of the residents of the fictional "Five Towns", based on Bennett’s native Stoke-on-Trent, that Bennett also explores in novels like "Anna of the Five Towns" (1902) and "The Clayhanger Family" (1925). Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) was a British novelist, playwright, critic, and essayist and a key literary figure of his time. His most famous works include "The Old Wives' Tale" (1908), "The Clayhanger Family" (1925), and "The Card" (1911). He also wrote a series of self-improvement books.