JB Priestley

JB Priestley writing in the early 1940′s.
JB Priestley writing in the early 1940′s. Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Bradford.

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

JB Priestley Society link

JB Priestley Archive link

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.

Dangerous Corner, Salisbury Playhouse
Dangerous Corner, Salisbury Playhouse (photo Keith Pattison)

 

Read Dee’s Review Dangerous Corner, Salisbury

Book Reviews

Review What a Life (1950 re-issued 2014)

What a Life. Cover artwork
What a Life. Cover artwork David Hockney (1973)

Review Bright Day (1946)

JB Priestley Bright Day (1946)
Bright Day (1946)

Review Daylight on Saturday (1943)

JB Priestley Daylight on Saturday 1943
Daylight on Saturday 1943

Review Angel Pavement and The Good Companions

JB Priestley The Good Companions
The Good Companions (1929)