J.B. Priestley author page

J.B. Priestley biography

J.B. Priestley was an English novelist, playwright, and broadcaster. He was born John Boynton Priestley in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Priestley attended Belle Vue Grammar School and later served in the British Army during the First World War. After the war, he studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.

Priestley began his literary career as a novelist, publishing works such as The Good Companions in 1929 and Angel Pavement in 1930. He became widely known for his plays, including Dangerous Corner (1932), Time and the Conways (1937), and An Inspector Calls (1945). His plays often explored themes of time, social responsibility, and the interconnectedness of people’s lives.

In addition to his fiction and drama, Priestley was a prolific essayist and broadcaster. During the Second World War, his BBC radio broadcasts, known as “Postscripts,” reached a large audience and contributed to public morale. Priestley also wrote works of social commentary, including English Journey (1934), which examined the state of England during the interwar period.

Priestley received several honours during his lifetime, including being made a member of the Order of Merit in 1977. His play An Inspector Calls was first performed in 1945 and remains one of his most studied and performed works.