There is always present in his work a
certain free sweep of imagination which deals masterfully and
suggestively with all manner of sordid material.
99. ARNOLD BENNETT. CLAYHANGER.
"Clayhanger" with its sequels, "Hilda Lessways" and "These Twain,"
makes up an imposing and convincing trilogy of middle-class life in
the English Pottery Towns. To these books should be added "Old Wives'
Tale," "Anna of the Five Towns" and all the others among this writer's
works which deal with these Pottery places he knows so superbly well.
Outside the Five Towns Mr. Bennett loses something of the power of his
touch. He is an interesting example of a writer with a definite
"milieu" out of whose happy security he is always ill-advised to
stray.
But within his own region he is a powerful master. No one in modern
English fiction has treated so creatively and illuminatingly the least
interesting and least romantic strata of human society which is
perhaps to be found in the whole world.
And yet he endows this paralyzing bourgeoisie with astonishing life.
One turns back from much more exciting literature to these ignorant,
conceited, restricted and undistinguished people.
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