The Resume

(May 27, 1867-March 27, 1931)
Born in Hanley, England, United Kingdom
Birth name was Enoch Arnold Bennett
British critic and novelist
Best-known novels were 'The Old Wives' Tale' (1908) and the Clayhanger series: 'Clayhanger' (1910), 'Hilda Lessways' (1911), 'These Twain' (1916) and 'The Roll Call' (1918)
Wrote the self-help book 'How to Live on 24 Hours a Day' (1910)

Why he might be annoying:

Max Beerbohm called him a social climber who had forgotten his roots.
He left his wife to live with an actress.
He said his description of Darius Clayhanger's death was so accurate because, 'All the time my father was dying, I was at the bedside making copious notes.'
He died of typhoid fever contracted from a glass of water that he drank in Paris to demonstrate that the local water was perfectly safe.

Why he might not be annoying:

He replied to accusations that he wrote for money rather than art with, 'Am I to sit still and see other fellows pocketing two guineas apiece for stories which I can do better myself?'
During World War I, he worked for the Ministry of Information as Director of Propaganda for France.
He gave a friend 500 pounds to distribute anonymously among needy artists and writers.
The Savoy Hotel created Omelette Arnold Bennett -- an omelet with smoked haddock -- in his honor.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 27]
• I Died in 1931 (Ranked: 63)
• I Stutter/Stammer
• I Turned Down a Knighthood
• I was Cremated
• Known By a Middle Name
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Modern Library's 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century [1998] (Ranked: 87)
• Profiles 28251-28500 (Ranked: 28280)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 18 Votes: 5.56% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 45.00% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 7 Votes: 71.43% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 17 Votes: 70.59% Annoying