Delight by J.B. Priestley
As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been indulging in some polyreading – and this is the reason why! “Delight” is a book I picked up on a whim a little while back; I’d read Simon’s review of it, and thought it sounded perfect. I love Priestley’s rather grumpy writing persona (which I explored in a wonderful collection of his essays from Notting Hill Editions), although this promised to be less of him grumbling and more of him celebrating what gives him pleasure. And if ever a book lived up to its name, this one did!
First published in 1949, “Delight” contains one hundred and fourteen short pieces where Priestley reveals a particular aspect of life which does indeed bring him delight. This can be anything from a gin and tonic plus packet of crisps, through dreams, tennis and detective stories, to Not Going (out); and there’s a lovely piece on the Marx Brothers (whom I also adore)! It’s a funny and entertaining concept, all realised in Priestley’s wonderfully lugubrious prose, and it was indeed a real delight dipping into it.
For dipping is what you need to do with a collection like this; because attempting to read the whole lot in one go would really dilute the effect and spoil the fun. So I read this alongside “Zoo…”, and they made perfect and constrasting companions. Priestley comes across as a down-to-earth, commonsense man, which is particularly refreshing in these days of lies and obfuscation; and his celebration of simple pleasures captures what is in many ways a lost world. However, although he’s happy to present a fairly genial exterior, several of the pieces do look a little deeper; Priestley wears his socialist heart on his sleeve, as a champion of the struggling classes; and there’s a very moving piece on old photographs and how they capture someone frozen in time.
My copy of “Delight” is a beautiful 70th anniversary edition which was issued by Great Northern Books (and bought with my hard-earned pennies). It’s a gorgeous hardback, printed on quality paper, and enlivened with some lovely little colour illustrations by Priestley’s granddaughter, Tabitha Wykenham. So as an object, it’s also delightful!
Rather than witter on about how lovely this book is, I’ll end this post by sharing a few favourite quotes from it. I do feel that dipping may be the way forward when I’m struggling to engage with anything of substance and structure, and this was certainly perfect lockdown relaxation reading! 😀
*****
On the joys of grumbling: The feminine view appears to be that grumbling only makes things worse, whereas I have always held that a fine grumble makes things better. If, for example, an hotel gives me a bad breakfast, I have only to grumble away for a few minutes to feel that some reasonable balance has been restored: the grumble has been subtracted from the badness of the breakfast. So it is no use crying to me “Oh – do be quiet! It’s bad enough without your grumbling.” My mind does not move along these lines. If I have not had a good breakfast, I argue, at least I have had a good grumble.
On the joy of reading snugly inside during bad weather: There is a peculiar delight, which I can still experience though I knew it best as a boy, in cosily reading about foul weather when equally foul weather is beating hard against the windows, when one is securely poised between the wind and rain and sleet outside and the wind and rain and sleet that leap from the page into the mind.
On the compulsion to shop: … spending money in shops has gone on so long that it is now an instinctive activity. Drawing free rations is not a substitute for it, which is something Communist governments often fail to understand.
On the joy of detective stories as escapist: As thoughtful citizens we are hemmed in now by gigantic problems that appear as insoluble as they are menacing, so how pleasant it is to take an hour or two off to consider only the problem of the body that locked itself in the study and then used the telephone.
Jun 18, 2020 @ 09:04:59
I managed to finish Phineas Finn, a month after starting it – so I share your problem with sustained concentration. This sounds a real tonic.
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:54:20
It comes and goes – I’ve now hit a reasonable period of being able to settle to books, but I don’t know how long it will last. But this was perfect for when I was struggling – a real joy!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 09:18:22
This truly does sound delightful. I read The Good Companions a while back and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is an entirely different genre of course, but I think it will be my next Priestley.
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:53:41
It really does live up to its name, and it’s perfect for dipping into. I’ve still to read his fiction, but I do have some lurking somewhere!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 09:49:44
When I first left school rather a long time ago I discovered and read everything I could find by this author. I remember the feeling that there was more to reading than set school texts. What a revelation! It’s was wonderful! . I wonder how I’d feel now? This one sounds very good thank you.
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:53:08
I can imagine that joy! I was fairly lucky at school, in that I was taught Orwell and Larkin, which engendered a life long love of both authors. But having seen my offspring struggle with some books during their schooling, I know the love of reading is a great gift. This would probably be a good way back into Priestley’s writing – I loved it!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:18:24
Lovely review as ever, Karen. Your final quote certainly resonates in the current time. What better way to escape the horrors of the here-and-now than to disappear into the world of Golden Age crime fiction?
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:51:31
Thanks Jacqui! I found so much that resonated in Priestley’s musings, despite the fact that they were written so long ago. It does seem that Golden Age crime fiction has long been a comfort read!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 12:07:18
I’m sure! I’d never heard of this collection, so thanks for the alert. It sounds as if it would make a good gift, ideal for dipping into every now and again. Xx
Jun 18, 2020 @ 13:07:46
Definitely – his essays are great as well!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:51:42
A fine grumble makes things better – I think I’ll make that my motto! Sounds brilliant!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:55:15
LOL! Yes, I do love a good grumble – it relieves things a bit and when Priestley’s doing it can be very entertaining. I’d recommend the Notting Hill Editions collection of essays too – great fun. That really is a wonderful motto!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 22:20:25
I was going to say exactly that! The trick is to keep the grumble to oneself, I suppose, so that it doesn’t spread, unintentionally.
Jun 19, 2020 @ 10:42:25
Indeed – it wouldn’t be good to bring others down by grumbling, but it does do me a bit of good!! ;D
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:54:45
I love Priestley as a playwright and I have fond memories of him in his final days when he lived near Stratford and used to come to poetry readings (as part of the audience) in a massive old hat. I shall definitely look this out.
Jun 18, 2020 @ 10:56:08
Oh, how wonderful! He’s such a treasure – and this is just lovely to read, and a reminder of ordinary pleasures and ordinary life, which is very appealing right now!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 14:10:21
This really does sound delightful, so the collection is aptly titled. We all definitely need books like this to raise our spirits at the moment. And what a beautiful edition!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 14:57:39
It was a real treat, and a wonderful way to focus on the smaller things which can make life so happy. The fact that it was so pretty was another bonus! 😀
Jun 18, 2020 @ 15:57:18
This sounds excellent and also a lovely thing in itself with those illustrations!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 19:48:30
It’s a very pretty book and the contents were a pure joy!
Jun 18, 2020 @ 16:08:25
Sounds like a lovely read for where we are in the big world of ours right now! Thanks for the title. 😃
Jun 18, 2020 @ 19:48:07
It is – just lovely, celebratory pieces about the little things which actually matter a lot.
Jun 18, 2020 @ 20:56:35
Sounds perfect! I’m off to see if my library has it. Prob not since I’m in the Wild West of Texas but you never know! Thanks for the title! 😃
Jun 19, 2020 @ 10:42:53
Worth seeing if you can track it down – such fun! 😀
Jun 18, 2020 @ 18:29:10
I’ve never read Priestley and love your description of his grumpy writing (grumpy is such a great word isn’t it?) so that makes me want to read something but this sounds well, delightful (and I’m reading this with a G&T which seems very apt) and your edition is beautiful. Which grumpy title would you recommend?
Jun 18, 2020 @ 19:47:27
Grumpy is wonderful, and he really isn’t I think but he comes across most wonderfully. His essay collection, which I reviewed on the blog, is also marvellous:
https://kaggsysbookishramblings.wordpress.com/2018/03/08/curmudgeonly-cogitations/
Jun 19, 2020 @ 16:43:44
Thank you, I’ll go and have a look!
Jun 19, 2020 @ 19:29:03
Excellent! 😀
Jun 18, 2020 @ 22:21:36
So over in my little corner of the world, I was just saying that I think you would appreciate and enjoy Eduardo Galeno’s Walking Words, with woodcuts by José Francisco Borges, and now I’m doubly sure that you would. Different, though. But just as enjoyable I think.
Jun 19, 2020 @ 10:29:39
*sigh* I saw that and I may just have had to send off for a copy… It sounds lovely. I’m in the mood for books that lift me emotionally right now!
Jun 19, 2020 @ 20:36:41
One of the reasons that I’m really enjoying this one, is that it is not entirely apart from what’s unfolding all around us, but his way of confronting or exposing it, in fables and verses, somehow feels so smart and right. “If you think, you get worried,” is one line that stood out in my morning’s sit with it. I think you might find it uplifting too, but it’s not necessarily intended to be so, if that makes sense.
Jun 19, 2020 @ 20:44:11
Perfect sense – I’m intrigued….
Jun 19, 2020 @ 10:24:17
Lovely! I so enjoyed this book – the perfect bathroom book!! And what lovely illustrations. I keep buying Priestley novels and not reading any, so must find out what those are like (the only other thing I’ve read is, of course, An Inspector Calls at school.)
Jun 19, 2020 @ 10:43:56
It’s exactly that – perfect to dip into, and the illustrations at that lovely extra touch. I have Priestley’s English Journey which I keep meaning to read (two editions, in fact) – and at least one novel. Really should get round to them…
Jun 22, 2020 @ 09:40:04
I love Priestley though I have never read this one! And now that I have gotten hold of Zoo…hmmm ! A great review as always!
Jun 22, 2020 @ 10:26:10
Thanks and oops! If you like Priestley, I rather think you’ll like this…. ;D
Jun 22, 2020 @ 19:14:14
Perfect title it would seem. I enjoyed the quotes very much. I’m especially partial to reading about foul weather when it’s raining outside.
I actually went shopping today and after such a long time, it was a real treat. So that quote resonated too although the context is very different.
Lovely review.
Jun 22, 2020 @ 20:12:55
Thank you! It did indeed live up to its name! And I love being snug inside while it pours outside – such joy! I would like to go shopping, but even when I go into the local small food shop it freaks me out how people seem to be ignoring any kind of social distancing…
Jun 23, 2020 @ 05:42:32
The shops here have all these red and green lights. There’s even an alarm when people disregard it. And people still mostly stick to it. So I felt fine and our infection rate is down to three or five. But I didn’t go right away, I waited a few weeks until the initial frenzy died down.
Jun 23, 2020 @ 11:03:25
We’re not that organised, and I had such a stressful visit to get a few groceries yesterday that I don’t want to go out again for a while…
Jun 23, 2020 @ 11:32:10
My partner is still in the UK and said it was dreadful. So I really understand.
Jun 23, 2020 @ 11:49:51
Yeah, it’s not good…
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