Denry the Audacious

Arnold Bennett

May 2015 · Read Books Ltd

About this ebook

Set in a small industrial town at the start of the twentieth century, this is the humorous story of Edward “Denry” Machin. Denry is an impulsive, opportunistic, and occasionally lucky entrepreneur with few scruples where money-making is concerned. Not especially likeable, yet not entirely loathsome, Denry makes for a very entertaining character to both the fictional townsfolk and the readers of this tale alike. A story full of hilarity, and sure to entertain any reader, this book would make for a worthy addition to any collection. It constitutes a veritable must-read for fans of Bennett’s work. Enoch Arnold Bennett was an English writer. He was renowned as a novelist, but also worked in other fields including journalism, film, and propaganda. Originally written in 1911, many vintage texts such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

About the author

Arnold Bennett was born on May 27, 1867 in Hanley, Staffordshire, England. He began his working career as a law clerk and later he left the legal field and became an editor for the magazine Woman. His first novel was "A Man from the North." He wrote several novels set in Hanley, the town where he was born. These are known as the Five Town novels. Other titles include "The Babylon Hotel," "The Truth about an Author," and "How to Live on 24 Hours a Day." Bennett won the 1923 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for his novel "Riceyman Steps." "The Journal of Arnold Bennett" was published posthumously in three volumes. Bennett was also the author of "Hugo" which was made into a major motion picture in 2011 starring Jude law and Ben Kingsley, directed by Martin Scorsese. During WWI, Bennett was Director of Propaganda for France at the Ministry of Information. (At that time "propaganda" did not have the negative connotations it would have later in the twentieth century.) This appointment was based on the recommendation of Lord Beaverbrook, who also recommended him as Deputy Minister of that department at the end of the war. Bennett refused a knighthood in 1918. He died in London of typhoid fever on March 27, 1931.