The Pretty Lady

Arnold Bennett (1867 - 1931)

‘The Pretty Lady’ is considered to be one of Bennett's most revealing and under-rated works. It is the story of a French prostitute, Christine, who has escaped from wartime Ostend, and set herself up in business in London. Though a refugee, she demands no pity; she is self-sufficient, practical and realistic. Christine is not a harpy preying on innocent soldiers, but a canny businesswoman, doing the best she can with the opportunities life has given her. Her main relationship is with G.J. Hoape, a wealthy man above the military age. Bennett in this novel presents a disturbing image of wartime society, fragmented, uneasy and divided. There are references to industrial unrest and to social injustices, and hints that the British press is less than frank about the war. (Summary by Simon Evers)

Genre(s): Published 1900 onward

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 01 Chapters 1, 2 & 3 Simon Evers
00:18:11
Play 02 Chapters 4 & 5 Simon Evers
00:16:14
Play 03 Chapters 6 & 7 Simon Evers
00:18:50
Play 04 Chapters 8 & 9 Simon Evers
00:18:00
Play 05 Chapters 10 & 11 Simon Evers
00:24:32
Play 06 Chapters 12 & 13 Simon Evers
00:21:34
Play 07 Chapters 14 & 15 Simon Evers
00:20:58
Play 08 Chapters 16 & 17 Simon Evers
00:24:21
Play 09 Chapters 18 & 19 Simon Evers
00:31:20
Play 10 Chapters 20 & 21 Simon Evers
00:16:35
Play 11 Chapters 22 & 23 Simon Evers
00:29:08
Play 12 Chapters 24, 25 & 26 Simon Evers
00:24:04
Play 13 Chapters 27 & 28 Simon Evers
00:31:15
Play 14 Chapters 29 & 30 Simon Evers
00:21:50
Play 15 Chapters 31 & 32 Simon Evers
00:24:49
Play 16 Chapters 33 & 34 Simon Evers
00:24:44
Play 17 Chapter 35 Simon Evers
00:22:50
Play 18 Chapter 36 Simon Evers
00:18:41
Play 19 Chapter 37 Simon Evers
00:16:37
Play 20 Chapter 38 Simon Evers
00:14:57
Play 21 Chapter 39 Simon Evers
00:13:30
Play 22 Chapter 40 Simon Evers
00:21:21
Play 23 Chapter 41 Simon Evers
00:15:11