Imperial Palace (novel)
Encyclopedia
Imperial Palace is the last and longest novel by author Arnold Bennett
.
Published in 1930, the year before Bennett's death, the novel follows the daily workings of a hotel modelled on the Savoy Hotel
in London. The central character, Evelyn Orcham, is the Director of the hotel.
While the novel was successful in its time, it was overshadowed by Vicki Baum
's best-selling novel, Menschen im Hotel (People in a Hotel) published the same year and later turned into the Academy Award
winning film, Grand Hotel
.
Bennett's second novel, The Grand Babylon Hotel
published in 1902, was also set in the Savoy Hotel, which features an "Omelette Arnold Bennett" on its menu to honour the author.
Arnold Bennett
- Early life :Bennett was born in a modest house in Hanley in the Potteries district of Staffordshire. Hanley is one of a conurbation of six towns which joined together at the beginning of the twentieth century as Stoke-on-Trent. Enoch Bennett, his father, qualified as a solicitor in 1876, and the...
.
Published in 1930, the year before Bennett's death, the novel follows the daily workings of a hotel modelled on the Savoy Hotel
Savoy Hotel
The Savoy Hotel is a hotel located on the Strand, in the City of Westminster in central London. Built by impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte with profits from his Gilbert and Sullivan operas, the hotel opened on 6 August 1889. It was the first in the Savoy group of hotels and restaurants owned by...
in London. The central character, Evelyn Orcham, is the Director of the hotel.
While the novel was successful in its time, it was overshadowed by Vicki Baum
Vicki Baum
Hedwig Baum was an Austrian writer. She is known for Menschen im Hotel , one of her first international successes....
's best-selling novel, Menschen im Hotel (People in a Hotel) published the same year and later turned into the Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
winning film, Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel (film)
Grand Hotel is a 1932 American drama film directed by Edmund Goulding. The screenplay by William A. Drake and Béla Balázs is based on the 1930 play of the same title by Drake, who had adapted it from the 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel by Vicki Baum...
.
Bennett's second novel, The Grand Babylon Hotel
The Grand Babylon Hotel
The Grand Babylon Hotel is a novel by Arnold Bennett, published in 1902, about the mysterious disappearance of a German prince. It originally appeared as a serial in the Daily Mail.-Plot introduction:...
published in 1902, was also set in the Savoy Hotel, which features an "Omelette Arnold Bennett" on its menu to honour the author.
External links
- The full text of Imperial Palace is available online at the West Midlands Literary Heritage website