Lex

Browse

GenresShelvesPremiumBlog

Company

AboutJobsPartnersAffiliates

Resources

DocsInvite FriendsSupport

Legal

Terms of ServicePrivacy Policygeneral@lex-books.com(215) 703-8277

© 2026 LexBooks, Inc. All rights reserved.

J. B. Priestley

J. B. Priestley

John Boynton Priestley was an influential English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and social commentator whose works often explored themes of social responsibility and the human condition. Born in 1894 in Bradford, Priestley began his literary career in the 1920s, gaining prominence with his novels and plays that deftly combined elements of realism and fantasy. His most notable works include the play 'An Inspector Calls,' which critiques social inequality and moral responsibility, and the novel 'The 39 Steps,' a thrilling adventure that contributed to the spy genre. Priestley's writing is characterized by its wit, keen observation, and a deep concern for the social issues of his time. Throughout his career, Priestley was a vocal advocate for social reform, using his platform as a broadcaster and commentator to address pressing issues such as class disparity and the impact of war on society. His ability to weave complex characters and moral dilemmas into engaging narratives made him a significant figure in 20th-century literature. Priestley's legacy endures not only through his literary contributions but also through his influence on subsequent generations of writers and thinkers who continue to grapple with the themes he so passionately explored.

Wikipedia

John Boynton Priestley was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster and social commentator.

Written by Lex AI

Famous Quotes

View all 19 quotes

“We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.””

An Inspector Calls

“I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.””

“Like its politicians and its wars, society has the teenagers it deserves.””

“We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.””

An Inspector Calls

“I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.””

“Like its politicians and its wars, society has the teenagers it deserves.””

Books from the author

right arrow

The GoodCompanions

J. B. Priestley

The Good Companions

Papers fromLilliput

1922

J. B. Priestley

Papers from Lilliput

Benighted

1927

J. B. Priestley

Benighted

BriefDiversions:Being Tales,Travestie...

J. B. Priestley

Brief Diversions: Being Tales, Travesties and Epigrams

More authors like this

right arrow
P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse
1881-1975
Arnold Bennett
Arnold Bennett
1867-1931
E. F. Benson
E. F. Benson
1867-1940
Jerome K. Jerome
Jerome K. Jerome
1859-1927
Arthur Scott Bailey
1877-1949
George O. Smith
George O. Smith
1911-1981
Percy F. Westerman
1876-1959
G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
1874-1936
Kurt Matull
1872-1920
John Galsworthy
John Galsworthy
1867-1933
E. Phillips Oppenheim
E. Phillips Oppenheim
1866-1946
H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells
1866-1946
Harold Bindloss
Harold Bindloss
1866-1945
William Le Queux
William Le Queux
1864-1927
Anthony Hope
Anthony Hope
1863-1933
Arthur Quiller-Couch
Arthur Quiller-Couch
1863-1944