The Enduring Plea of a Pioneer of Social Justice
How can one encapsulate the life and work of John Boynton Priestley? With a prolific career spanning 39 plays, 26 novels, and numerous non-fiction works, he has left an indelible mark on English literature. Often dismissed as "one of the tradesmen of letters" by Virginia Woolf, Priestley's genius lies in his ability to tap into the zeitgeist of his time, crafting plays that remain eerily relevant today.
At the heart of many of Priestley's works lies a powerful plea for social justice, tempered with a sense of mysticism. His 1946 play, When We Are Married, is a masterclass in exploring the consequences of a society's disregard for its most vulnerable members. Meanwhile, An Inspector Calls, written in 1946, has stood the test of time as a searing critique of class and privilege.
The play's central theme – that we are all interconnected and responsible for one another – resonates across generations. Whether performed under a hard-pressed Labour government in 1946 or revived by Stephen Daldry in 1992 amidst a post-Thatcherite world, the Inspector's words remain as pertinent today as they were over seven decades ago.
Priestley's own experiences during World War II had a profound impact on his writing. The freezing month of January 1947, when he penned The Linden Tree, was a time of crisis and austerity in Britain. This play, revived by Christopher Morahan at the Orange Tree in 2006, is a powerful exploration of the tensions between tradition and progress.
A year later, Priestley published Theatre Outlook, a polemical book that applied socialist principles to the theatre industry. He advocated for increased subsidy, national tours, and civic theatres that reflected local character and outlook. While some of his vision has been eroded by time and underfunding, Priestley's idealism remains a beacon of hope.
Priestley's later plays, such as Summer Day's Dream (1949), showcase a visionary socialist struggling to reconcile mysticism with practicality. Set on the Sussex Downs in 1975, this play is a wildly fanciful exploration of the intersection between industrialism and nature, magic and science.
As we look back on Priestley's remarkable body of work, it is clear that his plays remain a powerful call to action, urging us to question our assumptions about class, privilege, and responsibility. When We Are Married, revived at the Donmar Warehouse in London from December 6th to February 7th, is a timely reminder of the enduring power of Priestley's vision for a more just society.
How can one encapsulate the life and work of John Boynton Priestley? With a prolific career spanning 39 plays, 26 novels, and numerous non-fiction works, he has left an indelible mark on English literature. Often dismissed as "one of the tradesmen of letters" by Virginia Woolf, Priestley's genius lies in his ability to tap into the zeitgeist of his time, crafting plays that remain eerily relevant today.
At the heart of many of Priestley's works lies a powerful plea for social justice, tempered with a sense of mysticism. His 1946 play, When We Are Married, is a masterclass in exploring the consequences of a society's disregard for its most vulnerable members. Meanwhile, An Inspector Calls, written in 1946, has stood the test of time as a searing critique of class and privilege.
The play's central theme – that we are all interconnected and responsible for one another – resonates across generations. Whether performed under a hard-pressed Labour government in 1946 or revived by Stephen Daldry in 1992 amidst a post-Thatcherite world, the Inspector's words remain as pertinent today as they were over seven decades ago.
Priestley's own experiences during World War II had a profound impact on his writing. The freezing month of January 1947, when he penned The Linden Tree, was a time of crisis and austerity in Britain. This play, revived by Christopher Morahan at the Orange Tree in 2006, is a powerful exploration of the tensions between tradition and progress.
A year later, Priestley published Theatre Outlook, a polemical book that applied socialist principles to the theatre industry. He advocated for increased subsidy, national tours, and civic theatres that reflected local character and outlook. While some of his vision has been eroded by time and underfunding, Priestley's idealism remains a beacon of hope.
Priestley's later plays, such as Summer Day's Dream (1949), showcase a visionary socialist struggling to reconcile mysticism with practicality. Set on the Sussex Downs in 1975, this play is a wildly fanciful exploration of the intersection between industrialism and nature, magic and science.
As we look back on Priestley's remarkable body of work, it is clear that his plays remain a powerful call to action, urging us to question our assumptions about class, privilege, and responsibility. When We Are Married, revived at the Donmar Warehouse in London from December 6th to February 7th, is a timely reminder of the enduring power of Priestley's vision for a more just society.
the thing about priestley's plays is that they're not just warning us about social injustices, but also showing us what we can do differently. he was all about creating a sense of community and connection between people 
it's crazy to think that his work is still so relevant today, 7 decades after they were first performed 
, like we're literally performing an inspector calls with our own class struggles and social issues today 
his ability to tap into zeitgeist is mind-blowing 
and i love how he advocates for theatre to reflect local character & outlook 
what if more ppl took inspiration from his vision for a just society? 
. He had this ability to tap into the darker aspects of human nature and make us confront ourselves. I think what's often overlooked is that his work wasn't just about criticizing social ills, it was also about offering a vision for change. His plays were like a call to arms, urging people to think differently about class, privilege, and responsibility 
. And you know what? Some of that vision still feels eerily relevant today 
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And An Inspector Calls is still relevant today? That's like saying pineapple pizza is still a good idea 
. On a more serious note, though, I do think Priestley's work is worth revisiting – especially when it comes to social justice issues. His plays always seem to tap into the zeitgeist of his time, which is pretty impressive. And who can forget that iconic line about us all being interconnected? 
. all these plays are still so relevant today, it's crazy. think about that play when we are married... how many times have we seen that theme play out in real life? class, privilege, and how we treat the vulnerable... still got a lot to learn from priestley 
I can totally relate to how powerful John Boynton Priestley's works are. Like, have you ever felt like we're all stuck in this crazy system and it's hard to know what to do about it? That's what his plays are all about - exposing the flaws and encouraging us to be more empathetic and understanding towards each other. 
. I mean, John Priestley was literally tackling issues like class and privilege in his plays even back in 1946! It's crazy to think that some of those themes are still super relevant today 
. I love how he used theatre as a way to bring people together and inspire discussion. It's so inspiring to see someone using their platform for good 
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it's like we've lost our way from his idealism. Still, I think there's hope 
if we can learn from Priestley's work and apply those lessons to make a positive change in the world.
like it's all so predictable... Priestley was basically warning us about the dangers of elitism back in the 40s, but I guess some things never change. The fact that his plays are still being performed years after they were written just shows how stuck we are in our societal norms 
. I think that's why his work is enduring - it's not just a product of its time, but a commentary on the human condition that transcends generations 
I mean, can you believe how ahead of his time John Priestley was? Like, he wrote plays that tackled social justice and class issues in the 40s, and people were still like "oh, he's just one of those tradesmen of letters" 
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. It's no wonder he was seen as "one of the tradesmen of letters" back in the day... he really did have a masterful touch 
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, they force us to confront our own biases and privileges. I mean think about it, his works are still relevant today because we're still grappling with the same issues he wrote about decades ago 
. Like, have you seen When We Are Married lately? It's like a time capsule of societal ills 
. And don't even get me started on An Inspector Calls, it's like Priestly was reading our tea leaves back in '46 
️. The way he explores the connections between people is so astute, it's like we're all connected by invisible threads 
. Anyways, can't wait to see When We Are Married revived at the Donmar Warehouse 
. I think that's why his plays are still being performed – people need reminding of the importance of treating each other with kindness and respect. Anyway, I guess that's just my two cents on Priestley...
i'm definitely going to check out some of his other works now, thanks for the rec!