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An Inspector Calls and Other Plays (Penguin Modern Classics)
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Product Description
Product Description
An Inspector Calls, first produced in 1946 when society was undergoing sweeping transformations, has recently enjoyed an enormously successful revival. While holding its audience with the gripping tension of a detective thriller, it is also a philosophical play about social conscience and the crumbling of middle class values. Time and the Conways and I Have Been Here Before belong to Priestley’s ‘time’plays, in which he explores the idea of precognition and pits fate against free will. The Linden Tree also challenges preconceived ideas of history when Professor Linden comes into conflict with his family about how life should be lived after the war.
About the Author
J.B. Priestley, the son of a schoolmaster, was born in Bradford in 1894. After leaving Belle Vue High School, he spent some time as a junior clerk in a wool office. (A lively account of his life at this period may be found in his volume of reminiscences, Margin Released.) He joined the army in 1914, and in 1919, on receiving an ox-officers’ grant, went to Trinity Hall, Cambridge. In 1922, after refusing several academic posts, and having already published one book and contributed critical articles and essays to various reviews, he went to London. There he soon made a reputation as an essayist and critic. he began writing novels, and with his third and fourth novels, The Good Companions and Angel Pavement, he scored a great success and established an international reputation. This was enlarged by the plays he wrote in the 1930s and 1940s, some of these, notably Dangerous Corner, Time and the Conways and An Inspector Calls, having been translated and produced all over the world. During the Second World War he was exceedingly popular as a broadcaster. Since the war his most important novels have been Bright Day, Festival at Farbridge, Lost Empires and The Image Men, and his more ambitious literary and social criticism can be found in Literature and Western Man, Man and Time and Journey Down a Rainbow, which he wrote with his wife, Jacquetta Hawkes, a distinguished archaeologist and a well-established writer herself. It was in this last book that Priestley coined the term ‘Admass’, now in common use. Among his latest books are Victoria’s Heydey (1972), Over the Long High Wall (1972), The English (1973), Outcries and Asides, a collection of essays (1974), A Visit to New Zealand (1974), The Carfitt Crisis (1975), Particular Pleasures (1975), Found, Lost, Found, or the English Way of Life (1976), The Happy Dream (1976), English Humour (1976) and an autobiography, Instead of the Trees (1977). In 1977 J. B. Priestley received the Order of merit. He died in 1984.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
There is a party at the Conways, this autumn evening of 1919, but we cannot see it, only hear it. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
There is a party at the Conways, this autumn evening of 1919, but we cannot see it, only hear it. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is the second audiobook in the BBC Classic Radio Theatre series to feature a play by J B Priestley and is a distinct improvement on the first (Time and the Conways). Originally broadcast on Radio 4 in May 2010 it boasts an ideal cast with Toby Jones absolutely right as the mysterious Inspector Goole. It is he who exposes the well-heeled, middle-class Birling family headed by industrialist Arthur Birling (David Calder) as complicit in the suicide of a young working-class girl. Priestley's classic morality play has never sounded better on radio and the director, Jeremy Mortimer, is especially good in establishing the cosily complacent atmosphere of the opening scene and in controllng the essential dynamics of the play. A special word of praise to Morven Christie, who is perfect as Sheila Birling. For some reason the running time is given as 2 hours 40 minutes when it is actually no more than 1 hour 30 minutes.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I first read this play for my O levels many years ago and was immediately hooked. The story is about a family who have all separately affected another person's life through their own selfishness - there's a moral to the story but it is a very entertaining play to read (and watch if you get the chance - there's also a film - black and white but very good) the play has a great twist that leaves you wondering...
14 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
A Review of "An Inspector Calls"
By J.B.Priestly
An inspector calls is a play set in 1912. It is written by J.B. Priestly,who considered himself a spokesman for the average person.
The book is about an inspector who goes to the Birling family'shouse about the sudden death of a girl who has just committed suicide. Theinspector goes round each and everyone of the family asking what linksthey had with Eva Smith. The family reveal secrets which could have playedleading parts which led to the suicide of Eva.
It starts off with theinspector knocking on the Birling family's door. The next thing they knowis that is that they are all sitting round the dining room table withquestions being thrown at them by the inspector. The book starts off quiteslowly but once all the pieces have been put together it really getsgoing.
What make this a really good book are all the twists. They allinterlink with each other and you never know when the next twist is comingup! I have never known such a book to finish in such shock even threeparagraphs before the ending, totally unexpected.
This book did nothave any particular exciting characters. They were just normal averagepeople like you and me. I think this is what Priestly was trying toachieve and he did this well, it could of happened to anyone!
If you read this book, you will need deep concentration becausedespite its easy language all the characters interlink with each other,and have unexpected twists. The message this book is, don't take anyonefor granted and try to not regret anything do everything you can to helpsomeone.
Sam Stone
Sutton Valence School
By J.B.Priestly
An inspector calls is a play set in 1912. It is written by J.B. Priestly,who considered himself a spokesman for the average person.
The book is about an inspector who goes to the Birling family'shouse about the sudden death of a girl who has just committed suicide. Theinspector goes round each and everyone of the family asking what linksthey had with Eva Smith. The family reveal secrets which could have playedleading parts which led to the suicide of Eva.
It starts off with theinspector knocking on the Birling family's door. The next thing they knowis that is that they are all sitting round the dining room table withquestions being thrown at them by the inspector. The book starts off quiteslowly but once all the pieces have been put together it really getsgoing.
What make this a really good book are all the twists. They allinterlink with each other and you never know when the next twist is comingup! I have never known such a book to finish in such shock even threeparagraphs before the ending, totally unexpected.
This book did nothave any particular exciting characters. They were just normal averagepeople like you and me. I think this is what Priestly was trying toachieve and he did this well, it could of happened to anyone!
If you read this book, you will need deep concentration becausedespite its easy language all the characters interlink with each other,and have unexpected twists. The message this book is, don't take anyonefor granted and try to not regret anything do everything you can to helpsomeone.
Sam Stone
Sutton Valence School
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Very good production
Received in good time and pleased with product. This is slightly abridged however - much of Birling's early speeches are omitted. Overall, recommended though.
Published 1 month ago by shd132
Great Listening
I've always liked this story and although I've heard it and seen it so many times, this recording was still extremely enjoyable. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Yank Abroad
Only wanted one play
I bought this book as my daughter is studying the play 'An inspecteor Calls' as part of her GCSE English Literature course. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lynn Allen
Amazing!!!
We had to study this play as part of our English Literature GCSE. I honestly thought it was going to be another boring story, but the second I finished reading the play I realised... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Bookaholic
Even cheaper than eBay!
I bought this edition for my daughter as it is (as ever!!!) a set book for English Lit. I first looked on eBay where the cheapest was £5 plus pp. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. K. Jones
inspector calls
Interesting-but who is the Inspector?-that is the main question.
Enjoyable detective story which also makes you think about your own judgement.
Enjoyable detective story which also makes you think about your own judgement.
Published 10 months ago by Lorna Doone
Classic mystery superbly acted
It's been many years since I read the play at school and hearing it brought to life in this BBC drama was very satisfying. Read more
Published 11 months ago by David, Walailak, Thailand
A classic faithfully treated
A girl suicides - what could this upper class English family have to do with the death of this
"poor creature"? As it turns out - everthing!
This is classic J. B. Read more
"poor creature"? As it turns out - everthing!
This is classic J. B. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Don Wardell
An Inspector Calls - J.B. Priestley
J.B. Priestley needs no introduction - he was known for his volumes of written work from the 1930's, if not before. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Ingrid
perfect companion
Driving home late at night with this playing in the car is a rare comfortable treat. The best of Priestley's spookier morality plays still works well and this is a grand cast.
Published 13 months ago by Louis the First
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