The Mercy of Mr. Arnold Bennett
The Mercy of Mr. Arnold Bennett is a book by G.K. Chesterton that explores the life and works of English novelist Arnold Bennett. The book delves into Bennett's literary style, his views on art and literature, and his impact on British culture in the early 20th century. It also examines Bennett's personal life and relationships with other writers and artists of his time.
By G.K. Chesterton · First published 1908 · Genre: Essay, Philosophy, Social Critique · 2,188 words
First lines
Mr. Arnold Bennett recently wrote one of his humorous and humane _causeries_, pleading very properly for social imagination and the better understanding of our fellows. He carried it however to the point of affirming, as some fatalists do, that we should never judge anybody in the sense of condemning anybody, in connexion with his moral conduct. Some time ago the same distinguished writer showed that his mercy and magnanimity were indeed on a heroic scale by reviewing a book of mine, and even saying many kind things about it. But to these he added a doubt about whether true intelligence could be consistent with the acceptance of any dogma. In truth there are only two kinds of people; those who accept dogmas and know it, and those who accept dogmas and don't know it. My only advantage over the gifted novelist lies in my belonging to the former class. I suspect that his unconsciousness of his dogmas extends to an unconsciousness of what he means by a dogma.
What this Textopian page supports
The Mercy of Mr. Arnold Bennett is listed on Textopian as a short story by G.K. Chesterton, dated 1908 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: G.K. Chesterton
- Date: 1908 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Essay, Philosophy, Social Critique, Satire, Theology
- Length: 2,188 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Similar titles
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Genres
- Essay — The work is structured as a reflective and argumentative essay, discussing philosophical and moral themes.
- Philosophy — The text delves into philosophical discussions about morality, judgment, and determinism.
- Social Critique — The work critiques societal norms and the implications of moral judgments on social structures.
- Satire — The writing style employs satire to critique and highlight the absurdities in societal and philosophical arguments.
Tags
literature · criticism · essay · British · 20th century · philosophy · social commentary · humor · character study · narrative style · cultural analysis · artistic expression