Helen with the High Hand

Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) was a British writer. He went to work for his father but was unhappy working for his father and earning very little money. The theme of parental miserliness occurs in his works. At 21 he went to London to clerk for a solicitor. He then began working for a magazine called Women. When he noticed the poor material being submitted he began writing a serial for the periodical. Helen with the High Hand is a short comedic novel. The story begins with a chance meeting between a young girl and her older miserly uncle. Both are strong willed people who find they rather like each other. When the young girl moves in with her uncle a battle of wills ensues. The niece helps her uncle abandon some of his financial prejudices. By the end of the story both uncle and niece have found love.