Clayhanger

novel by Bennett

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

Clayhanger is a 1910 novel by Arnold Bennett, which is the first book in The Clayhanger Family trilogy. Set in the late 19th century in a drab potters' town in England's industrial Midlands, the novel follows Edwin Clayhanger as he struggles against his domineering father. Edwin is a shy young man who falls in love with Hilda Lessways. Despite their mutual attraction, Hilda marries another man. Years later, Edwin finds Hilda in destitution, her husband imprisoned for bigamy. Edwin still harbors feelings for Hilda. The trilogy continues with Hilda Lessways (1911), told from Hilda's perspective, and These Twain (1915), which depicts Edwin and Hilda's married life and their attempts to reconcile their differing personalities.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Arnold Bennett
…Old Wives’ Tale (1908), and Clayhanger (1910; included with its successors, Hilda Lessways, 1911, and These Twain, 1916, in The Clayhanger Family, 1925)—have their setting there, the only exception being Riceyman Steps (1923), set in a lower-middle-class district of London.
Read More
…Old Wives’ Tale (1908), and Clayhanger (1910; included with its successors, Hilda Lessways, 1911, and These Twain, 1916, in The Clayhanger Family, 1925)—have their setting there, the only exception being Riceyman Steps (1923), set in a lower-middle-class district of London.
Read More

The Clayhanger Family
…book of the three is Clayhanger (1910); it was followed by Hilda Lessways (1911) and These Twain (1915). They were published together in 1925.
Read More
…book of the three is Clayhanger (1910); it was followed by Hilda Lessways (1911) and These Twain (1915). They were published together in 1925.
Read More