Arnold Bennett Papers

Arnold Bennett was born on 27th May 1867 in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent and moved to London in 1889. From 1903 to 1911 he lived mostly in Paris, producing many novels and plays as well as working as a freelance journalist. He died of typhoid fever in London on 27th March 1931. In his writing Bennett based many of the characters, events and places on those that actually existed or happened in the Potteries during the nineteenth century.

The University Library has taken a special interest in collecting material relating to Bennett. We hold several hundred letters and postcards, literary manuscripts, as well as pictorial material. The manuscript of the novel 'Lilian' and Bennett's Journal covering the period 21 September 1906 to 18 July 1907 are of particular interest, the latter having been published by Penguin.

An important addition has been the bequest of Mary Kennerley, the daughter of Bennett's sister Tertia. This includes some 30 first editions of Bennett's works, most of which carry his manuscript dedication, a typewritten manuscript of  'The Peggy Stories' written for children by Tertia Bennett, family photographs and a series of letters from Arnold to Tertia and her husband written over a period of 30 years. 

More recently we have received a further bequest of over fifty signed first editions from Joan Ells, Septimus Bennett's niece; letters from Arnold Bennett to family and friends, including his brother Septimus and partner Dorothy Cheston Bennett, deposited by Arnold's daughter, Virginia Eldin; diaries, watercolours, sketches and photographs of Septimus Bennett's, the gift of his daughter Ruth Bennett.

This material is owned by Keele, is mostly listed, and there are no restrictions on access. 

Cartoon of Arnold Bennett by NIBS, 1920.  Signed by Bennett.  From Bennett Papers.