‘For the last twenty years we have been governed for the benefit of the City, and it does not follow that what sustains the City is the best for the sustenance of the nation.’ J.B. Priestley (1939)
John Boynton Priestley (1894-1984) was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire. He wrote over a 150 individual published works – novels, plays, essays & pamphlets.
He served in WW1 in the front line at Flanders and was wounded several times. During WW2 he gave patriotic broadcasts on Sunday nights on radio. The character, Quin Savory in Graham Greene’s Stamboul Train (1932) was based on Priestley. JBP was co-founder of CND.
Priestley’s signature on Angel Pavement, 1930
Like buses
Just when you are thinking, what a pity no one puts Priestley’s plays on much anymore, along come two in the same month – February 2013. And I was lucky to catch both: one locally at Salisbury Playhouse; the other at the Royal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh.
Read Dee’s Review Dangerous Corner, Salisbury
Book Reviews
Review What a Life (1950 re-issued 2014)
Review Daylight on Saturday (1943)
Review Angel Pavement and The Good Companions
