John Boynton Priestley was born in 1894 in Bradford, an industrial city in the north of England (refers to Brumley) and died in 1984.

He was an 'all-round writer' meaning that he wrote all different sorts of literature. 

His childhood was, all in one, a peaceful time in a moderate socialistic atmosphere.

Most of his stories were influenced by the 1st World War, where he had been a front-line soldier. He often describes the lives of simple people by turning their stories dramatically into ethical and political positions. 

After this experience, he went to Cambridge studying history, politics and literature.

In 1929 he broke through because of his novel 'the Good Companions'.

In 'an inspector calls' (written right after the 2nd World War; 1945) he shows his attitude towards a human socialism.

Typical of his work is the criticism towards all antisocial attitudes, e.g. greed (Habgier) and inconsiderate power struggles (rücksichtsloses Machtstreben).