Folio Archives 108 : English Journey by J B Priestley 1997
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1wcarter
English Journey by J B Priestley 1997
“Being a rambling but truthful account of what one man saw and heard and felt and thought during a journey through England during the Autumn of the year 1933”.
Using long distance coaches, local buses, trains, trams and his own chauffeur driven Bentley, J B Priestley spent several months in 1933 touring England from Southampton to Blackpool, and Bristol to Yorkshire, making an extensive record of everything he saw along the way. He seems to have particularly disliked Durham and Tyneside.
Priestley (1894-1984) was an English novelist and playwright, and the stresses of waiting to see the audience reaction to a new comedy of his that was being performed for the first time in Manchester, is an interlude in the book.
His commentary covers the social mores of the time, working conditions in the Midland factories, the delights (or otherwise) of country fairs, the farmer who had not travelled a score of miles from his property in a long life, the social activities of the youth and almost every other aspect of life and living conditions you can imagine. It lacks a map of England which would be useful to those who do not live there, but even so, gives an invaluable, interesting and readable insight into the England in the era between the two World Wars.
The book is profusely illustrated with 80 integrated contemporary black and white photos, and is therefore printed on a semi-gloss paper. The slipcase is illustrated, as are the front cover and both endpapers, with more contemporary photos.
The 348 page book has an introduction by Margaret Drabble, an editor’s afterword and place name index. The slipcase is 27x19.5cm, and the book is bound in black buckram that has been repeatedly blind stamped with the year 1933.
Slipcase wraparound montage
Front endpaper
Rear endpaper
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
“Being a rambling but truthful account of what one man saw and heard and felt and thought during a journey through England during the Autumn of the year 1933”.
Using long distance coaches, local buses, trains, trams and his own chauffeur driven Bentley, J B Priestley spent several months in 1933 touring England from Southampton to Blackpool, and Bristol to Yorkshire, making an extensive record of everything he saw along the way. He seems to have particularly disliked Durham and Tyneside.
Priestley (1894-1984) was an English novelist and playwright, and the stresses of waiting to see the audience reaction to a new comedy of his that was being performed for the first time in Manchester, is an interlude in the book.
His commentary covers the social mores of the time, working conditions in the Midland factories, the delights (or otherwise) of country fairs, the farmer who had not travelled a score of miles from his property in a long life, the social activities of the youth and almost every other aspect of life and living conditions you can imagine. It lacks a map of England which would be useful to those who do not live there, but even so, gives an invaluable, interesting and readable insight into the England in the era between the two World Wars.
The book is profusely illustrated with 80 integrated contemporary black and white photos, and is therefore printed on a semi-gloss paper. The slipcase is illustrated, as are the front cover and both endpapers, with more contemporary photos.
The 348 page book has an introduction by Margaret Drabble, an editor’s afterword and place name index. The slipcase is 27x19.5cm, and the book is bound in black buckram that has been repeatedly blind stamped with the year 1933.
Slipcase wraparound montage
Front endpaper
Rear endpaper
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
3cronshaw
>1 wcarter: Thanks again, Warwick. It's odd that Folio thought not to provide at least one map to orientate the reader.
4Africansky1
Thanks for a useful review , This is one of my favorite English travel books , Priestley at his best . I read it over 40 years ago, a gift. It was in paperback . I was delighted when Folio society brought out their edition . Yes , agree a map is an essential. I had a great find last month a batch of Ordinance Survey atlas cum travel books , not all in the series but enough to make my week when I found them for a song . So these are a useful parallel guide .
6terebinth
Belated thanks for this article, which obliged me to spend the modest sum required to purchase the book.
I've come across an offer of what seems to be quite a scarce early study of Priestley, by a most obscure author. Does anyone know if it's any good? ;)
https://www.worldofrarebooks.com/the-works-of-j-b-priestley-by-angel-pavement.ht...
I've come across an offer of what seems to be quite a scarce early study of Priestley, by a most obscure author. Does anyone know if it's any good? ;)
https://www.worldofrarebooks.com/the-works-of-j-b-priestley-by-angel-pavement.ht...
