Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
The Grand Babylon Hotel .
The Grand Babylon Hotel .: Novel. | Arnold Bennett
2 posts | 4 read | 2 to read
The Grand Babylon Hotel is a novel by Arnold Bennett, published in January 1902, about the mysterious disappearance of a German prince. It originally appeared as a serial in the Golden Penny. The titular Grand Babylon was modelled on the Savoy Hotel which Bennett had much later also used as a model for his 1930 novel Imperial Palace.In Bennett's journal entry on 18 January 1901, he also notes that said his serial was being advertised was the "best thing of this sort" they'd seen since The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume.Plot introductionThe protagonists are an American millionaire, Theodore Racksole, and his daughter Nella (Helen). While staying at the supremely exclusive Grand Babylon Hotel, Nella asks for a steak and Bass beer for dinner, but the order is refused. To get her what she wants Racksole buys the entire hotel, for 400,000 "and a guinea" (so the previous owner, Flix Babylon, can say that he haggled with the multi-millionaire businessman).
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
blurb
Bookwomble
post image

#BookHaul Part 2 (with pigeon droppings ?️)
Two Arnold Bennett novels, and an Andre Gide volume of two novellas.
I love the Penguin covers, and initially thought the orange?logo on the 1963 Gide was a recent sticker, it's so vibrant, but it's actually part of the original design ?
"The Grand Hotel Babylon" has lovely Impressionistic cover art by Charles Ginner, and it sounds like it will be something of a satirical farce.

Bookwomble I've recently read something positive about Bennett's “Riceyman Steps“, but no idea where, nor by whom, nor can I recall any particulars of the critique. This memory lacuna was not, however, an impediment to acquisition! 😁 (edited) 2mo
The_Book_Ninja I woulda claimed they were Penguin droppings🤷🏼 2mo
Bookwomble @The_Book_Ninja I was too literal! 🐧 woulda been better 👏🏻😄 2mo
42 likes3 comments
review
Litsi
The Grand Babylon Hotel | Arnold Bennett
Pickpick

An American Gilded Age millionaire walks into a London hotel for dinner. His daughter orders a steak & Bass Ale. The hotel doesn‘t have it. He buys the hotel then and there after a comic negotiation with the owner who warns that strange things happen at hotels. Moments later there‘s a murder, a missing prince, and a cast of hotel employees who are 1st class by day, but criminals by night. There was a too much plot, but it is a delightful read.