What did Arnold Bennett blue plaque do at 75 Cadogan Square?

The Story

Looking up at this elegant Cadogan Square residence, you're standing before the London home where Arnold Bennett spent his final years, from 1921 until his death in 1931. It was here, in this prestigious Chelsea address, that the acclaimed novelist entertained fellow literary luminaries including H.G. Wells and hosted his famous Thursday evening gatherings that became a fixture of London's cultural scene. During his decade at number 75, Bennett wrote several of his later works including "Riceyman Steps" (1923) and "Lord Raingo" (1926), all while maintaining his reputation as one of London's most noted gourmands and cultural commentators through his newspaper columns. The grand proportions and fashionable location of this home reflected Bennett's rise from his modest Staffordshire origins to become one of Britain's highest-earning authors, though he never lost his keen eye for observing all levels of society that made his novels so compelling.