Most Popular Books by J. B. Priestley

Humphrey Neyland is a middle-aged Canadian engineer recruited by British Intelligence to go undercover in the industrial city of Gretley, where aircraft essential to the war effort are being produced and where it is feared Nazi agents and saboteurs are lurking. Almost everyone he meets in Gretley seems to have a double life and a secret agenda, and it doesn''t take long before Neyland is caught up in a web of murder and deceit in this sleepy town, where death lurks around every corner. Originally published during the height of World War II, J. B. Priestley''s classic spy thriller Blackout in Gretley (1942) is both a highly entertaining page-turner and a fascinating window into British life during the war. This new edition joins ten other Priestley novels published by Valancourt and reveals yet another side of one of the most popular English authors of the 20th century. "J.B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th century. And it is time that we all became reacquainted with his genius." - Judi Dench "A master craftsman at spinning a yarn ... But Blackout in Gretley is more than a spy-hunting story. It is Priestley''s ardent declaration of the things that England is fighting for." - The New York Times

The Long Mirror recounts the meeting between a composer and a young woman who seems to have been telepathically connected to him for some time, and has experienced much of his life before actually meeting him. Her knowledge of his past can help his future as an artist and a husband. It was based on a true incident.

A torrential downpour forces Philip and Margaret Waverton and their friend Roger Penderel to seek shelter in an ancient, crumbling mansion inhabited by the strange and sinister Femm family. Determined to make the best of the circumstances, the benighted travellers drink and talk to pass the time while the storm rages outside. But as the night progresses and tensions rise, dangerous and unexpected secrets emerge. On the house''s top floor are two locked doors: behind one of them is the mysterious, unseen Sir Roderick Femm, while the other conceals something terrifying and deadly ... Benighted (1927), a classic ''old dark house'' story of psychological terror, was the second novel by one of the most prolific and beloved British authors of the 20th century, J. B. Priestley (1894-1984). This edition includes an introduction by Orrin Grey, who discusses the connections between the novel and its film adaptation, James Whale''s The Old Dark House (1932). ''There are none too many stories comparable with this one.'' - The New York Times ''Priestley is one of the finest and most popular storytellers of the last hundred years.'' - Margaret Drabble ''J.B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th century. And it is time that we all became re-acquainted with his genius.'' - Judi Dench

English Humour Originally published in 1929 as part of the English Heritage Series, this is a fascinating book charting the progression of English humour - from great writers to great illustrators. Priestley, the great English novelist, analyzes different the facets of English humor from Chaucer, Chesterton, Shakespeare, Gilbert, et al. in this scholarly, entertaining book. Chapters: The English Character, Clowns and Comedians, Comic Art, A Gallop and A Gossip, Three Novelists, Charles Lamb, Dickens, Shakespeare. Author: John Boynton Priestley, OM (September 13, 1894, Bradford, England - August 14, 1984, Stratford-upon-Avon) was an English writer and broadcaster. Priestley was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and by the age of thirty had established a reputation as a humorous writer and critic. His first major success came with a novel, The Good Companions (1929), but he became better known as a dramatist. Without doubt, his best-known play is An Inspector Calls (1946). This was later made into a film starring Alastair Sim (1954). His novel Angel Pavement (1930) further established him as a successful popular novelist, but his plays are more varied in tone, several being influenced by J.W. Dunne''s theory of time, which plays a part in the plots of Dangerous Corner (1932) and Time and the Conways (1937). He married the archaeologist Jacquetta Hawkes, with whom he co-wrote some minor works. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Obscure Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Bonded Leather binding

Bonded Leather binding