Clayhanger

Arnold Bennett (1867 - 1931)

This first of a trilogy of novels is a coming-of-age story set in the Midlands of Victorian England, following Edwin Clayhanger as he leaves school, takes over the family business, and falls in love.
The books are set in Bennett's usual setting of "the 5 Towns", a thinly-disguised version of the six towns of "the Potteries" which amalgamated (at the time of which Bennett was writing) into the borough (and later city) of Stoke-on-Trent.
In one of the earlier chapters in the book, Bennett writes that Edwin had only heard of a philosopher as 'someone who made the best of a bad job' and in some ways that is what Edwin has to do in the book - survive under a stifling layer of conduct imposed by his father, his church and the society he is part of.
(Introduction by Wikipedia, summarised by seasound11)

Genre(s): Literary Fiction

Language: English

Group: The Clayhanger Family

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 01 The Last of a Schoolboy meyerli
00:16:43
Play 02 02 The Flame Fareeda Amir
00:17:36
Play 03 03 Entry into the World meyerli
00:20:20
Play 04 04 The Child-Man meyerli
00:17:36
Play 05 05 Mr Shushion's Tear Explained meyerli
00:07:33
Play 06 06 In the House meyerli
00:16:33
Play 07 07 Auntie Hamps meyerli
00:28:24
Play 08 08 In the Shop meyerli
00:15:03
Play 09 09 The Town meyerli
00:18:52
Play 10 10 Free and Easy meyerli
00:24:46
Play 11 11 Son and Father meyerli
00:17:46
Play 12 12 Machinery meyerli
00:29:38
Play 13 13 One Result of Courage meyerli
00:18:57
Play 14 14 The Architect meyerli
00:17:38
Play 15 15 A Decision meyerli
00:15:13
Play 16 16 The Letter meyerli
00:20:27
Play 17 17 End of a Struggle meyerli
00:23:05
Play 18 18 The Visit meyerli
00:21:38
Play 19 19 Father and Son after Seven Years meyerli
00:16:13
Play 20 20 The New House meyerli
00:19:11
Play 21 21 The Two Gardens meyerli
00:19:05
Play 22 22 Clothes meyerli
00:11:11
Play 23 23 Janet Loses her Bet meyerli
00:12:18
Play 24 24 Lane End House meyerli
00:24:32
Play 25 25 The Family Supper meyerli
00:11:36
Play 26 26 In the Porch meyerli
00:25:29
Play 27 27 The Centenary meyerli
00:25:38
Play 28 28 The Bottom of the Square meyerli
00:09:48
Play 29 29 The Top of the Square meyerli
00:14:55
Play 30 30 The Oldest Sunday School Teacher meyerli
00:16:36
Play 31 31 Money meyerli
00:24:39
Play 32 32 The Insult meyerli
00:09:08
Play 33 33 The Sequel meyerli
00:09:50
Play 34 34 Challenge and Response meyerli
00:22:51
Play 35 35 Curiosity meyerli
00:21:55
Play 36 36 A Catastrophe meyerli
00:10:07
Play 37 37 The Man meyerli
00:24:07
Play 38 38 The Marriage meyerli
00:31:11
Play 39 39 After a Funeral meyerli
00:30:32
Play 40 40 The Conclave meyerli
00:21:21
Play 41 41 The Name meyerli
00:13:43
Play 42 42 The Victim of Sympathy meyerli
00:14:58
Play 43 43 The Slave's Fear meyerli
00:13:39
Play 44 44 Keys and Cheques meyerli
00:11:59
Play 45 45 Laid Aside meyerli
00:25:07
Play 46 46 A Change of Mind meyerli
00:19:35
Play 47 47 The Ox meyerli
00:12:55
Play 48 48 Mrs Hamp's as a Young Man meyerli
00:10:41
Play 49 49 An Hour meyerli
00:10:14
Play 50 50 Revenge meyerli
00:10:33
Play 51 51 The Journey Upstairs meyerli
00:13:42
Play 52 52 The Watch meyerli
00:14:29
Play 53 53 The Banquet meyerli
00:20:36
Play 54 54 After the Banquet meyerli
00:22:23
Play 55 55 The Chain Broken meyerli
00:19:44
Play 56 56 The Birthday Visit meyerli
00:23:39
Play 57 57 Janet's Nephew meyerli
00:20:59
Play 58 58 Adventure meyerli
00:23:28
Play 59 59 In Preston Street meyerli
00:21:41
Play 60 60 The Bully meyerli
00:18:29
Play 61 61 The Rendezvous meyerli
00:19:25
Play 62 62 The Wall meyerli
00:13:05
Play 63 63 The Friendship meyerli
00:17:09
Play 64 64 The Arrival meyerli
00:25:21
Play 65 65 George and the Vicar meyerli
00:19:24
Play 66 66 Beginning of the Night meyerli
00:27:13
Play 67 67 End of the Night meyerli
00:21:40
Play 68 68 Her Heart meyerli
00:17:07