J. B. Priestley
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | Date: 2008
J. B. Priestley (John Boynton Priestley), 1894-1984, English author. An extraordinarily prolific writer, Priestley worked in a variety of genres. He first wrote literary criticism as a student at Cambridge, thereafter producing such celebrated volumes as The English Novel (1927) and Literature and Western Man (1960). His many novels include The Good Companions (1929), Angel Pavement (1930), Bright Day (1946), It's an Old Country (1967), and The Image Men (1969). In his plays he experimented with expressionist forms and psychological themes; see Time and the Conways (1937), and with social criticism in dramas like Dangerous Corner (1932). Other plays include An Inspector Calls (1945), The Glass Cage (1957), and When We are Married (1938), revived with great success in 1986. Priestley also wrote mystery stories, personal history, and social criticism, English Journey (1934), Rain upon Gadshill (1939), Thoughts in the Wilderness (1957), and The Happy Dream (1976). His works of history include The Edwardians (1970) and Victoria's Heyday (1972). His reminiscences, published between 1962 and 1977, cover the full spectrum of British 20th Century culture.
Bibliography: See study by D. Hughes (1958, repr. 1979).
Author not available, PRIESTLEY, J. B..,
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition 2008
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press
Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles from HighBeam Research
|
Priestley's England: J.B. Priestley and English Culture. John Baxendale. Manchester University Press.(Brief article)(Book review)
Contemporary Review; 6/22/2008; 216 words
; Priestley's England: J.B. Priestley and English Culture. John Baxendale. Manchester University Press. [pounds sterling]50.00. vii + 213 ... Mr Baxendale reminds us that Priestley was a cultural force which needs to be treated seriously. (E.B.)
Read more
|
|
The Guillotine: Twentieth-Century Classics That Won't Last No 6: J B Priestley
The Independent - London; 2/21/1999; Gilbert Adair; 377 words
; ... may seem perverse to deny posterity to J B Priestley when, as I write, Stephen Daldry's much-laud ... production that has won awards. By re-setting Priestley's creaky old warhorse in a gaudily stylised ... repertoire. Can one blame him, though? If Priestley has to be staged at all, this is ...
Read more
|
 "The Birmingham Post (England)")
|
Down Your Way: Alveston's long and winding road; Ross Reyburn visits the village of Alveston that was once the home of the writer J B Priestley.(News)
The Birmingham Post (England); 7/24/1999; Reyburn, Ross; 787 words
; ... Dr Michael Coigley recalls the late J B Priestley (1894-1984) In a different light as ... He recalls a telephone call saying Priestley had fallen over at a dinner party at ... Coigley has an electro-cardiogram of Priestley's heartbeat signed by the writer. And ...
Read more
|
|
|
Theatre: The second coming of Priestley Johnson Over Jordan had a disastrous first run on its opening in 1939. Now says Paul Taylor, this grandly ambitious play about life after death spearheads a much needed re-appraisal of J B Priestley's work
The Independent - London; 9/12/2001; Paul Taylor; 787 words
; JB Priestley described his 1939 play Johnson Over ... venues, with much re-writing en route. As Priestley later summed it up: "The fate of the ... centrepiece of a major and much-needed Priestley retrospective. It's true that his stock ...
Read more
|
 "The Economist (US)")
|
J.B. Priestly.
The Economist (US); 11/5/1988; 335 words
; A STUPENDOUS facility for words was J.B. Priestley's curse. Throughout his long, intensely ... treats that relationship-and, indeed, Priestley's relationships with other women and ... adept a use of Jungian psychology as Priestley himself did, sees a warm, compassionate ...
Read more
|
