Born into a modest but upwardly mobile family in Hanley, in the Staffordshire Potteries, Bennett was intended by his father, a solicitor, to follow him into the legal profession. Bennett worked for his father before moving to another law firm in London as a clerk at the age of 21. He became assistant editor and then editor of a women's magazine before becoming a full-time author in 1900. Always a devotee of French culture in general and French literature in particular, he moved to Paris in 1903; there the relaxed milieu helped him overcome his intense shyness, particularly with women. He spent ten years in France, marrying a Frenchwoman in 1907. In 1912 he moved back to England. He and his wife separated in 1921, and he spent the last years of his life with a new partner, an English actress. He died in 1931 of typhoid fever, having unwisely drunk tap-water in France.
born into a modest but upwardly mobile family in hanley in the staffordshire potteries bennett was intended by his father a solicitor to follow him into the legal profession bennett worked for his father before moving to another law firm in london as a clerk at the age of 21 he became assistant editor and then editor of a women's magazine before becoming a full-time author in 1900 always a devotee of french culture in general and french literature in particular he moved to paris in 1903; there the relaxed milieu helped him overcome his intense shyness particularly with women he spent ten years in france marrying a frenchwoman in 1907 in 1912 he moved back to england he and his wife separated in 1921 and he spent the last years of his life with a new partner an english actress he died in 1931 of typhoid fever having unwisely drunk tap-water in france