J.B. Priestley was born on 13 September 1894 in Bradford, West Yorkshire, in the north of England. His father was a prosperous schoolmaster. Young Priestley left school at the age of sixteen and began working as a junior clerk. He started to write poetry for his own pleasure, and contributed articles to local and London papers.

During WW I, Priestley served in the army and survived the front lines in Flanders. From 1919 he studied literature, history and political science at Bradford and at Cambridge, receiving his B.A. in 1921. From 1922 he worked as a journalist in London.

Priestley gained international popularity with his novel "The Good Companions," which was published in 1929.

After the outbreak of World War II, Priestley gained fame as 'the voice of the common people'. He was a patriotic radio broadcaster, second only to Winston Churchill, but his talks were cancelled as a result of complaints that they were too left-wing.

In 1946 and 47 he was a U.K. delegate to UNESCO conferences.

J.B. Priestley died on 14 August 1984, having published over 120 books, usually light and optimistic in their tone.