The Plain Man and His Wife

The Plain Man and His Wife is a novel written by Arnold Bennett, first published in 1912. The story revolves around the lives of a couple named Edward Henry Machin, also known as Denry, and his wife, Ruth Earp. Denry is a self-made man who rises from a working-class background to become a successful businessman and local politician in the Staffordshire Potteries, while Ruth is a refined and cultured woman from a wealthy family.The novel follows their marriage and the challenges they face as they navigate their different backgrounds and social expectations. Denry's ambition and cunning help him to climb the social ladder, but his success comes at a cost to his relationship with Ruth. As Denry becomes increasingly involved in politics and social climbing, Ruth feels increasingly neglected and isolated.The Plain Man and His Wife is a satirical commentary on social climbing and the British class system. Bennett's portrayal of Denry as a cunning and opportunistic character highlights the flaws in the system and the lengths to which people will go to gain social status. The novel also explores themes of love, marriage, and the importance of staying true to oneself.Overall, The Plain Man and His Wife is a thought-provoking and entertaining read that offers insight into the complexities of human relationships and the social dynamics of early 20th century Britain.1913. Arnold Bennett was an English novelist, playwright, essayist, critic and journalist. By any standards, his output was prolific: thirty novels, almost three thousand articles, ten plays and many other writings. This is one of his novels. Contents: All Means and No End; The Taste for Pleasure; The Risks of Life; and In Her Place. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.