Hot Potatoes - Arnold Bennett - ★★★.¾

AUTHOR: Arnold Bennett

GENRE: Short Story, Classic.

RATING: 3.75 stars.

A story that begins innocently, but soon takes an unexpected direction.

It’s a big day at the Swann household. Young Gilbert Swann is dressed up to the nines to participate with his violoncello in the first ever Music Festival in Five Towns. His mother is absolutely sure that the success of the festival lies in her son’s talented hands. When her husband returns home from work, he remarks that it is freezing outside. Now this is a big problem because Gilbert has already left for the festival, and Mrs. Swann is sure that Gilbert’s hands will be chilled by the cold. After all, he is holding his huge violoncello and hence cannot keep his hands safely in his pockets. Hot potatoes to the rescue! How Mrs. Swann thinks of this unique solution and whether the solution will be effective or not – read the story to find out.

Arnold Bennett was an English author, best known as a novelist. He wrote prolifically: between the 1890s and the 1930s he completed 34 novels, seven volumes of short stories, 13 plays (some in collaboration with other writers), and a daily journal totalling more than a million words. He also wrote articles and stories for more than 100 newspapers and periodicals. The sales of his books were substantial, and he was the most financially successful British author of his day. This is one of his short stories, but I couldn't find out which year it was originally written in.

This is a quick and simple gem. Within just a couple of pages, we get a great glimpse of motherly pride going a bit too far. The build-up is slow but once the potatoes come into the picture, you will have fun. It is predictable but the situational comic elements make it an enjoyable read.

Recommended to lovers of humorous classic short fiction.

As this story is in the public domain, you can read it on various sites online. I read it from THIS LINK.