Bright Day by J. B. Priestley (1946)

Review by David R: The story opens in the immediate post-WW2 period. The narrator, Gregory Dawson is a scriptwriter staying at an hotel in Cornwall while he works on a film script. There is an air of depression and indecision about his future. One evening he sees a couple who look vaguely familiar. They prove … Continue reading →

The Sun in the Sands by Henry Williamson (1945)

Review by George Simmers (see his Great War Fiction blog here) When Chris told us that this month’s author would be Henry Williamson, my heart sank a little. I’ve read a fair bit of Williamson but he is not among my favourite writers. Reviewing one of his novels, J. B. Priestley described it as ‘a … Continue reading →

Howard Spring (1889-1965)

Last night at the reading group we discussed the novels of Howard Spring. Older members of the group remembered him from their youth; he published many popular novels from the 1930s until the 1960s, his best-known being My Son, My Son! (1938 originally titled O Absolom!). The Times Literary Supplement praised this best-seller as ‘a … Continue reading →

The Shapes of Sleep by J. B. Priestley (1962)

Review by David R: Ben Sterndale, a freelance journalist, is offered a commission by a friend. The boss of the advertising agency where the friend works has lost, or had stolen a sheet of paper. This paper was covered in figures, but no-one knew what they meant. Sterndale establishes who visited the boss’s office, and … Continue reading →

Angel Pavement by J. B. Priestley (1930)

Review by Mary P: The novel is set in an office in 1920s London located on Angel Pavement. The business – Twigg and Dersingham – deals in veneers and inlays and is struggling in the Depression. Along comes a mysterious outsider who offers his services to Mr Dersingham as an agent to import goods from … Continue reading →

The Magicians by J. B. Priestley (1954)

Review by David R: The story opens with Sir Charles Ravenstreet being ousted from the board of a company he helped build. Looking for a new direction, he is introduced to Sir Edwin Karney, right-hand man of Lord Mervil, who is looking for investors in a new drug. This drug is a sort of “happy … Continue reading →

Let the People Sing by J. B. Priestley (1939)

Phew! A positive review for Priestley. Review by Sue R: This book  was commissioned in 1939 by the BBC for serialisation before publication. Priestley did not normally allow this. However, he  felt that, with war looming, such a broadcast would be very valuable for the public, presumably to boost morale. Unsurprisingly, it is a feel-good … Continue reading →

They Walk in the City by J. B. Priestley (1936)

Oh dear! Another Bad Review. I do hope some of the readers who liked their book write up a review. Review by George Simmers. See his Great War Fiction blog. In his autobiography, Margin Released, J. B. Priestley is a dismissive of this book: made a hash of this novel, They Walk in the City. … Continue reading →

Daylight on Saturday by J. B. Priestley (1943)

Last night we got together to hear what our readers thought of the works of J. B. Priestley (1894-1984). It was a lively evening, with the novels and non-fiction read by the group reflecting some of the best and worst of Priestley’s output. Priestley, it was generally agreed, was an uneven writer. He was so … Continue reading →

John Galsworthy and the Forsyte Saga keep turning up in other people’s novels…

Mr John Galsworthy (1867-1933) has a terrible habit of turning up in other people’s novels in the inter-war period. In a sense it isn’t very surprising – he was such popular and influential novelist that he was a household name to most people. What is interesting is the way that he and his novels are … Continue reading →