An Inspector Calls, first produced in 1946 when society was undergoing sweeping transformations, has recently enjoyed an enormously successful revival. While holding its audience with the gripping tension of a detective thriller, it is also a philosophical play about social conscience and the crumbling of middle class values. Time and the Conways and I Have Been Here Before belong to Priestley’s ‘time’plays, in which he explores the idea of precognition and pits fate against free will. The Linden Tree also challenges preconceived ideas of history when Professor Linden comes into conflict with his family about how life should be lived after the war.

"Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary...she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out..." Arthur Birling, a prosperous manufacturer, is holding a family dinner party to celebrate his daughter's engagement. Into this cosy scene intrudes the harsh figure of a police inspector investigating the suicide of a young working-class woman. Under interrogation, every member of the family turns out to have a shameful secret which links them with her death. Schools edition of An Inspector Calls For students aged 14-16 Suitable for students studying for GCSE English Literature qualifications from Pearson Edexcel, AQA, OCR and Eduqas The Heinemann Plays series offers contemporary drama and classic plays in durable classroom editions. "An excellent, easy to use edition of a modern classic. Arrived promptly ready for the start of the new term; could not fault the product or service." E Hughes, English Teacher at Abertillery Comprehensive 15 July 2014

On his way to work at the bank one morning, the manager Mr Kettle freaks out. He goes back home changes into his casual clothes and sets about enjoying himself. No one apart from Mrs Kettle can understand him and why he is behaving in this way. Mrs Kettle joins him in his rebellion. The bank officials employ a doctor to hypnotise Mr Kettle and get him back to his former self.3 women, 6 men

A quiet, domesticated couple, Fred and Norah, live in a London suburb. They have married later in life than most people and are devoted to one another. It is Fred's practice to go out for a glass of bitter in the evenings and on this particular occasion, while he is away, Norah has a visitor - a flash-looking young woman, Evie and Norah is faced with a decision difficult to make.2 women, 3 men

In the drawing room of a house in the country three women are arguing over a man. The man is Colin, and the argument is heated, for one of the women is his mother, another his wife Clare, and the third his mistress Helen. All four allow their tempers to get out of control, and painful truths are told. Colin, a weak man, is on the point of leaving when there is an unexpected interruption. Outside their open windows a film director, the formidable Kramer, has been listening to their arguments and taking notes and insists that they have been indulging in bad theatre and that they must go through their parts again, but with his direction...4 women, 2 men

A one act comedy in the Viennese style. The scene shows two private rooms in a restaurnat in a Central European capital about the year 1900. In one, a vain but ageing actor, Max, who still believes he can dazzle a pretty young dancer, hopes to make love to the innocent and romantic Elsa. In the other, Julia, an older glamorous actress is entertaining a young playwright, Florian, who believes - or pretends to believe - that he is being wined and dined merely to talk about his new play.2 women, 2 men

Ever Since Paradise he described as 'A Discursive Entertainment, chiefly referring to Love and Marriage in Three Acts'. Three couples are made up of the Musicians, the Commentators and the Example, and together they illustrate various aspects of relationships, accompanied by appropriate music on two pianos.3 women, 3 men

Stella Kirby spent nine years running away; leaving home to find her freedom as an actress. Now she has decided that the only role left to play is the prodigal daughter returned, hoping to discover herself in the familiar surroundings of her childhood home.3 women, 4 men

As bankrupcy looms, the ever-optimistic Jim Cornelius, partner at import firm briggs and Murrison, is fighting to keep his creditors happy and his spirits up. Tensions rise with the arrival of Judy, the beautiful, young typist who shows Cornelius the life he could have led... Written for Ralph Richardson in 1935, Priestley observes the politics and tensions of daily office life with searing wit and humanity in this hilarious and heartbreaking story of friendship, unrequited love and business.5 women, 17 men

‘An exquisitely-written, generous, funny, thoughtful book about the everyday joys of being alive. I love it.’ Dolly Alderton ‘J. B. Priestley is one of our literary icons of the 20th Century and it is time that we all became re-acquainted with his genius.’ Dame Judi Dench ‘My apology, my little bit of penitence, for having grumbled so much, for having darkened the breakfast table, almost ruined the lunch, nearly silence the dinner party, for all the fretting and chafing, grousing and croaking, for the old glum look and the thrust-out lower lip. So my long-suffering kinsfolk, my patient friends, may a glimmer of that delight which has so often possessed me, but perhaps too frequently in secret, now reach you from these pages.’ There are times when there doesn’t seem much to smile about. And for those times, there is this book. J. B Priestley’s 1949 classic teaches us that joy may be found in even the simplest things, and that we all have the capacity to appreciate them. Delight comprises a series of short essays, all focussing on a single simple pleasure, from reading detective stories in bed to smoking a pipe in the bath; from ‘Cosy planning’ to the earliest summer mornings; and from mineral water in the bedrooms of foreign hotels to the smell of bacon in the morning. Combining poignant memories of his childhood with glimpses of his interior world, panoramas of life abroad with thoughts about writing, music, theatre – some strictly personal, some universal –this highly readable book bursts with humour and literary flare on every page.

This easy-to-use guide will provide students with a thorough understanding of the text and encourage them to form their own ideas and opinions.Key features of this text: *How to study the text *Author and historical background *General and detailed summaries *Commentary on themes, structure, characters, language and style *Glossaries *Test questions and issues to consider *Essay writing advice *Cultural connections *Literary terms *Illustrations *Colour desig

Charles Dickens was one of the great chroniclers of London life. From the colourful chaos of dances and gin-shops to the sparse destitution of the pawnshop and the penitentiary, he captured the grime and the glory of the English capital with singular brilliance.

Orphans and beggars, lord mayors and murderers, actors, criminals, cab drivers and prostitutes; all rub shoulders in this wonderful selection from Sketches by Boz.

Chosen and introduced by the playwright J. B. Priestley, these thirteen marvellous sketches are accompanied by George Cruikshank’s evocative illustrations.

Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

Robert Caplan and his wife are entertaining her brother and sister-in-law. Because Robert insists on uncovering the truth about his brother Martin's 'suicide', many unpalatable revelations ensue which cause Robert to shoot himself. At this point, the opening scene is repeated, but this time they bypass the dangerous corner at which the truth is demanded, thus averting the disaster. Written in 1932 this forms one of the three 'time plays'.

The Good Companions focuses on the trials and tribulations of a concert party between the World Wars. It was arguably Priestley's most famous novel, written in 1929, and the work which established him as a national figure. This 1931 stage adaptation was dramatized jointly by Edward Knoblock and the author in 1931.3 women, 7 men

JB Priestley's adaptation of Iris Murdoch's A Severed Head.4 women, 3 men

A British wife, her elderly husband and her lover meet a German professor at an Inn in Yorkshire. His probing questions reveal that they are unhappy and confused. They have played out their scene many times, always ending in suicide and poverty. The professor warns them that they must now break the pattern.2 women, 4 men