Stories From The Five Towns

This book created by an English writer and journalist was published in 1905. There are four short stories about people from five towns. The stories are filled with irony, satire and easiness. The cycle opens with the 'News of the Engagement'. This story is about one son who tries to tell his mother about his engagement. He does not know how to do it better as she is a widow and he is her only child. In the story, 'The Burglary' the judge arranges a burglary in his own house to get rid of a strange portrait of himself. 'Beginning the New Year' is about a man who returned home after 23 years. 'The Silent Brothers' is about two brothers who have not spoken to each other for ten years. They make a marriage proposal to the same girl in order to get money by will.

Stories From The Five Towns

Arnold Bennett

Oxford University Press

2000

Abstract

Bursley, Hanbridge, Knype, Longshaw, Turnhill- these are the Five Towns of Arnold Bennett’d stories, set in the English Midlands in the early 1900s. Today the Five Towns are the city of Stoke – on – Trent but the place is still famous for its pottery …and for the people in Arnold Bennett’s stories.

They are not famous or important people. They work in shops and factories; they fall in, and out of, love; they argue and they quarrel. Sometimes they are clever and successful and sometimes they do very stupid things. Philip has some important news to tell his mother, but he is also going to get a big surprise…Sir Jee hates his portrait, but what can he do about it? It was a present from the people of the Five Towns…At Knype station, Tony Hall suddenly decides to take the train to Turnhill, but why? Then there are John and Robert. They are brothers, they live in the same house, they eat meals together – and neither has said a single word to the other for ten years…