A Man from the North (ePub)

Enoch Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) was a prolific English novelist, playwright, critic, and essayist whose portrayal of the lives and thoughts of the lower middle class earned him significant acclaim during his lifetime. Bennett was born in Hanley, Staffordshire, and his experiences in the Potteries, the industrial region known for its pottery manufacture, often informed his writing. He moved to London as a young man and initially worked in law before turning his full attention to writing. A Man from the North, an autobiographical novel published in 1898, explores the challenges and aspirations encountered by Richard Larch, a northerner navigating London's demanding social milieu. This debut novel set a precedent for Bennett's characteristic literary style, which blended realism and sympathy in the depiction of his characters' mundane lives. Other notable works by Bennett include the Clayhanger trilogy, which meticulously examines Edwardian provincial life, and The Old Wives' Tale (1908), considered by many as his masterpiece for its depth and narrative technique. Bennett was a versatile writer whose work spans beyond fiction to include journalism, with articles published in magazines such as 'Woman' and non-fiction such as 'Literary Taste: How to Form It' (1909). His sharp observances and truthful characterizations have positioned him as a formidable figure in 20th-century English literature.