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A Great Man

Arnold Bennett

38 ratings
A Great Man | Arnold Bennett

A Great Man

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Subtitled 'A Frolic', this light-hearted book follows the fortunes of Henry Shakespeare Knight who, rather to his own surprise, writes a best-selling novel.
est intention to worry him. Here was a[Pg 67] problem, an apparent contradiction, in Henry's personality.

His aunt, in the passage, and his mother, who had overheard in the dining-room, instantly and correctly solved the problem by saying to themselves that Henry's tone was a Symptom. They had both been collecting symptoms for four days. His mother had first discovered that he had a cold; Aunt Annie went further and found that it was a feverish cold. Aunt Annie saw that his eyes were running; his mother wormed out of him that his throat tickled and his mouth was sore. When Aunt Annie asked him if his eyes ached as well as ran, he could not deny it. On the third day, at breakfast, he shivered, and the two ladies perceived simultaneously the existence of a peculiar rash behind Henry's ears. On the morning of the fourth day Aunt Annie, up early, scored one over her sister by noticing the same rash at the roots of his still curly hair. It was the second rash, together with Henry's emphatic and positive statement that he was perfectly well, which had finally urged his relatives to a desperate step—a step involving intrigue and prevarication. And to justify this step had come the crowning[Pg 68] symptom of peevishness—peevishness in Henry! It wanted only that!

'I've asked Dr. Dancer to call in to-night,' said Aunt Annie casually, while Henry was assuming his toasted crimson carpet slippers. Mrs. Knight was brewing tea in the kitchen.

'What for?' Henry demanded quickly, and as if defensively. Then he added: 'Is mother wrong again?'

Mrs. Knight had a recurrent 'complaint.'

'Well,' said Aunt Annie darkly, 'I thought it would be as well to be on the safe side....'

'Certainly,' said Henry.

This was Aunt Annie's neat contribution to the necessary prev

Sarah 03/08/2024
Started excellently, really enjoyed the childhood and young man sections but as soon as he had success as a writer it started to go downhill for me and almost bored ,seemed as if AB was too as he folded it up while characters still only married a few years....
I found Simon Evers an very good narrato
David 09/06/2023
Only "discovered" Arnold Bennett about 5 years ago and I love his style and wit. This little book, a very quick light read, typifies his approach. The hero of the tale is an author who doesn't quite know how he does it and is bemused at his own abilities. A wry and gently amusing tale with much insi
Helen 12/30/2017
Wry British humour and vintage British fiction.

I liked this rather creaky period piece. Gentle British humour in this story of how success can be a mixed blessing. Wry, subtle and with a very likable though unlikely hero. Atmospheric as one would expect from Bennett though not set in the potteries.
Madeline 03/17/2016
An odd little novel that seems autobiographical. Henry is a successful author who is continually surprised by his popularity and his good fortune. The only time he acts with determination is when he leaves Monte Carlo and Cosette to return to England. The subtitle - A Frolic - is very fitting.
Lucy 10/02/2015
Bennett is practically forgotten nowadays. It seems that only those of his novels that have been televised or films are read, and those not by many. This is the only reason I can find for 'The Card' having to date 38 reviews, and this little gem has none. (Till now). It's very much in the same mould

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