The Story

Arthur Prohack is the ultimate stay-at-home kind of guy: he loves his dry job at the Treasury, his comfortable armchair, and his simple routines. Then—bam!—he gets word that he’s inherited a staggering sum from a distant relative. Suddenly Arthur has to deal with a strange new world: staying at posh hotels, putting on plays, and acting like a big spender. But it’s not all glamour. The cash brings out the worst in the people around him—especially his wife, who sees it as a personal war chest for her own pet projects. All Arthur really wants is to finally chuck it all and relax, but that means fighting everyone who’s now depending on his money. Bennett paints this funny battle between a man and his bank account with huge skill—it’s like watching someone try to surf a mountain of gold bars while everyone shouts advice from the beach.

Why You Should Read It

This book is full of laughs because Arthur is so, well, *normal*. He isn’t some ambitious hero—he’s a tired guy who actually likes sandwiches for dinner. What’s fantastic is how Bennett shows that getting what you think you want (tons of money) can actually tie you up in knots. Arthur’s struggle to keep his old self makes you wonder: are we really all just chasing stuff that doesn’t matter? I have a soft spot for how honest he is; he doesn’t want a champagne lifestyle—he wants a nap, without his family fighting around him. And his odd friendship with his maid and the way he outfoxes everyone is pure, sneaky fun. Oh, and the scene where he decides how small he can make his breakfast so he can still be ‘rich’ is pure gold.

Final Verdict

If you love stories where a quiet person has to outsmart the voices in their head (and everyone else’s wallet), grab this one. It’s perfect for fans of light satire about modern silliness like The Importance of Being Earnest or any comedy where a modest stick-in-the-mud is dropped into a circus of money mania. Not for anyone hoping for car chases—dreamers who enjoy slow, smiling domino effects where each attempt at a peaceful life causes another wild, improbable spasm will be delighted.