The statue celebrating Stoke-on-Trent's most famous literary son was unveiled on 27th March 2017, on what would have been his 150th birthday.
The two metre high bronze sculpture of novelist, playwright and essayist Arnold Bennett was commissioned by the Arnold Bennett Society, funded by the Denise Coates Foundation and gifted to the city.
The statue shows Bennett at the age he would have been in 1910 when he was at the height of his powers. The year 1910 is also the year in which the six towns of the district federated into the one area of Stoke-on-Trent. Bennett is shown sitting in a chair reading a book that he wrote, titled The Card, which chronicles the rags-to-riches rise of washerwoman’s son Denry Machin to Mayor of “Bursley”, the Burslem of Bennett’s “Five Towns” literary landscape.
A pile of six of his books are on the floor next to the chair.
"The Arnold Bennett society worked with local sculptors Michael Talbot and Carl Payne to create the statue and Horticon Ltd were engaged by Stoke City Council to construct the accessible plinth for the statue. Our works were carefully programmed with the artist to ensure there was sufficient time to install his sculpture before the opening. Mr Talbot, from Leek, said: “We've placed it at ground level so you can sit with it, have your photograph taken with it. It's not elevated on a plinth in a traditionally superior way, it's accessible to the public as he wrote about Stoke-on-Trent and the people of Stoke-on-Trent.” Source: horticon.co.uk/news/2017/6/21/arnold-bennett-statue-unveiled www.thepotteries.org/where/019.htm
A brass plaque on the plinth is inscribed as follows;
'ARNOLD BENNETT
AUTHOR
1867-1931
27th May - Born in Hanley 27th March - Died in London
Commissioned by Funded by
Arnold Bennett Society Denise Coates Foundation'
The back of the chair is inscribed with raised lettering as follows;
________________________________________
'A little group of councillors were discussing Denry.
"What a card!" said one, laughing joyously." He's
a rare'un, no mistake."
"Of course,this'll make him more popular than
ever," said another.
"We've never had a man to touch him for that."
"And yet," demanded Councillor Barlow, "what's
he done? Has he ever done a days work in his
life? What great cause is he identified with?"
"He's identified ," said the speaker, "with the
great cause of cheering us all up."
_______________________________________
The Arnold Bennett Society
gratefully acknowledge the
Denise Coates Foundation.
_______________________________________
Sculptors
Michael Talbot
Carl Payne
_______________________________________
Bennett, who was born in Hanley and lived in Burslem went on to become a significant figure of significance in politics and culture. He drew on his experience of life in the Potteries in his literature.
His first novel, The Man from the North, was published in 1898. His most famous books include Anna of the Five Towns published in 1902, The Old Wives' Tale published in 1908, and the Clayhanger series, published in 1925 as The Clayhanger Family.
All the novels feature the 'Five Towns' based on the towns of Stoke-on-Trent, centres of the pottery industry. There are actually six towns in Stoke-on-Trent but the town of Fenton was ignored by Bennett.
His book, The Card, was made into a film starring Alec Guinness.
(
visit link)
(
visit link)
(
visit link)