J. B. Priestley (1894–1984)

Hadn't read much by or about this author before, but apparently he was a prominent and well known writer in the early through mid twentieth century. I read this because I was intrigued by the nature of the man who was King Edward. I wanted to know more about him and the time he reigned and this book was very helpful with that. This book gave me better insight into the nuances of classes and political parties of the era. It was palatable, almost folksy in places, filled with illustrations of the art and photographs of the times.… (altro)

This carefully crafted book is a master class in how to write a convincing argument that will retain a middle class reader's interest by never descending to polemic. Priestly lays before everyone, especially those of his readers who really would prefer not to know, that a terrible social injustice had been done to those people who made and extracted the wealth that made Britain an economic titan.
The further Priestly ventures on his journey, the greater the deprivation uncovered - so that by the time he reaches Tyneside and the Durham collieries we are truly aware of the calamitous state of workers shut out of works that have become defunct as a result of the Great Depression. (The journey took place in 1933).
Perhaps it ought to be read alongside George Orwell's "The Road to Wigan Pier" and "Down and Out in Paris and London", both of which books tackle the subject as a political failure. Priestly demands of his readers that they be woken up to a human tragedy in their own land, amongst their own people, and take action that would relieve it. Unfortunately, this didn't happen, the situation only being altered by the country rearming and preparing for war.
My copy of this book is a Jubilee Edition (1984), and contains 80 black and white photographs which speak to the failure of will and decency, where working families lived in mean hovels in towns unfit to be called such.
I thought I wouldn't like this book, but I remembered the human warmth that is the foundation of Priestley's "Angel Pavement", and found this endearing aspect of his writing present here.… (altro)

Una familia burguesa esta cenando para celebrar la próxima boda de la hija. Están el padre, empresario conservador, la madre, la novia, su hermano y el novio. Entonces se presenta un inspector de policía que les viene a preguntar sobre el suicidio de una chica pobre, sin aparente relación con ellos. Poco a poco, a través de las preguntas del inspector, se ve que todos han tenido relación con la chica de una manera u otra hasta el punto de que pueden considerarse corresponsables de su muerte. Las diferentes reacciones de cada personaje son la base de la acción dramática, con un final "alargado" muy interesante.… (altro)