Jenny Villiers (1947)
J.B. Priestley
Book Description
Once passionate about the theater, playwright Martin Cheveril is now disillusioned and contemplating a change of career. His new play, a bitter and cynical piece, is about to premiere when something strange happens. After stumbling upon an old pamphlet about a talented young actress named Jenny Villiers who died in 1846, Cheveril dozes off and finds himself somehow transported back to the theater of her day. By some mysterious means, he will find himself a spectator of the tragedy of Jenny’s life and death—a tragedy whose effects will echo strangely into the present day.
One of the prolific J. B. Priestley’s favorites among his own books, the unusual ghost story Jenny Villiers (1947) returns to print at last in this new edition. Ten other classic titles by Priestley are also available from Valancourt.
J.B. Priestley
Book Description
Once passionate about the theater, playwright Martin Cheveril is now disillusioned and contemplating a change of career. His new play, a bitter and cynical piece, is about to premiere when something strange happens. After stumbling upon an old pamphlet about a talented young actress named Jenny Villiers who died in 1846, Cheveril dozes off and finds himself somehow transported back to the theater of her day. By some mysterious means, he will find himself a spectator of the tragedy of Jenny’s life and death—a tragedy whose effects will echo strangely into the present day.
One of the prolific J. B. Priestley’s favorites among his own books, the unusual ghost story Jenny Villiers (1947) returns to print at last in this new edition. Ten other classic titles by Priestley are also available from Valancourt.
reviews
“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
“One of the finest and most popular storytellers of the last hundred years.” - Margaret Drabble
“One of the finest and most popular storytellers of the last hundred years.” - Margaret Drabble
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BOOK DETAILS
ISBN: 1948405997 ISBN-13: 978-1948405997 $24.99 US, 146 pp. Case Laminate Hardcover Published 2021 BOOK DETAILS ISBN: 1-948405989 ISBN-13: 978-1948405980 $16.99 US, 146 pp. Trade paper Published 2021 |
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AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
John Boynton Priestley was born in 1894 in Yorkshire, the son of a schoolmaster. After leaving Belle Vue School when he was 16, he worked in a wool office but was already by this time determined to become a writer. He volunteered for the army in 1914 during the First World War and served five years; on his return home, he attended university and wrote articles for the Yorkshire Observer. After graduating, he established himself in London, writing essays, reviews, and other nonfiction, and publishing several miscellaneous volumes. In 1927 his first two novels appeared, Adam in Moonshine and Benighted. In 1929 Priestley scored his first major critical success as a novelist, winning the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for The Good Companions. Angel Pavement (1930) followed and was also extremely successful. Throughout the next several decades, Priestley published numerous novels, many of them very popular and successful, including Bright Day (1946), and Lost Empires (1965), and was also a prolific and highly regarded playwright.
Priestley died in 1984, and though his plays have continued to be published and performed since his death, much of his fiction has unfortunately fallen into obscurity. Recently, some of his most famous novels have been reprinted in England by Great Northern Books; Valancourt Books is republishing Benighted and Priestley’s excellent collection of weird short stories The Other Place (1953).
For more information on J.B. Priestley, visit the official website at http://www.jbpriestley.co.uk/JBP/Home.html or the website for the J.B. Priestley Society at http://www.jbpriestleysociety.com/.
Priestley died in 1984, and though his plays have continued to be published and performed since his death, much of his fiction has unfortunately fallen into obscurity. Recently, some of his most famous novels have been reprinted in England by Great Northern Books; Valancourt Books is republishing Benighted and Priestley’s excellent collection of weird short stories The Other Place (1953).
For more information on J.B. Priestley, visit the official website at http://www.jbpriestley.co.uk/JBP/Home.html or the website for the J.B. Priestley Society at http://www.jbpriestleysociety.com/.