Originally published in 1912, this collection of short stories is set in the "Five Towns" which refers to the industrial district in the English Midlands where Bennett was born. The volume contains "The Dog," "The Elixir of Youth," "Baby's Bath," "Jock-at-a-Venture," "The Death of Simon Fuge," "The Matador of the Five Towns," "The Feud," "The Lion's Share," among others.