Four essays by Arnold Bennett on what he has learned as a writer: the importance of careful observation of detail, the writing of novels, the writing of plays, and finally a defense of the writer who wishes to please his public - something of a sore point with the enormously popular Bennett. Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) was a prolific English novelist, playwright, essayist, critic and journalist - thirty novels, almost three thousand articles, ten plays and many other writings.