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want, the club allows them to buy on credit, but only from stores associated with the club. Denry makes money by getting a discount from the vendors in return for access to his large customer base. When his capital starts to run out, he arranges an "accident" for the
Countess's coach. He drives conveniently by and gives her a lift to an urgent appointment. On the way there, he talks her into becoming the club's sponsor, ensuring easy financing. This proves to be the making of Denry's fortune.
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By the end of the summer, Denry has made a substantial profit from the sightseers, which he uses to finance his boldest venture. He starts up the Five Towns
Universal Thrift Club. Members deposit money little by little; once they have accumulated half the sum they need to purchase whatever it is they
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With his great success, he is appointed a town councillor. He also backs a new daily newspaper (to be bought out at a profit by its established rival anxious to keep its monopoly) and tricks his obstinate mother into moving into a luxurious new house. At this point, Ruth reappears in Denry's life,
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Later, when
Duncalf treats a disgruntled client brusquely, Denry leaves his employ after persuading the client to hire him as a rent collector. When some of the tenants fall behind, he begins loaning them money (at a highly profitable interest rate). Ruth herself is several months in arrears and
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and a solicitor. Duncalf is responsible for organising an exclusive ball; Denry "invites" himself, then also a few others in exchange for things he will need, such as lessons from dance instructor Ruth Earp. On a bet, he audaciously asks the energetic, beautiful
295:. (The pair wrote a considerable number of Clark's pop hits in the 1960s and '70s.) Although not a huge success, an original cast album was released, and one of the show's tunes, "Nothing Succeeds Like Success", was recorded by Clark as one of her album tracks.
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with Ruth and her friend Nellie
Cotterill, he witnesses a shipwreck and the rescue of the sailors. Noting the interest generated, he buys a lifeboat, hires some of the stranded mariners as rowers, and conducts tours of the picturesque wreck. However, Ruth's
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The crowning achievement comes when Denry decides to become the youngest mayor in the history of
Bursley. To sway the voters, he purchases the rights to footballer and native son Callear, the "greatest centre forward in England", for the failing Bursley
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The novel begins when "Edward Henry Machin first saw the smoke on May 27, 1867"—the very day of
Bennett's own birth. At age 12, Denry begins his career by altering his marks in a test sufficiently to earn him a scholarship to
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as Ruth Earp. The movie was mostly faithful to the novel, though it omitted the newspaper caper, Denry outmanoeuvring his mother into moving, and a few other minor misadventures.
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now the widow of a rich older man. He considers renewing their relationship, but at the last moment, realises that Nellie is the one for him and marries her.
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tries to sneak away in the middle of the night. Denry catches her by accident, but rather than being angry, he admires her audacity and starts courting her.
156:). This is accomplished through luck, initiative and a fair bit of cheek (in slang a card is a 'character', an 'original'; a clever, audacious, person).
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238:"And yet," demanded Councillor Barlow, "what's he done? Has he ever done a day's work in his life? What great cause is he identified with?"
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235:"Of course, this'll make him more popular than ever," said another. "We've never had a man to touch him for that."
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His antics are regarded with affection and admiration by most others, as shown by the book's final exchange:
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of Chell to dance. Everyone, including Machin, is in awe of the
Countess (apparently based on the real-life
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268:, was released in 1952. It starred Alec Guinness as Denry Machin, Petula Clark as Nellie Cotterill,
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Denry Machin returned, as the slightly more mature "Edward Henry", in
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nature becomes alarmingly apparent during the trip and they break up.
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In 2007, it was once again adapted as a two-part play for
180:. At 16, he leaves school to work for Mr Duncalf, the
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This article is about the novel. For other uses, see
148:Like much of Bennett's best work, it is set in the
133:in the American edition). It was later made into a
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281:Tony Hatch
256:(retitled
182:town clerk
161:The Regent
135:1952 movie
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312:BBC Radio
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29:The Card
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116:The Card
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389:8 April
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