John Boyton Priestley was born on the 13th September 1894 in Yorkshire. His father was a head master, and his mother died when Priestley was 2. His father remarried 4 years later. He knew early on that he wanted to be a writer, although he decided against going to a university.
At the age of 16 he became a clerk for a local wool firm called Helm & Co. in the Swan Arcade When the First World War broke out he joined the infantry. Luckily, he escaped death on various occasions. Once the war had finished, he received a university education at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. By 30 he had a reputation as an essayist and critic. After this he moved to London and worked as a freelance writer. In his early years he wrote successful articles and essays. He began to write his first of many novels in 1929, called The Good Companions. His first play was written 4 years later. He then went on to write 50 more.
His writing was ‘ground-breaking’ and ‘controversial’ Examples of some of his work were new ideas about parallel universes and extremely strong political messages.
During the Second World War he broadcast a very popular weekly radio programme. The programme was eventually cancelled by the BBC as it was too critical of the Government. When the show was aired, it was disliked by the Conservatives.
Priestly believed that there was social inequality in Britain. His concerns began in during the 1930s. 12 years later, in 1942, he helped set up a political party called the Common Wealth Party. This party argued for public ownership of land, greater democracy and a new morality in politics. Later, in 194, the CWP merged with the Labour Party. Priestly helped develop the idea of the Welfare State. This means that the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens and was put in place at the end of World War 2.
He believed that future World Wars could be stopped if all countries