On the 27th May in 1867 this rather dashing chap was born in Hanley, Staffordshire in England. Arnold Bennett started life working for his father, a solicitor, as a general assistant and rent collector, but it was not a happy occupation. Arnold left his father's practice at the age of 21 and went to live in London.

After winning a literary competition in Tit-Bits magazine in 1889 he was encouraged to take up journalism full time. Whilst working as the assistant editor on the periodical Woman he discovered it was difficult to find decent writing for the magazine so he wrote some for it himself. It was an immediate hit and his next endeavour became the hugely successful Grand Hotel Babylon.

He then devoted himself entirely to writing and began the Clayhanger series of novels, wryly describing life in the Potteries towns in which he had grown up. In 1903 he moved to Paris where he married and continued to write prolifically becoming the most acclaimed British writer in America since Charles Dickens.

The Card, read for Silksoundbooks by the highly acclaimed English actor Stephen Tompkinson is a wonderful novel written by Arnold Bennett in 1911. It tells the story Henry Machin and his rise from washerwoman's son to Mayor of Bursley - a fictitious town based on the potteries towns near to where Bennett grew up. With tricks of confidence and talent, he makes his way up the social ladder with all the benefits and pitfalls that brings. His antics are regarded with affection and admiration, as shown by the book's final chapter:
'What a card!' said one, laughing joyously. 'He's a rare 'un, no mistake.'
'Of course, this'll make him more popular than ever,' said another. 'We've never had a man to touch him for that.'
'And yet,' demanded Councillor Barlow,'what's he done? Has he ever done a day's work in his life? What great cause is he identified with?'
'He's identified,' said the speaker, 'with the great cause of cheering us all up!'

So - if you are in need of a bit of cheering up yourself, download The Card from Silksoundbooks!!

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