Tales of the Five Towns: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Tales of the Five Towns: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Tales of the Five Towns is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Bennett, Arnold (1867–1931).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Tales of the Five Towns" by Arnold Bennett is a collection of short stories set in the early 20th century that explores the lives and characters of the inhabitants of the fictional industrial town of Bursley in the Five Towns area of Staffordshire, England. The narratives often delve into the themes of social status, romance, and the nuanced relationships between the townsfolk. The stories in this collection, such as "His Worship the Goosedriver" and "The Elixir of Youth," introduce characters like Josiah Curtenty, the Deputy-Mayor who finds himself in humorous and precarious situations. The opening of "Tales of the Five Towns" introduces readers to the bustling town atmosphere during the holiday season. It features Mr. Josiah Curtenty and Mr. Gordon, who share a mutual affection for the same woman and navigate local society's intricacies. As they leave a pub, Curtenty whimsically engages a gloomy gooseherd, leading to an impulsive purchase of geese, which sets off a series of comedic misadventures. The narrative builds a vivid picture of small-town life, characterized by camaraderie, competition, and a touch of the absurd, and hints at deeper themes of ambition and societal expectation that will likely unfold in subsequent stories.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Tales of the Five Towns
- Author credits: Bennett, Arnold (1867–1931)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- City and town life -- Fiction
- Pottery industry -- Fiction
- Staffordshire (England) -- Fiction
- Stoke-on-Trent (England) -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: British Literature
- Category: Humour
- Category: Short Stories
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
Sources
More in Books & Authors
Keep reading
