 1914-15 h is m uspk-

y a bviusy Egish. Bu h, agai, h shwshis psa quaiis—his cahass, his h-

ughss, a his passia mcaic cvici.

Th is a siciy i a his pacicass.

I h wa ssays i is phaps ca bcaus h

subjc is ga. Bu h is jus as uy cvic



233

Arnold Bennett

a i as wh h suggss hus h a-ig g iau, ha-hus cca

hugh, cau suy a paicua a, a s .

Wh h us his pacica gis h ccc-

i aasias, h siciy may sm imi-

ish v isappa: h psychgy iay

cmpsii caiy hps bscu i. Y i is

si h, i h shap a imms is i

civiizai—a ivy iquisiivss a kss

a s-cc. Th v, h bus, h si

smhig a s, which aimas h

Fiv Tws, aimas A B. S s hFiv Tws’ m cvici ha a m a qua,

a a i i, iby a h pusui hap-

piss. S, a ims, s h -aways-y Fiv

Tws’ ccpi wha happiss a i a,

a hi pcy giima aiss s, as

bks, ay viws m up such subjcs.



ChaPTer 5

“The Five Towns Novels”

IN h pac a -issu his gas bk,

A B ays ba, csciusy a uc-

sciusy, cai scs his a. I hav sai ha

h ibay bcam a wi, a ha, hwv

iba a ma may b, h mus va hims

wiy-iy. This is hw h s abu wiig The Old Wives’ Tale. H us s, a a saua i Pais,

a yug a py waiss, hss him, a

a ss pasig wh wa him h w.

Thy w him, wu hik, a pim

i. O ay a pai, y ay , a ap-

235



236


pa, uhikig pss, iicuus. Th pywaiss augh a h. A B, m whm,

a his hum, h as huma higs a

hi, saw i h absu wma “a ha-ig

v”. Sh ha c b yug a ha gw

, ha vp “m a yug gi i a su

ay.” H sv wi ha v. Bu h

saw ha i h was gig wi abu a iay

wma, sh mus b sigua iicuus: sh

mus “pass uic i a cw,” bcaus “h

wh m cy aisic ci is agais

ss i a pmi gu.”S The Old Wives’ Tale was ispi. I u-

is ispiai. Bu a h isk smig i-

va, I mus a h ais. A B ha

aay, i 1903, pa a v abu a wma

y (Leonora). H ha g ga Guy Mau-

passa’s Une Vie as a supm v, bu h ma

g by Une Vie, a ay a g as a.

The Old Wives’ Tale was a ibay vas u-

akig. I ac, i was vas accmpishm a

s. “F sva yas I k my pjc squay

i h ac a ivas, a h wak away



237

Arnold Bennett

wi vs sma scp, which I pucv six.” Th bk was vuay bgu i 1907,

a ish i 1908. I was a h c-b,

jyss hig i was ma b. Sphia, h baui-

u sis, was a. “Csac was h igia

[hi]; Sphia was ca u bava, jus

iica ha I ci csi Guy Maupas-

sa as h as u h ug.”

Th is h aamy auhship. Th

bk bga i a ga ia. I cai u h ia

a a g im, a wih a aii. I h ma-

whi, h Fiv Tws mca w a ivig,

jus as i auhs u ca ai wi. I

hav jus ciiciz hs “vs sma scp.”

Csi w wha h ag scp h Fiv

Tws vs mas.

A, s a, bsv ha A Bxpiciy ackwgs h ifuc Maupas-

sa. H says ha “i h iis w us ga

Une Vie wih mu aw”: h iis h maiv

pch hus cay. H ags hims wih hs

wh, ik him, s aai am, a ay a a-



238


i, i The Yellow Book. Nw h pch imm-iay pcig A B’s appicship

iau, hugh i abbvia h cicumsacs,

ik pi is ma jus as ay a paiy as

i h pch Dicks a Thackay:

“Li is msus, ii, igica, abup

a piga; a wk a, i cmpais,

is a, i, s-cai, aia, fw-

ig, a mascua.”— Rb Luis Sv-

s, Memories and Portraits.

Nvs w uway sk a u,

ik a pigig Epicuus’ h. Th ag Y-

bcky, h h ha, was aig is ca

maiy m Fac, a spis bh Vicia

happisss a a-Vicia mchaica ski. I

w ah xm, a h uig-

a h h sympahic imagiai h

a— sm b h ha civ u-

sa h bgiig. Fm h w sais a

(bh, cus, si psisig), bu chify m h

Fch, spag a hi, which may viss



239

Arnold Bennett

-ay—Jsph Ca, A B, smimsH. G. Ws, a ms h yug wis—a

paciis. I is Fch, wih a ic—Fch

i aisic ccpi, Egish i hugh a a-

bius xcui. I is pucs a ca ia a

ca ac i cuss ga masss ai.

Egish ci, i ac, sic, ughy spak-

ig, 1900, has shw a w bah a cuag.

O, i is u, a pmisig wi vas ha h

has suci spaciusss saiss x-

pic iv up his ambiis. Bu h spii

a sh impus is h. I migh b ug,

wihu a ga a uh, ha h impus is bu

a via quickig ashs paiay quch—

a u h agss Dicks a Thackay,

a Fiig a Richas si ah back.

Caiy -ay’s vs hav h sam g visia wi ag am. Bu h ga vs

h ighh a ih cuis w cass

vs, wi m a cass pi viw. Dicks,

a his ibaism, cu ih aw a gma

ai m yig s. Thackay, a

his pu humaiy, cu aw hig bu m



240


a wm bu ha a by cas—g-m hi iis. I h w sch h is i-

h high w. N is h a cssay bgiig

, xcp h bgiig bih a h

ah. Th chaacisic achivm is c

mass. A m v is ik a m ba. A

husa cicumsacs viba a vaish, sm-

ims wih i appa i-cci. S vivi

a a a h ais ha hy, a h

wh mvm, ig i h mmy. Ev a h

“” h su may b vagu. Bu h a a

h vis hav ak pa i a ba h su.Thy hav s i gh, a h a, wiy-

iy, has ha ac wha h auh cs b

aiy. Th is as h; s a g

h am a gacu xisc, ci

h cai a mi ub. Th is as

jugm up i by h vic a h-

ab aii; viss a g h highs

a ms gus puc a cassica ucai,

h vigus pgy a sima aia-

ism. Thy a m—h bigica summi h

ags. Scic, i ac, has iva ci by cig,



241

Arnold Bennett

impcpiby bu iiby, h mis hs whfc a a. Nvs -ay a a chmica aaysis

i, which is a cmpu mis, imps-

sis a viis.

Hw a, h, h Fiv Tws vs

achiv h ia Une Vie? Hw a a hy

“aisic ci” h m yp? L us -

w Ais’s mh, a ak s h ma

pc xamp, a awas h cs a h

xcsss.

The Old Wives’ Tale appas, a cusy

gac, a mss chic; i is i aiy a miac

csuciv gius a ccic s-sai. I

is asiy scib as h ivs w wm b

i Busy jus b 1850, aughs h ga

ap S. Luk’s Squa. O mai h ah’s

maag a ciu pssss a c hshp, ui sh i i av h chi assisa.

Th h, Sphia, mai a fashy scu, wh

s h i Pais a i b h sig; sh, ,

cam back Busy i. A ha is h wh

sy, i a ss. I is h wh sy may ivs;



242


yuh, maiag, h ixab swi passag hvuig yas, ahsi a pac, ah. A

B s i i such a ma ha h v cm-

ms up h w wivs; h v ciicizs h

sciy i which hy iv; h v ws up ay

gu hig i such a way ha i sas u is-

ppiay m is vim; his w pi-

is, his squc ias, his aagm h

succssiv icis, a why cca. Th bk

is jus a chic, wih such pu a, such

quabss a pci csuci, ha i

migh b wi by sm spii i ah w ahusa yas hc.

A ma wh ca hus s w h pags

chag ha mak up h ciuus bk xis-

c, wh ca wihh hims m a-phisphy

wha h s s ausy, wh ca xci piywih h us v a piiu w, is a ga v-

is. Th is Egish v qui ik The Old

Wives’ Tale. Is appay ss succssi

sma psaic higs is a susai imagi-

ai a h m makab bcaus h is

imagiai visib i h pai a. Th bk



243

Arnold Bennett

fcs a h bah a h awss, a hsgh a impc h Egish mi cass;

Ega, phaps. I spi u sim—h

simaiy spis by Ba Shaw—h is

a cuius uai say ha pssimism i

h Egish chaac, a a si sai uac;

bh hpssy iaicua. Ou fippa pimism

spch, a u ucac ac ay ma

qusi aiy a squay, a h mask a gim

isus i. “H ha c b yug, a h

ha gw , a was w a. Tha was a.

Evyhig cam ha.”

I h his vs has A B

ach h sam high passiss ausiy.

Ev Clayhanger a is cmpai, Hilda Less-

ways—w u a pmis h isams

h i a yug, ssiiv, imi Fiv Twsmaa h highy-sug gi whm h is vuay

may—v hs w bks a qui h

sam pa as The Old Wives’ Tale, hugh hy

a. Clayhanger, i, is wi m h usi.

Bu i is wi by paiy a a amus,

ispassia a a away. I has h c



244


psa iusi by h auh. Hilda Lessways ismuch m bjciv. Bu i is impssib csi

ih hs vs as a wh, pais hm

as juiciusy as hy sv, ui h pmis

ccusi is pubish. Wh i appas, i wi b

s whh h cmp igy is as a saas

a i wk. Ewi a Hia hav y -

u h sw mac h yas.

I may b ipa h, as a pic i-

ay iigc, ha Clayhanger a Hilda Less-

ways—h , s spak, a ccu squ

h h—a cmius, ayhig ik

i. Hilda Lessways sps a h Bk II (h

a u bks i a) Clayhanger. Th pmis

ciuac ma i 1910 has h b

xacy kp. I is a isig pi i pups a

achivm.Th isai h auh’s psaiy m

his subjc is b s i Anna o the Five Towns,

a wk ua, a vy high vau.

Is waksss a a cai ack c v h

igssis (a impc wig—i was h au-



245

Arnold Bennett

h’s s v ag “scp”) a wha wui a ss bk b a viu—a amaic p, which

shws a cy aci mia psychgy

cviy. I wi suvy h bk i ai.

I is a suy h chaacs, viuay. I h c-

cusi, i paicua, h absic m cmpas-

si a h u simpiciy aguag xci piy

m ciby ha ay mphasis cu. Leonora—

h sy a wma cham a chaac

mai a spcius gu—is a wk isic-

i much h sam v as Anna o the Five

Towns, a subjc h sam ciicism. WhomGod hath Joined has h cs bh h m

a h Vicia v. I ks a s sigh ik a

pmica ac ivc a is amais; bu as

a ma ac i pss w w-baac bu

why ypica ivc cass, a h a issu is

h c h Divc Cu, wih is ius pub-

iciy, h pss cc, m spciay a

pu yug gi. I is ih iy amaic ( a

sy, ha is), iy aisic. I sus m a

cai uvss xcui a isui

aim, hugh i cais sm makab passags.



246


The Price o Love, m a chica pi viw, is amiaby csuc, bu ispassi-

a ugh. I scp, i is ams a aisic aps.

I is a paicua, a uivsa, bk. I is a miu

suy v pp, a chify h v, a

gi h w mi cass wh mai a gu

a y gauay iscv ha h was a gu.

O vy pag h auh is cay husiasic; h

is isy is i vy sha ig, v-

y aci simuus, vy gica uai

mis bscu a umb. H has v shw a

su masy ha i h picu Rach’s aiu Ms. Ma a h abmiab Bachgw,

h qua wih Luis, Luis’s bi gimps p

i his w ma su wh h is u u. Bu

h auh’s aiu i h bk is bjciv. H

is cig i, bu sm ivs; h y visi

h givs is a paicua isac h a y-

ay wma. His pw bsvai is as u

as v, a v m acuy cmphsiv; h

au his subjc is s aw his phi-

sphy h im.

I ca say hig i ai h h v-



247

Arnold Bennett

ums sh sis (Tales o the Five Towns, TheGrim Smile o the Five Towns, a The Matador o

the Five Towns). Thy supp vy ciicism, av-

ab uavab. Thi vaiy is vy sikig.

Thy ag m m abi mamas i

ascips m i, m a, smh cmis

uspi agy. Thy su m ha h vs

m A B’s wa vba imagiai:

hy gai m ha h vs m his iic

bigh cs a his cmy ws.

S a, h, A B is s hav

i, a i m succssuy ha , s

w his visi i wihu xpiciy aig his

viws i— chic sby, siusy, higs

as hy a, awig ca ciis ca hi

w amsph; , psaic, ai, phgaphic

as hy may sm, h Fiv Tws vs a u amsph. I is cuius ic h ay paa

xpic, a h uy i casmaship,

H. G. Ws. H kw aps’ shps a h

mi cass; h k avic m M. Lwis Hi;

h v scibs h Fiv Tws, i The New Ma-

chiavelli; bu xcp sm i ama ac-



248


cis, h wis as a Egishma, as a s-scvis wkig m a bgiig hugh a mi

a , a as a usi ciic a xisig -

ah ha is muhpic. H is a gis.

Th mai, hwv, h Fiv Tws

vs uciiciz, a a passag m h aay

qu pac iusa. A B i-

s Sphia i The Old Wives’ Tale “u ba-

va”. H w, ca hp hikig, hs

h vs—Helen with the High Hand , The Card ,

a The Regent —m h sam miv: hy a a

as bravura.

Tw hm b iscuss a ay

gh. Helen with the High Hand (1910) s hw

a miab yug wma ma h miab

uc g i Fiv Tws sciy a buy a ag

hus, a hw bh sh a h uc w maivuay suiab pss. I is a jcua p-

mac, amusig wh ca g h iisic

vugaiy au a mas h chaacs;

h auh sms ga hm as chamig

h pp as w as hi w cic. Tha is



249

Arnold Bennett

A B’s ih waksss—hah assums, appas assum, ha h

w a ag wu ga h sciy h Fiv

Tws as ha sciy gas is. The Regent

(1913) is a squ The Card , a is a accu

hw is h, by impuc, shwss, uck a

smims smhig vy ik ishsy, iug

i a haica vu a cqu L as h

ha aay cqu h Fiv Tws. I is u

ivsi; bu i sus siusy m h ac ha

h L chaacs a hpssy supcia a

uaiz, i cas h ivig a bahigFiv Twspp. Bh vs a ssiay Vic-

ia i am—aasias, i c, bu cay

aisic.

The Card is as ay a aasia. Bu i is

smhig s as w. I is wha pais us ca “Th Pai a Gma”—a picu, ha

is, sm whm hy ga as a as a-

miab. The Card is a vy isubig bk. Th

ma wh cu wi i is a cmp mas ch-

iqu. I is pisic, bu pcy csuc, a

h ma i xquisiy sui h hum



250


h ccpi. Iic cmmciaism, h cay i-umphs a a, y ucscius, acia gius,

hav v b s vivaciusy a aihuy -

. N is a ccasia gss ackig. Th

isubig aus a w—ha h Ca hims is

ps as h pi a fw Fiv Tws

i, a ha A B as mus b sgy

suspc amiig him. Nw Dy Machi,

a succssu Fiv Tws aci, was smhig

vy ik a bb. H bga by asiyig his maks

a sch; a h auh jusis i by sayig ha

Dy was “ ucmmy vicius. Evy sch-by is ishs, by h au saa.” H p-

c amp wih his mpy’s paps, ac

as a ugis my (a v hu a

wy p c. p aum—hpc a wk

ach ha-cw), bak a gagm by -

iba a chap uss, a bib a ma

caus a ppu caiag acci. I ac, h

pssss h busiss isic i h highs g,

a his impusivss was shap h s

pi syss.

I wu b ish isis ha h chi



251

Arnold Bennett

chaac i a bk mus b cviay g ma, a, xcp wh h hig bcms a a-

gus cu, as i s smims i vs cim,

h is as ah why guy shu

b a ih aisicay amusigy. Dy

Machi is a vy amusig ps i, a by

ma saas ishsy y miy ish-

s; h Lau scs i paicua a a jy.

Th ub is ha ih h vis wha h

pss as Fiv Tws pii v suspcs h

Ca aig bw h avag Egish v

hsy.

Excp Ewi Cayhag, Dy Machi

is A B’s ms cmpy a cauy

sui ma chaac; a h is, a csus

h pss i hs vs, a m ypica Fiv

Twsma ha Cayhag. H is a ab ah impa yug Fiv Twsm ca by A-

B. I is a saig cum. O cus,

a “h” b hic. Bu his csus ams

suggss ha hsy is h ws picy, b -

w y by imi p uas. Th a

may simia pais i h sh sis, bu hy



252


wu ac appciaby ay gaizai

bas up h abv is. Th a as may mi-

yug gma, h Swams, h Echs, h

Cay Vs, a hs, whm w a

i m ha ha hy igh i aim a

h sai wah; a ispsii pcuia

h Fiv Tws.

Csi as—i gaug hw a

aism a bava cash i hs wks— h



253

Arnold Bennett

ga sciy scib i hm. Th Fiv Twsyug ma, i aii shwig h quaiis

aay abua, is chapy a iaquay

uca. H is s a ms pacica, which

mas, as a u, ha h has g viws, sciic

chica kwg, a cau gaizai. H

is a csiab im i u subsvic

h gai. His chi aim i i is g

my; ss a bhav smay; may, bu

aways b paicay mgamus. H

has w saas cuc; h is shap, a his

shapss is h ki which baks h spii, h , h aw. H has saci sai

xcp h a csqucs. H visis Lau

Ma i Augus a bhavs i h ma a

spcius “u”; smims h aais Bigh; -

wh s i Ega is h a hm. H iks

a cmab x, gs Assciai ba

machs, a is gay a bisk a kwig

ma. H kws i; bu i is icu

ha his kwg, ik ha h yug g-

ma ai i M. Namby’s c, has b gai

“hugh h iy pas gass i a ba .”



254


Gwig , pspig, a wiggig u h csici h paa u, h bgis

iv a g-ca. H bcms a mmb a cub;

a phaps h is m igb pac ah

ha h pssia a a cub a pvicia

w. Ashic ass vp sighy; i paicua,

h is guiy a puy musica, a, wih

a abuac bish icss, pays us

cassica music. H may cc bks; picus,

v. H may v a smhig h hisy,

aiis, a aspiais h p’s ca. O

h h ha, h may jugg iscuy wih -ac, a amp wih h puiy his hm. I

ac, wh A B wis “h avag

ssua ma,” h mas, i his “hs” a ay ci-

i, “h ssua avag ma”. O cus h hap-

ps b ab aw asy m wih pcuia ski

a uss, s ha h vi hy ivs ispp-

iay i h mmy. Bu h a y six Fiv

Twsm i h csus whm h has ivs a

c wih viu a a cai cham: Ewi Cay-

hag a his i “h Suay,” M. Ogavs,

Dick Pvy, Mak Ri wa a Wii Pic (a



255

Arnold Bennett

g, i is u, bu wih h sgs xuaigcicumsacs). Dy Machi is viuus, bu

chamig. A h s a w, ma, fashy,

ha, suy; bu hy a a cimia. Thy

a my busiss m; ba, ah h, piggy-

y, pushig, hiby ci, s ah

cigig, ah shap, ucsciusy hyp-

ciica.

Tha is -ay’s gai. Thi ahs

w siguay p bcm wiws ay i

i, a awas vp a h as si-

ab ais puiaism: u, ss sicss,

msic yay, ppssi ivas, vi mas,

ha ias a ias. Fuay, hy usuay

ha a sk i a mi ag, a bcam haw-

igy hpss. A such a ppuiy, h chi s

augh siz a us h a scp.Ths m A B’s, i-

, a a ighma. Daius Cayhag, Ei

Bhy, Ephaim Twigh, Bachgw, Jh

Bais, Cichw, Ei Machi, Bu—h is

wh is iga a cu, mi-



256


ig a bish, physicay ausaig a sciayxis. A y hy a pwu gus,

uwhy spc; ha m acig a ha w

puy.

Th ma is, a is h wh m

pasig. Sh sms u h w im-

pi aua aws—ha wma is h payhig,

h a payhig ma, bk, ha

sh is h huss, gay succssu bu aways

pusuig, wih h as aum a vicius

ccssi highy vp.

Th m i A B’s bks jy

hmsvs i hi way; I ca ca his

wm wh is ay happy, xcp phaps h -

ighuy aw Ms. Bu i Anna o the Five

Towns. Thi as appach jy is humss

accpac cm. Th mi cass is si p-miay Vicia i h habis i; a h

wm hav b msic, whh aggssivy

cpivy, whh hu hu. Thy hav,

ik h m, hi w masy. Th m kw

hi w vics, a v giv ah away.



257

Arnold Bennett

Th wm v giv away h m hi uiv-sa a pcpi ma wakss.

Such is h sciy ha makab isic

Ega, a s h gism a maiy

A B ui picu i. H iss abv

his subjc i h b pa a hs vs, a

iy i The Old Wives’ Tale; h iis hims

wih i, aks is aggssiv, a pi viw,

siks wih i, i h pas, chify wh h achivs

hum. Nw ca agai The Card . I, ah is

h, has quaiy I hav w up y. D-

my’s chi chaacisic is wha Hbbs cas augh-

: “Su gy, h passi which is caus by

sm su ac hi w ha pash hm”;

a gy is a “xuai h mi, aisig m

imagiai a ma’s w pw a abiiy.” A

isisib sp a ispiai cay Dy, whi a h sam im h is ab pciv his

“w pw a abiiy”. Th quaiy is xacy

vaiy, is i xacy h cscius us sgh;

i is miway bw—a s vmasig,

ca-ha hum. I is a quaiy ispay (I wi

i a puy Pickwickia ss) by A B



258


hims. I is a ih Quiuba gi. H is ia-b a ay mm siz a ispiai a (m-

ay) gy i i, ig his pw a iugig

i wih a akish wiuss; a ms huma aiy.

Thackay, I hik, is sai hav xcaim up

his w succss i wiig a cai passag; Fi-

ig, I am su, mus hav su gy a m-

ms i Jonathan Wild ; S is a ppua Ca.

A B has giv h Fiv Tws m a

ag w, a mus hims b am by i. Th

ui impsa sgh a psa bava

i A B, i ac, is his ms chaacisicai. I maks i, hwv, vy icu assss

his uk up i jusy. I w ha The Old

Wives’ Tale, a cai passags i Clayhanger, a

h ccusis Anna o the Five Towns a The

Price o Love, h vic wu b hpssy uai.

I wu cvic A B kwigy ac-

cpig h gisica, s-assiv, uvy ias

a cmmuiy why cmmcia i hugh a

. I ac, si ha cmmuiy’s xisc

is s a bscu by is cmmcia aciviy ha

A B ais giv i aiy. H aks



259

Arnold Bennett

accu wha is si a pwu hig i mi-cass i—igi i m ah. Wsya-

ism is h Fiv Tws m. A B v

usas i; i is as ai his mpam—

a ay a his aisic mpam—as v

aua bauy. H ca scib viviy h zy

a viva; h s s i Anna o the Five Towns, wih

miuss a uwa accuacy. Bu cmpa such

“passags wih h scipi i Ha Fic’s

Illumination, (Pubish i Amica as The Damna-

tion o Theron Ware) h spii hm wih h

spii “Mak Ruh”; h Fiv Tws scshav i, ig h uyig aiy a

m su. Hwv supcia a igi may

b, i is h amwk sm s phisphy

xisc i hs wh h i. I is a c

sympahy i A B ha h s ap-

pcia ha phisphy; i h s, s a

wih i i a sis vs which cvs ams

vy h aspc h mi cass. Bu h ig-

b ha i, happiy, is A B’s

chi s pccupai. H has bcm, by ak-

ig hugh, a ga vis i ga chiqu.



260


H ca, mv, s i saiy a wh, as aga viss mus; v hugh h us Ca w

a h a pays wih i. H has as a iiviua

gi which ss him apa m h viss—his

xaiay pw aaysis. Hy Jams is h

supm ivig pssss such a pw. H has

pai a high ibu A B. Bu his w

pw is iy appi; i is icua ah

ha cc. Vy sm s A B

shw his chaacs as sachig hi w sus.

H shws wha is much m puy u ha

ay amu ispci—ha h mi cassa icapab sachig hi w sus; ha Fiv

Twsm (ik ms Egishm) ac up a ba-

ac csiais, bu sm hik h csi-

ais u; ha impus a ihibii a v

suggig h suac; ha aci is chaac,

a chaac, i pp ik hs, is y h ha-

biua, iva suac a impcy xcis

mi.

I is, h, as a Fiv Twsma ha A

B uss his gius, a i is up h maia

h Fiv Tws mi cass ha h wks ms



261

Arnold Bennett

happiy. Bu jus bcaus h has gius h iss aabv ca ciis; a jus bcaus h is a Fiv

Twsma h jys hims hughy— as

wh h is pivay aughig a hs wh wu

ik him hwis—i fuig h scia a

v h iay saas pss b a b

i ss av gis.



ChaPTer 6

“Stage Plays”

THE pays by A B which hav as y

b puc a Cupid and Commonsense (p-

uc i 1908), What the Public Wants (1909), The

Great Adventure (1911; puc i L

i 1913); The Honeymoon (1911); a (i cab-

ai) Milestones. His h Polite Farces or theDrawing Room w pubish as a bk i 1899.

“My aim i wiig pays,” h am i

1900, “whh a i cabai, has a-

ways b sicy cmmcia I wa my i

haps, a I wa avism my bks.”

263



264


I is y b xpc, i such cicumsacs, hah Polite Farces shu b wks gius. N

a hy why csiai as wks a.

Th a h hm, a hy a a h puy

mchaica. Emis chag i hm wih h a-

piiy a sickss pcuia ac, wh a

has bu sam a ay ai causai. Thiagu has h si gmaiss as pcu-

ia ac h awig-m yp; h Egish

mi cass has aways b p hik piph-

asis h highs m wi. The Polite Farces, i

ac, a i way psaiv “h iig

imagiaiv wi” whm, i h pac his

s-puc pay, A B mas h

m Egish ha. Thy a iig a

hy a imagiaiv. Thy a civ i a

iy cvia way.

Thi ba succss, Cupid and Com-monsense, was puc by h Sag Sciy. I is a

amaic vsi Anna o the Five Towns, wih,

hwv, a vy i ig. Th ams a a

a m hs i h v, bu h vs a

v sm h iagu a h sam up h

h hi ac. Th uh ac is vy isuc-



265

Arnold Bennett

iv. Ei Bhy (Ephaim Twigh h v-) has c his augh Aic (Aa) ppss

Wii Bach (Wii Pic) a his ah, wh w

h my. Bach père, ik Pic père, cmmi

suici; Wii w Amica. Th h hi

ac s, a h pi wh h v s. Th

pmia cisis h pay (hih) a hbk—h uima bi h pss, imi

gi agais h ha, yaica ah—has b

uy vp. Wii has b shw as a wak,

hpss, hs, pahic by, whm i wu

b uasab xpc h su agic spai

a sui which s his i i h v Bu

i Ac IV. h pay h cms back Ega

happy a pspus, wih a Amica wi (hy

a aiy ik Sam a his wi i Milestones)—

“ g misab, a s bjciab.” Ei

Bhy mawhi has ha a sk (ha av-i Fiv Tws caasph), a is a piiab, imp-

Th is, h, has shi m h

msic sugg h psychgy Wii a

Aic, wh, gh spaay, a a h mai

is .

Th c his is ha Wii a Aic, i



266


Acs I-III, u Bhy’s mii, sm bm shp; uca shp, bu si shp. Bu i

Ac IV. hy hav bcm, s spak, w- pug-

gs. Th asmuai has ak pac iy

“”. I Acs I.-III. hy a imi; i Ac IV, smug.

A h sags asii a mi, a hy a

ps as uy i pp. Th pay ca-

h b aiz as a ciuus picu

vpig i.

A hsi ciic migh suspc h uh ac

big a vic aviig h agic ig. I is

m sympahic say ha ama has h aw-

backs i. I i vy w pss w acuy

a h miu mis hi is a s,

a acis a a m visib a sigica ha

hughs— cus, i aiy ac y, i -

sus ifuc. A , ik psaiy is, isa ic a immia simuus ah ps;

bu y a vy imb mi ca w caiy

a immiay h pcsss hugh which

a bhi h spk w. Th ac aig a-

ws im usaig hs pcsss, a

h pvisi u cbaiv ai. Th ac



267

Arnold Bennett

sigh is swi ms pp; a auic Hy Jamss A Bs Jams Bais

is impssib. Pays mus, h, b wi

sighy ss vivacius pp. This pay ais i ha

spc.

I ma by his ha “h iig,

imagiaiv wi” is wi h sag,

ha h wi v a iig, imagiaiv

auic. I is simpy a qusi g (physi-

gicay) h sp aci simuus. Sm

w pp ac vy aiy vy sigh simui;

w ca hm “quick” “sympahic”. May

hay ac a a uss h simuus is bu a

havy; hc h ppuaiy musica cmy a

cmias wih puba waiss. T bw a

iusai m a ki bach sag a. M-

phisphs i ks vy mus agaisa back backgu. Bu yu, h “puc”, wa

mak him k v m cy iabica, a

yu hik a i g igh wu hav h si

su. Yu g h g a cai siy, vy

hpuy—a h Mphisphs simpy va-

ishs; iay, h bcms ivisib ay a w



268


yas away. Th g a ays hav pay wihh pic v, a Mphisphs ca b s.

I is a ick pics. S h aiu g a g

a psychgy m spak ha is a ick

ma pics; ashics, giv h hig h

pp am. Th igh mixu ays is i h

as ac Cupid and Commonsense.

I hav w his pi m uy ha is

ay waa by h iscussi a sig pay.

I is cssay bcaus cha pay, as w pubish,

cais a w as pmica pac uc-

ig h uiigc ms Egish has, a

maig iig amas by iig ama-

iss. A B says ha h a py

such pays b ha. Th accusai a h sa-

m a bh iy u. Bu h is a ga a

m i h amaic simuus ha a appa hiigc. Th pac Cupid and Common-

sense impis ha h is ; h pay is pv

ha h is. I is, a A B’s pm

pays, h which cais h ms pu

sig mai ia—ha h cfic bw

ss a cmmss, ig a as. A his



269

Arnold Bennett

pays a, as a ma ac, pays wih mai ias,v ha ighu aasia, The Great Adventure.

Cupid and Commonsense gs p ha ay. Is

aiu cms m h ac ha is ph is uv,

shiig, a b cha—a mm

“amaic”, a ah ma.

Hwv, h pay caiy viica is au-

h’s caim iigc a imagiai. I was

w, i 1909, by a cmy i which iigc

i up a cai ag a isubig phm

m Egish i. What the Public Wants is h

amaic xpssi h spii uyig The

Truth About an Author; a i is jus as aihu a

ib a pic aism. Bu h pubic s

kw i. Th xp is sm mus ugh

b a pph as w, a h auic h svs

as him ih as a Bu bk, havy igs, as a shak by h wi. What the Public

Wants wi y b a ppua pay wh i scibs

wha h pubic g was; wh i has ip-

, i ac, i a cmy mas. T-ay i is

a pay h sma ha a h sc auic;

i such a sig i ca b uy appcia.



270


I as, ik M. Magu’s Hind Let Loose,wih h mixu s-cpi a cscius -

cpi h pubic which ispis a wspap. I

is a aihu pai a ga wspap ppi,

wh sas his c qui aky:

“I’v si a a am my psa

ias w h has y i

pubics. I giv ach wha i was. I’m a

bmig m. I’m a mcha.”

(Th a sc pvks h gimy u, “O Suays yu’ a muck mcha.”)

Such a h viws Si Chas Wga, A

B’s Nap h pss. Thy a h viws

which, i ca b i, a bhi cai mai-

sais h Egish wspap. A h a

y w asws hm. O is h picma, bu

jug a juy wu cvic such a pis

as Wga. Th h asw is iica by A

B. Th wi cm a g as a aiy ay

h imma, capicius, cach-ha py pss,

wh “h pubic wi wa smhig b ha



271

Arnold Bennett

yu ca giv i.” Eucai, ha cicy su as cuc which A B is v igmi-

aig, wi b h ah h “c-by pss”.

Th is h vsi What the Public

Wants; i as cas bw iau a

spch as mas xpssi. I The Great Adven-

ture w u ha cas. Th pay is a a-

maic vsi ha xc “a hs ays”,

Buried Alive. I kw which was wi s,

s i ma, hugh i wu b a isig

vai; h bk was s pubish i 1908, h

pay s ac i 1911. Th pay ha a pigius

u. As vyby kws, i as wih a ga pai-

(“h y qusi which cuu pss i

hi uy biv was whh h was h gas

pai wh v iv my h gas pai

sic Vasquz”) wh, u shyss, his vab bui i Wsmis Abby i misak him-

s, a was vuay iscv b aiv.

Th ia a ga ma has aways ha a

u A B. I his bk a his pay

h aizs i m uy ha swh; i h pay



272


spciay. H svs a auh’s ms icu pb-m—h pbm psuaig his auic his

maig wihu xpaiig i i s may ws.

H ha giv, a h gav, hugh M. Aiy, by

M. Aiy’s hp i givig suiab xpssi h

ws pvi, a impssi icua mi-

c—a ig ha h pai was capab h

ga achivms aibu him, a was a

m pic i a msaic.

A w wks a h appaac The

Great Adventure i Gasgw, The Honeymoon was

ps a h Ryay Tha, L. I ha h

avaag a ams pc cas. Bu ha ava-

ag was, i a ss, a c, bcaus The Honey-

moon is xacy wha h aw abs i—a sag pay,

a Miss Mai Tmps a M. Gaham Bw

i hav wk u i i a i. I isamusig. A wi s sg a iic hum as

A B mus cssaiy mak sm u u

his ca siuai—h usa a bi

sh h hym i h avia

husba fy v Sw b a Gma iva

ca s, a h vy ppu iscvy ha



273

Arnold Bennett

hi maiag (jus cba) was vi bcaus hciaig cua was a sham. Th iscussi, hw-

v (i is uuy cmpica by aci), ass

hugh h acs. Th iagu is baa, a

h scay chaacs a a aygus, gup,

ivig a mvig iiviuas. Th pay as a

wh is cs ha sch ama which

has ma h ajciv “amaic” syymus wih

“ua” “impbab”. I is h wk a ma

bviusy capab miy, bu vig h

yp-cmy By a Kbs. O wu

ik a ha i was hs pays wiay, bu h up, as A B cmpais, by

maags.

Th mais, a h pubish p-

uc pays h auh, y Milestones, puc

5h Mach 1912. I is, hwv, iy byA B, a shu ppy b csi-

i his bk, uss w xacy awa

h x his cabai. I wu b ag-

us gmaiz abu i. I am ha wh M.

Cmys Ca a M. Sph Phiips caba

i a givus vsi Faust , a h highy ski



274


iay ciics a-chsig h pas ach auhugh hav wi, b asham havig

wi; wih h su ha h pic achivm

M. Ca was vy gaiyigy ascib M.

Phiips. S I pps y issv M.

Kbauch, pa-auh Miss, m M.

B. I y wish h qu h csig ws,

ws us a hu ims uig i by vy

Egishma. Th gaaugh, aia, iumpha

i yuh a bauy a h kwg -ay,

has g u y, avig Si Jh Rha a

his wi a— vs, wih a h aspiis

a i’s icus imm a g. Tha

py Vicia ik Juanita sus m h

x m, sug by h mai wh has sv, i

h ba isappim, a h mysy huma

sw:

JOHN

(kig a h fw). W iv a a.

ROSE

(ig h ha). Ys, Jh.



275

Arnold Bennett

I ih kw ca which auh c-iv ha g “cuai”. Bu i migh hav b

wi a h ach A B’s h

ga bks—Clayhanger, Anna o the Five Towns,

a, gas a, The Old Wives’ Tale.

I wish i cu b sai, i summig up AB’s wk as a paywigh, ha ha visi

i (hwv i ss kws i h visi)

is his chaacisic amaic accmpishm. Bu

h has ay, as y, ma mak up h ama.

H is uv a wk. H is aways cmp

ski, bu h s cimb h sp asc

imagiaiv iumph. H bigs iigc ba,

bu imagiai sg . H s

v, i his pays, c a icua iscussi

h pia pbms wih which h as. H s

big h ha wha h m cu

big quay w. I h cu pu up h sag,

wih ki icc a siciy, such a sc as

h aw bw Aa h Fiv Tws a

Wii Pic, as Sphia Scas’s as sigh h

husba i h upp m a Machs, such



276


a pic amsph as is bah i Cayhag’ss visi h Ogavs, h h wu ma

much h ama. H wu giv i “imb, a

pic h w iscv.”



ChaPTer 7

“To-Day and To-morrow”

IT may sm, phaps, ha may h -

gig pags hav b v piig u

bmishs i h Fiv Tws a waksss i h

vis puc by hm. I hav b aig wih

w higs, wih A B a wih a sa

sciy. Nih is qui ik ayhig s i Egishiau, a i I hav mphasiz aiu ah

ha succss i is bcaus h paia aiu a w

puc is m isuciv ha is cmp a

asy succss. L m xpai w why a hw A-

B a his wk a w.

277



278


I hav sai ha h sciy h scibs, aI hav impi ha his pi viw i scibig i,

is mi cass: puy a ay h vy mi,

i mi, by a sa. I hav pi u ca

ciis which i-b ha sciy a isa i

m h ga cu w-cuu, xcp i

ga music a a w ms maia

cm. A I hav suggs ha i bgs a

mak pch iusia vui. Nw ih

ha pch ha sciy has v appa i

Egish ci b; has ay vis mi

high iusia i v ps his maiawih such a iay quipm a uk as A-

B psssss. Tha is h ga a w

impac his wk.

I is a suggsiv ac ha a ga cmmcia

ai ik Ega shu ack vs cmmc.Th a py macs busiss, py

ciius iicms busiss mhs, py

sis h squa a cass a cmm-

ciay gaiz sciy. Th a a w ga vs

iusia i: Ms. Gask’s, isac. Bu

hih, s a as I kw, has my p-



279

Arnold Bennett

ay h i h mi cass mauacu buspk wih his vic. Wh H. G. Ws is aig

wih a, h is ciicizig i m h sapi

iig sciaism—pig is wa uca-

i, amiig is bavy a pahs, haig is m-

chaica, ai-scia mcissss. Wh Wiiam

Mga scibs h w mi cass, h s s

wih a sv his w iaism. Wh Up Si-

cai, Jams Byc, Oiv Ois, May Si-

cai, ay simia vis mic uchs h

mi a w saa i way ah, h

is aways a i, ai ia i hi wk. I hFiv Tws vs h is ia. Th is cii-

cism. Th is aii phisphy sciy.

Th is hig bu i as h pp scib iv

i a s i a i.

I may may b h g Egai ga ha such a i is iv by such pp. Bu

i is vy much h g Egish iau ha

a wi ca s puy mas his a as ps-

his passiss paama i. I hav spk

A B’s cicy: i is a Fiv Tws vi-

u, appcia a si by Fiv Twsm. Bu



280


i mus b cus wih his iiy high a-isic cicy—his sfssss, his say, ix-

ab, aihu cmphsi mi a pw

xpssi. Tha as is w i Ega, hugh i is

pcuia A B. I is h w spii

Egish ci, wkig maiai a avac

h gy a m a which i his cuy has

ha a hisy u h. Th Egish v wi

su hugh such a spii. I wi ah gw

h masu ha vas civiizai which w

a y jus bgiig.

I is i a his bks, v i a maj-

iy hm, ha A B achs his high.

Phaps y wi ivig -ay has shw h

pw big aways a h sam pich su (I

say hig w xpssi subjc): Thmas

Hay, wih whm A B has much mi cmm ha h u xa issimiaiy

hi bks suggss. I a his vs w h

sam pa as The Old Wives’ Tale, A B-

wu hav ca Egish ci (h has

aay, ik H. G. Ws, ha a ga ifuc up

yug wis). Wha h wi uimay achiv I



281

Arnold Bennett

ca hp pphsy. I ca a as b sai him wih cc ha a h ag y-sv

h is capab supassig, i ams ay ici,

a xcp his vy bs wk y . H is ik

Gaba a may m viss—capax imperii,

nisi imperasset ; h has aiz his w pmis, a

h si kps h pmis aiv. A h sam im, h

has h i waksss his iiviua vius. H

is s ci ha h cmizs ais, as I hav

pi u. H is s ski ha h may aways

aiz h uvss ab asiy accmpish.

H has ha ccasia ccksuss a Ca, haiabiiy pciv ca pvicia imiais.

H has a uua miciy sy i kpig

wih his w ii ha ams iab

hig:

“Sy ca b isiguish m ma.

Wh a wi ccivs a ia h ccivs

i i a m ws. Tha m ws

csius his sy, a i is absuy gv-

by h ia. Th ia ca y xis i

ws, a i ca y xis i m



282


ws. Yu ca say xacy h sam higi w i ways.” (Literary Taste, Chap-

VI)

Th a baab pis i ha mua,

bu i sucs. A B’s sy vais icy

as his ma, xcp ha h ay s wi ba

Egish w a h, wh h ma is c-

ssaiy ba. I his ma h is bigh c:

h uss w imags—h hiks i higs, i pic-

us. By ucai a aiig h is up a

vcabuay ha is uivy pai: a pims isa pims him—I am su ha i is v y-

w; a h mpys ws wha hy ,

wha hy c. Th su is mak his

vicis m icu, a (a cuius iy) -

cssia h us a ga may sv gy ws

wh ah wi migh hav as w wih

pup . Th is bauy i his Egish,

majsy: y h is bauy a majsy i sm

h hughs h suggss—hughs which wi xis,

vy a, i h ws ha hs h uss.

Tha gyss, a h ugiss which i im-



283

Arnold Bennett

pis, I hav ascib his vim. Ams wu hik ha m a b i Busy,

s i ss w a csasy hy shw.

Th is bu hi apu (h ha h

chuss ss a cws) i a h Fiv

Tws vs—ha cu mi h ga

h Ogavs i Clayhanger. Oy c, as y,

has A B a wih h s happiss

maiag—a h The Price o Love is isiusi.

A his h chaacs a ih bu pupis big

augh h gamma i, mi-ag a

pp g way vy syab i. Ev E-wi Cayhag has gw gav a pccupi

wihu mayig Hia; whi Dy Machi has

suus a h h mas ivig jy

i.

A y h is h cvs ha gaviy b wigh. Wh has csi a h p-

iss a casss a gm h Fiv Tws,

h si mais smhig p, sm quaiy

scib, mi, which maks A

B’s chaacs huma. I shu say ha i is

h spii m i hm, h spii which

The Truth About An Author

Documents

Transcript of The Truth About An Author