Priestley, J. B. (1894–1984)
Typed Letters Signed
Pair of TLS from the British novelist and playwright to Professor Giancarlo Camerana, director of the Associazione Culturale Italiana, declining separate invitations to speak. In the first (19th June, 1952; 1 pp. on Mrs. J. B. Priestley personal stationary with the "Mrs." crossed out), he writes in part "I am sorry this is not possible as I shall probably be in America and the Far East during the coming winter." In the second (October 7th, 1953; 1 pp. on personal stationary), he thanks Camerana for renewing the invitation, but regrets "that my future movements are so uncertain that it would not be possible for me to accept this invitation." Expected mailing folds, two holes to left margin, else fine. 8 x 5 inches (20.3 x 12.7 cm.).The English writer, social commentator, and broadcaster is known for the variety of his works and his thorough characterizations, but perhaps best remembered for the novel The Good Companions, and for his left-wing beliefs which influenced the rise of the socalled Welfare State. Time is a recurring theme in his work, with many of his plays structured around time slips, plot devices in which characters find themselves in a new era by unknown means. His fascination led him to publish an extended essay on the subject of time, Man and Time, in which he surveyed different historical theories of time and presented his own thoughts on the matter.
Founded in 1947, the Associazione Culturale Italiana [Association of Italian Culture] has brought hundreds of philosophers, writers, scientists, artists, and Nobel winners to lecture in Italy. Professor Irma Antonnetto, founder of the ACI, was recipient of the 1964 Cavaliere al merito della Repubblica italiana. (19213)
TLS Literature