Write a note on the literary career of J. B. Priestley.

Ans.

John Boynton Priestley, better known as J. B. Priestley, was born at Bradford in 1894. His father was a school master. Having remained in active service during the Great War I, Priestley turned into a literary man just by chance. It was in the year 1918 that he began his literary career with a small volume of verses. Later he earned a great name for himself as an essayist, a dramatist and a critic. His the ‘Chapman of Rhymes”, “Brief Diversions’, “The English Comic Characters’, ‘George Meredith’ in the *Englishmen of Letters Series’ and his ‘Development of Novel’ in the six pence series are very valuable contributions to the criticism of English literature. All these writings of his added to his growing reputation but his name came into great prominence with the publication of his novel “The God Companion’ in 1929. His style and method of writing novel is very much in the line with the traditions of Fielding and Dickens. There is a successful representation of rollicking humour. After having been established as a novelist of repute, Priestley tried to be an excellent playwright as well.

Priestley is better in the world of literature as a novelist and a dramatist, though the other spheres in which he has tried his hand are essays and criticism. As an essayist Priestley has earned for himself quite a reputation. His 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 humour and all these combined make his essays very lively.

Priestley has been one of those modern writers who have earned a great name and his reputation has largely depended upon his variety. He is one of the most versatile writers of today. He is a prolific essayist. His essays cover a very wide range of subjects. His essays are the random reflections of a man with a well stocked mind and a facile fancy. He lets his fancy foam and it is the quality of his mind, the ease and polish of his writing, his art of allusions and his quiet sense of humour that make him one of the most delightful essayists of modern age.

Priestley was the director of the influential journal New Statesman and Nation and after declining a knighthood and a peerage accepted the order of merit from Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. His essays find a place in ‘I for Me’, “Open House’, ‘Apes and Angels’, ‘The Balconinny and Other Essays’ and ‘Self-Selected Essays’.