This is the humorous tale of Edward Henry Machin (his mother "saved a certain amount of time each day by addressing her son as Denry"), set in a small industrial town at the start of the 20th century.
Denry is an impulsive, opportunistic and occasionally lucky entrepreneur, with few morals where business is concerned. He is not especially likeable, but nor is he ludicrously unpleasant and he is an entertaining character to townsfolk as well as readers.