1. The Playwright J.B. Priestley

John Boynton Priestley grew up in the small, Northern industrial town of Bradford, England during the Late Victorian* and Edwardian Era*. He fought in France during WWI until he was exposed to a German gas attack and declared unfit for active service.

After the war, Priestley studied at Cambridge, where he wrote articles for the Cambridge Review and completed a degree in Modern History and Political Science. His first job after college was writing theater reviews for the Daily News. Priestley soon established a reputation as commentator on literature when he published as series of books entitled, The English Comic Character, The English Novel, and The English Humor. He then went on to publish several popular novels including, The Good Companions, and Angel Pavement. Over the course of his life, Priestley also wrote more than fifty plays; the most famous of which are, Dangerous Corners, When We Are Married, and An Inspector Calls.

During WWII, Priestley hosted a BBC radiobroadcast called “Postscripts” which followed the nine o’clock Sunday news. The show built up such a following that within a few months an estimated forty percent of the British population was tuning into the program. However, when some members of the Conservative Party* complained that Priestley was expressing “left-wing*” opinions during his talks, the show was cancelled.

Despite this fact, Priestley continued to write and was an active commentator on current world affairs during WWII and throughout the rest of his life. He died on August 14, 1984.

VICTORIAN ERA: From 1837-1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria. This era was marked by the industrial revolution and the rise of the British Empire. EDWARDIAN ERA: 1901 to 1910 during the reign of King Edward. This era was marked by a rigid class system and a growing appreciation for art. CONSERVATIVE PARTY: The right wing of the political spectrum. Conservatives tend to be opposed to fast moving change and prefer slow moving change over a long period of time. They defend capitalism, traditional values, and preservation of wealth and power. LEFT-WING POLITICS: On the political spectrum it coincides with socialism, liberalism and in extreme cases communism. Left-wing politicians fight for equality, civil rights, and labor rights.