English Journey
Special 75th Anniversary Edition
By J.B. Priestley
Publication July
75 years on from the publication of this classic Priestley travelogue, its text has particular resonance in these modern times.
"English Journey is an important book that has a literary importance and social value that far exceeds the time it was written."
Dame Beryl Bainbridge
In 1934, JB Priestley published an account of his journey through England from Southampton to the Black Country, to the North East and Newcastle, to Norwich and home. In capturing and describing an English landscape and people hitherto unseen in literature of its kind, he influenced the thinking and attitudes of an entire generation and helped formulate a public consensus for change that led to the formation of the welfare state.
Prophetic, profound, humorous and as relevant today as it was 75 years ago, English Journey expresses Priestley's deep love of his native country and teaches us much about the human condition and the nature of Englishness.
This fully illustrated special anniversary edition of one of Priestley's most enduring and widely-read works comes with a first word from Nina Bawden, forewords by Tom Priestley and Roy Hattersley; an exploration of the book's social, political and literary legacy; and personal contributions from Margaret Drabble, Alan Plater, William Woodruff, Dame Beryl Bainbridge and Professor John Baxendale.
"It's wonderful to see such handsomely-produced new editions of great works like 'English Journey' and illustrated with beautiful colour photographs."
Timothy West
"This is a sharply observed tour of England, criticised once for its biting honesty, and now beautifully reworked."
Huddersfield Examiner, 6th Nov 2009
"Great Northern Books...is to be congratulated. With the help of Tom Priestley, the publisher has battled to restore the literary reputation of his father, JB Priestley...Each of these handsomely-illustrated volumes includes what may be termed the social context of the book as well as critical appreciation of the scope and context of JB's writing...Read aloud, slowly, and enjoy."
Telegraph and Argus (Bradford), Sat 15th August 2009
"This beautiful anniversary edition of Priestley's classic comes illustrated with colour and black-and-white photographs old and new, and a series of essays by contemporary writers. A fitting celebration of a marvellous book."
The Press (York), Sat 25th July 2009
"English Journey [is] a classic of not just travel but of social history too. There's still no fuller portrait of the country in the throes of the Depression"
Scotsman, 12th October, 2009
Full article
"This is a wonderful book: profound, wise, humane; a good companion indeed"
Nina Bawden
"Written in the elegant, simple language which was an essential part of Priestley's brilliance. It is, in consequence, a masterpiece."
Roy Hattersley
English Journey was featured on BBC Radio 4's Open Book programme on Sunday 19th July click here to listen online.
'Priestley's jaunt around a land largely long-gone may be a period piece. But it carries resonance enough to make it required reading for all who care as much about the flaws as the glories of our part-green and pleasant, for some, land.' 5 Stars
Daily Telegraph - Sat 11th July 2009
Link to Review
'The book's context and influence will be explored in a new 75th anniversary edition published this summer with contributions from, among others, Roy Hattersley, Margaret Drabble, Alan Plater, Beryl Bainbrige and Tom Priestley, the authors' son, to whom English Journey is dedicated...It all strikes a very modern chord.'
Times Weekend Supplement - Sat 2nd May 2009
‘Even in today’s saturated travel market, English Journey remains the definitive travel book, expressed with a beauty of which Bill Bryson, who loathed the resort, can only dream.’
Blackpool Gazette Tues 7th July 2009
Link to Review
Other books by J.B. Priestley:-
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