HISTORY WILL BE MADE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 9, 25 August 1939, Page 19

HISTORY WILL BE MADE

The BBC’s "‘Novel" Broadcast

is nothing new under the sun. But the BBC is doing something which will be very new to listeners-something, in fact, which has never been done before in the history of broadcasting. They are broadcasting a novel in serial form before it has been published-J. B. Priestley’s latest work-the title of which has not yet been announced. The broadcasts, each of twenty minutes, will take place on Saturdays at 7.40 p.m., beginning on September 9, from 2YA. In deciding to inaugurate this interesting style of broadcast, the BBC could hardly have chosen a more suitable author than J. B. Priestley. In the past seven years, since his first play "Dangerous Corner," he has built up a great reputation in the theatre. . CYNIC remarked that there

As a novelist, his name is no less celebrated. He has consistently shown himself a master of characterisation and situation. His writing always has rich, warm humanity, because he is tolerant of the people he creates. He knows how people feel and act. Recently running in London was his latest play " Johnson Over Jordan," which he terms "a modern morality play." It is therefore good news indeed that this brilliant man’s latest novel will be presented to listeners in a "novel" way. Though the title is unknown and its plot unrevealed, it is enough to know that Mr. Priestley wrote it. It is sure to be an outstanding feature. Note the commencing date and time in your listening diary-September 9 at 7.40 p.m. from 2YA, and be in at the making of history.