What is J. B. Priestley’s contribution to English prose?

Ans.

As Collins writes: Priestley has a good deal of the essayist in his make up as a novelist, and in the essay itself, the broad humanity, the shrewd sense of true values of living, the knowledge of man, the power of narrative and the humour that are his strength as a novelist, appeared in attractive condensation. Priestley’s essays are literary. They are critical and penetrating. They are sharp and pointed. His essays are enriched by allusions drawn from his wide reading in a manner resembling Hazlitt’s. His essays are marked by intelligence, integrity, fluency and sincerity. There is a peculiar charm in his essays.

J. B. Priestley’s expression is characterized by certain charm and vigour. His style has won him admiration. His works are remarkable for their profound thought, deep knowledge and great wisdom. There is certain literary grace about his charming style. His is natural, exquisite and charming in his manner of expression. His style is remarkable for its lucidity, simplicity and sincerity. In his essays, he starts with a common place incident or experience. He is no pedantic preacher or heavy handed moralist. His exquisite humour and the charm and the literary flavour of his style make his essays works of Prose Art.

Priestley’s essays contain a very readable style. There is in him a good deal of the gusto and vivacity, a certain amount of touch of irony and his essays are very lively. His fame lies in his variety. He is very accurate in his use of words. He employs them with force. His style is simple but elegant. It is natural and flowing. It is characterized by urbane humour and idiomatic turns of speech. His prose style is charming and attractive. His essays are written in easy, simple and racy prose. His typically Yorkshire humour delights us. It is abundantly found in his essays. His exquisite humour and the charm and literary flavour of his style make his essays works of great merit.

Priestley’s choice of words is superb. His use of adjectives and participles is apt, appropriate and suggestive. His humour is animating. His sentences contain ironical touch. As a verbal craftsman he is admirable for he loves his medium of words and uses them with imagination. He is noted for the choice of words. He is apt in phrase making. His style is simple, straight and lovable. He shows his perfect command over language, he exhibits his simplicity of manner. He has the sweetness of style. His style is marked by simplicity, cheerfulness and wit, he reveals his ordinary approach. There is novelty of ideas in his writing. His style is simple but it is not without force. He writes terse sentences. He argues in very congent and convincing way. He writes a lucid, logical and dignified style.

Priestley reveals homeliness of style with his gusto, imagination and wealth of sympathy he would write in a very calm silent manner whispering truths through well measured words. Never does one find him losing his hold upon the simplicity of manner, how so much he may be moved with the emotional effusions. His catholicity is best exhibited in his style where he wants himself to reach even to the least knowing of his readers. Priestley makes himself all the more entertaining through his witty remarks, his unconventional descriptions and definitions which at once charm and entertain. Only when Priestley writes critical essays that his style acquires a subtility and slight abstruseness. He combines within him all those qualities that make a great essayist. He deserves to be ranked among the greatest writers of this age.

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