Here is the biography of John Boynton Priestley:
John Boynton Priestley was a renowned English writer, born on September 13, 1894, in Bradford, Yorkshire, England. His father was a successful schoolmaster, and his mother passed away when he was just an infant. Priestley studied at Belle Vue Grammar School and later left his studies at the age of 16 to work as a junior clerk at Helm & Co., a wool firm in Swan Arcade. During his four-year tenure, he began writing at night and published articles in local and London papers.
Priestley served in World War I in Flanders, Belgium, with the Duke of Wellington's and Devon regiments. He survived front-line combat, although he was seriously injured once. After the war, he became one of the most prolific writers of the 20th century and was made a Freeman of Bradford.
Priestley's early writings included a volume of poetry called "The Chapman of Rhymes," which he published in 1918 while serving in World War I. He later studied literature, history, and political science at Trinity Hall in Cambridge University, receiving his B.A. in 1921. In the 1920s, he set himself up as an essayist and began writing for various newspapers and periodicals, including the New Statesman.
Priestley's early essays were in the Georgian style, which was popular at the time. However, he eventually turned to fiction and wrote many novels, plays, and essays throughout his long career. He was known for his ability to write about a wide range of topics, including the nature of the British character, the theatre, and the metaphysical nature of time.
Priestley was married three times and had a strong interest in social and political issues. He was a vocal supporter of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and was a delegate to UNESCO conferences. He also wrote extensively on the subject of time and its nature, and his theories on the subject were influenced by the work of John W. Dunne and P.D. Ouspensky.
Priestley was a prolific writer and published over 120 books during his lifetime. He was known for his ability to write accessible and engaging essays that appealed to a wide range of readers. He was also a talented playwright and wrote many plays that explored the nature of time and the human condition.
Priestley received many honors and awards for his work, including the Order of Merit in 1977. He died on August 14, 1984, at the age of 89, and is buried at Hubberholme. Despite his passing, Priestley's work remains widely read and studied today, and he is considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.
