John Boynton Priestley was a novelist and dramatist renowned for his masterful command of the English language. His works frequently delved into social issues and the lives of ordinary people, all rendered in his distinctive, blunt Yorkshire style. During World War II, he became a popular and influential radio broadcaster, shaping public discourse with his thoughtful commentaries. Priestley left behind a prolific and varied literary legacy, encompassing novels, essays, and plays, and remains an enduring inspiration to aspiring authors.
'An exquisitely-written, generous, funny, thoughtful book about the everyday joys of being alive. I love it.' Dolly Alderton 'J. B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th Century and it is time that we all became re- acquainted with his genius.' Dame Judi Dench
Being Tales, Travesties and Epigrams
The book offers a collection of tales, travesties, and epigrams that hold significant historical value. Aimed at preserving this important work, it has been meticulously reformatted and retyped to ensure clarity and readability in a modern format. This effort ensures that the content remains accessible for both present and future generations, allowing readers to engage with its unique insights and narratives without the limitations of scanned copies.
Disillusioned playwright Martin Cheveril, on the verge of a career change, is thrust into the past after discovering an old pamphlet about the tragic actress Jenny Villiers. As he falls asleep, he is transported to her era, becoming a witness to her life and the events leading to her untimely death. This journey reveals the lasting impact of her tragedy, intertwining the past with his present, and forcing him to confront his own disillusionment with the theatre.
Set against the backdrop of the Syrian desert, a group of six soldiers faces dire circumstances when their tank breaks down. As they grapple with their predicament, they are thrust back in time to 703 BC, where they assume different roles in a caravan. The characters, each with distinct backgrounds and personalities, navigate the challenges of survival and fate, especially as young George, wounded and foreseeing death, confronts the weight of their intertwined destinies across time.
On his way to work at the bank one morning, the manager Mr Kettle freaks out. He goes back home changes into his casual clothes and sets about enjoying himself. No one apart from Mrs Kettle can understand him and why he is behaving in this way. Mrs Kettle joins him in his rebellion. The bank officials employ a doctor to hypnotise Mr Kettle and get him back to his former self.|3 women, 6 men
A humorous portrayal of how mothers are treated in a family. It was first performed as a play in 1953.
The retired Colonel, his niece Lesley, and his friend the Major - a retired army medical officer - are living, to all intents and purposes, a happy, quiet life together in the Colonel's country home. The play opens as they are having tea with a close friend of the Colonel's daughter, Diana, who died apparently from an overdose of drugs three years previously. The Colonel has not recovered from the shock and believes his daughter is away for a time. They are disturbed by the arrival of a stranger who is investigating Diana's death and the tranquillity begins to unravel.3 women, 5 men
Exploring the uncanny, this collection features nine unsettling tales that showcase J. B. Priestley's mastery of the weird genre. In "The Grey Ones," a man confronts the possibility that demons are disguised as humans, while "Guest of Honour" turns a banquet speech into a nightmare as the speaker faces monstrous attendees. "The Leadington Incident" reveals a Cabinet minister's chilling realization about those around him. Each story combines fantastic elements with psychological tension, highlighting Priestley's unique storytelling prowess.
In the months before the First World War, Richard Herncastle joins his Uncle's illusionist act on the Music Hall stage wherehe comes into contact with larger than life, garish and outrageous characters. číst celé
With tales from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, this new collection features sixteen macabre gems, including three original works and many others that have never or seldom been reprinted by. -- Page 4 of cover.