内容简介
ArnoldBennettisfamousforhisstoriesabouttheFiveTownsandthepeoplewholivethere.Theylookandsoundjustlikeotherpeople,and,likeallofus,sometimestheydosomeverystrangethings.There'sSirJee,whoisarichbusinessman.Sowhyishemakingaplanwithaburglar?ThenthereisTobyHall.WhydoeshedecidetovisitNumber11ChildRow,andwhodoeshefindthere?AndthentherearetheHessianbrothersandAnnieEmery-andthelittleproblemoftwelvethousandpounds.
作者简介
ArnoldBennett,(1867-1931),Novelist,playwright,essayist,criticandjournalist.BorninHanley,Staffordshire,theeldestchildofapawnbrokerwhohadbetteredhimselfandbecomeasolicitor.ThefamilymovedhouseseveraltimesandlivedinBurslemandMiddleport.Asaresult,ArnoldwenttoseveralschoolsincludingtheMiddleSchool,Newcastle-under-Lyme.HisfatherwantedhimtofollowhisexampleandqualifyasasolicitorbutArnoldfailedacrucialuniversityentranceexamination.Hethereforebecameasolicitor'sclerk,atfirstinhisfather'sofficeand,from1889,inLondon.ArnoldBennetthadshownearlypromiseasawriterandhadwonawritingcompetitioninalocalnewspaperasaboy.InLondonhebegantoseehiswritingpublishedinpopularmagazinesandhejoinedthestaffofWomanmagazinein1893,laterbecomingitseditor.Hisfirstnoveltobepublished,Amanfromthenorth,appearedin1898anditssuccessallowedhimtogiveupotherworktoconcentrateonwriting.HelivedinBedfordshireandforeightyears,from1903,inParis.HemarriedMargueriteSoulié,aFrenchactress,in1907andtheyweretostaytogetherforfourteenyearsbeforeseparating.HeneverreturnedtoliveinStaffordshire,eventhoughhecontinuedtodrawinspirationfromtheareainhiswork.Hediedon27March1931fromtyphoidshortlyafteravisittoFrance.Followinghiscremation,hisasheswereburiedinthecemeteryatBurslem,Stoke-on-Trent.Aprolific,yetuneven,author,thereputationofArnoldBennettrestsonhisthirtynovels,andespeciallythosesetintheStaffordshiresceneryofhischildhood,thePotteries.HelearnedhiscraftbystudyingFrenchnovelsthatincludedintensedescriptionandhesuccessfullyappliedthisstyleinbringingtolifetheordinaryworkinglivesofmanyofhischaracters.HisbestworkcanbefoundinthenovelsAnnaoftheFiveTowns(1902),TheOldWives'Tale(1908),Clayhanger(1910)andRiceymanSteps(1923),allexceptthelastbeingsetinthePotteries.Inhisearliercareer,ArnoldBennettwasalsoarespectedplaywright,hisinterestinthetheatrefollowingonfromhisworkasacritic.HismostsuccessfulplaywasMilestones,writtenwithEdwardKnoblock.
