I recently read the whole of the Image Men, not sure if it was originally
two books or three. The version I listened to was approx. 36 hours.
I quite enjoyed it but it hasn't stayed with me. As separate books I think
it would have been quite difficult as I can't remember that there were
identifiable plots that would have made satisfactory individual books. I
thought the main characters were good and the dialogue was well-done. Rather
understated for the 1920s, I think it was set then, but it really didn't
matter. Priestley is one of those authors whose career covered a long time
but whose settings never really moved with the times. A bit like Agatha
Christie in that respect although she wrote into the 1970s and she does
mention modern inventions occasionally her dialogue and general feel never
made it past WWII.
The concept of the image men was rather ahead of its time and rather
foreshadowed the way things have gone particularly at American universities.
Steve
-----Original Message-----
From: ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ebooktalk-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Clare Gailans
Sent: 17 May 2013 08:52
To: ebooktalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ebooktalk] Priestley
June, I will try the Edwardians. I agree with Voldi about the Image Men.
Read it nearly forty years ago, but I am discovering with a bit of recent
re-reading that what I liked back then I generally still like now. He is one
of very few writers who has often made me laugh out loud. I don't do much
humour in books, but his is often about the choice of words, which is
usually what works for me with book humour. I read the Festival at Farbridge
more like twenty years ago, and that had some hilarious bits too, and
similarly good characters. If you want to be frightened, read Benighted. Not
funny at all. I still haven't read the Good Companions. Must put that right.
I once heard him say he was sick of it, it was so popular in its day. Oh,
another brilliant one is Lost Empires, all about the characters who work in
variety theathre coming up to WW1. And Bright Day is very good too. Clare
