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The Pretty Lady
Arnold Bennett
Book Overview:
The Pretty Lady’ is considered to be one of Bennett's most revealing and under-rated works. It is the story of a French prostitute, Christine, who has escaped from wartime Ostend, and set herself up in business in London. Though a refugee, she demands no pity; she is self-sufficient, practical and realistic. Christine is not a harpy preying on innocent soldiers, but a canny businesswoman, doing the best she can with the opportunities life has given her. Her main relationship is with G.J. Hoape, a wealthy man above the military age. Bennett in this novel presents a disturbing image of wartime society, fragmented, uneasy and divided. There are references to industrial unrest and to social injustices, and hints that the British press is less than frank about the war.
The Pretty Lady’ is considered to be one of Bennett's most revealing and under-rated works. It is the story of a French prostitute, Christine, who has escaped from wartime Ostend, and set herself up in business in London. Though a refugee, she demands no pity; she is self-sufficient, practical and realistic. Christine is not a harpy preying on innocent soldiers, but a canny businesswoman, doing the best she can with the opportunities life has given her. Her main relationship is with G.J. Hoape, a wealthy man above the military age. Bennett in this novel presents a disturbing image of wartime society, fragmented, uneasy and divided. There are references to industrial unrest and to social injustices, and hints that the British press is less than frank about the war.
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"I play," said G.J. modestly. "But no better than I ought."
"You might care to make a fourth this afternoon, in the card-room."
"I should have been delighted to, but I've got one of these war-committees at six o'clock." Again he spoke with careful unconcern, masking a considerable self-satisfaction.
[54] Chapter 10 THE MISSIONThe great dim place was full, but crowding had not been permitted. With a few exceptions in the outlying parts, everybody had a seat. G.J. was favourably placed for seeing the whole length of the interior. Accustomed to the restaurants of fashionable hotels, auction-rooms, theatrical first-nights, the haunts of sport, clubs, and courts of justice, he soon perceived, from the numerous samples which he himself was able to iden. . . Read More
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Community Reviews
Fascinating portrayal of London life during WW1 and I think a good insight based on Bennett's life experiences with courtesans and running the French propaganda unit for the British government. He is scathing about the vanity and hypocrisy of the upper classes and their war effort with acerbic littl
Arnold Bennett was a wondefully readable writer. There isn't a word in the wrong place. The evocation of wartime London is better than any other I can think of, partly I think because it is incidental to his telling of the story. The ending is quite a jolt but on reflection fits perfectly.
I must admit I loved this book. But I wonder why? Perhaps because it seems so sly to me. It starts off firmly in the nineteenth century as the story of a courtesan, taken from her point of view. Well, no wonder. Bennett lived in Paris and stories of courtesans were de rigeur. But then it becomes the
A really beautiful novel and strangely ignored in comparison to Bennett's other works!