Hilda Lessways

Hilda Lessways, written by Arnold Bennett in 1911, forms the second book of the Clayhanger trilogy.

Related Topics:
Arnold Bennett - 1911 - Clayhanger

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It tells the story of Hilda from her coming of age, her working experiences as a shorthand clerk and keeper of a lodging house in London and Brighton, her relationship with George Cannon that ends in her disastrous bigamous marriage and pregnancy, and finally her reconciliation with Edwin Clayhanger.

Related Topics:
Coming of age - Shorthand - London - Brighton - Bigamous

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While the partial re-telling of the Clayhanger plot is interesting, with some identical scenes now shown from Hilda's perspective, the novel generally fails to match the inventiveness of Clayhanger. The scenes of Hilda's life in the Brighton lodging-house, for example, are a pale reflection of those of the Clayhanger printing shop. Bennett's skill in capturing the character of the Potteries personality can only partly enrich a book that moves so frequently out of the Five Towns.

Related Topics:
Potteries - Five Towns

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While Bennett makes no direct references to the social and political emancipation of women that was taking place during the period of the novel, the character of Hilda combines the determination of a young woman for self-expression, with the disempowerment imposed on her by social norms.

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