The Old Wives' Tale



THE

OLD WIVES

TALE

ARNOLD BENNETT


THE

OLD WIVES

TALE

Introduction by Francine Prose







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T H E                           M O D E R N                           L I B R A R Y

N E W                           Y O R K

CONTENTS


INTRODUCTION BY FRANCINE PROSE


COMMENTARY


PREFACE


BOOK ONE: MRS BAINES


1. The Square

2. The Tooth

3. A Battle

4. Elephant

5. The Traveller

6. Escapade

7. A Defeat


BOOK TWO: CONSTANCE


1. Revolution

2. Christmas and the Future

3. Cyril

4. Crime

5. Another Crime

6. The Widow

7. Bricks and Mortar

8. The Proudest Mother


BOOK THREE: SOPHIA


1. The Elopement

2. Supper

3. An Ambition Satisfied

4. A Crisis for Gerald

5. Fever

6. The Siege

7. Success


BOOK FOUR: WHAT LIFE IS


1. Frensham’s

2. The Meeting

3. Towards Hotel Life

4. End of Sophia

5. End of Constance

Copyright

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