Bradford and J B Priestley

On Saturday we decided to have a trip to Bradford to visit the Cathedral and Waterstones, probably the loveliest branch of this bookshop, set in the old Wool Exchange.

Visiting Bradford made me think about J B Priestley, who was born and lived much of his life in the city. There is a statue to this famous and accomplished son of Bradford, novelist and author of English Journey.

For years, J B Priestley passed me by, I was only really aware of his novels because of the rows and rows of blue cloth editions in most second hand bookshops! I certainly had never felt the urge to pick one up and read! But a talk by Stuart Maconie at Words by the Water last year, opened by eyes to the brilliance of this writer. 

Priestley's Yorkshire background and his experiences in Bradford are reflected in much of his writing, including his first novel, The Good Companions. It is a wonderful piece of writing and I am very glad that I have finally read it. 

I also love Priestley's English Journey, and having visited Bradford, I now wonder what he thought of the place of his birth, and what he would think of it today. I remembered that Stuart Maconie explained that Priestley didn't start his journey in Bradford, instead visiting somewhere towards the middle of his Journey. 

Having just re-read the chapter To the West Riding I note that Priestley bemoans the fact that most of the "richer merchants and manufacturers" have migrated to Ilkley, Grassington and Harrogate. He also notes the "dwindling of the foreign community" and the impact this had on the arts and music, in particular. I couldn't help but wonder, as we strolled around, what Priestley would make of today's residents. I think he would be postive, enjoying the colourful clothes, exotic food choices and the aroma of curry which is everywhere. 

I suspect that the large Asian population has restored some of the culture that Priestley bemoaned had been lost. There were certainly lots of Bollywood style entertainments advertised everywhere we went. J B Priestley seems to be a writer who accepts change and sees the positive impact it can have.

I love Priestley's closing words to his visit to Bradford: "But we never pay compliments in Bradford....I should put down some memorable concluding sentence of praise about the whole of the West Riding and its people; and of course I cannot do it. But then I am one of them, and they are the very people who will understand why I cannot do it. So - well, I'm off. Behave th'sen, lad!" 

We had a lovely day in the steps of one of the giants of 20th Century literature.