Arnold Bennett was an English novelist, playwright, essayist, critic and journalist. By any standards, his output was prolific: thirty novels, almost three thousand articles, ten plays and many other writings. He was a bon viveur who enjoyed to the full the fruits of his hard work, his success and the acclaim accorded him. The Pretty Lady is considered to be one of Bennett's most revealing, and underrated works. Some believe he may have done field research for this book and in it he resolutely expresses his horror of the levity of those whom he saw up close in wartime.