John Boynton Priestley (13 September 1894 – 14 August 1984) was an English novelist, playwright, screenwriter, broadcaster, and social commentator. His Yorkshire background is reflected in much of his fiction, notably in The Good Companions (1929), which first brought him to wide public notice. Many of his plays are structured around a time slip, and he went on to develop a new theory of time, with different dimensions that link past, present, and future.

In 1940, he broadcast a series of short propaganda radio talks, which were credited with strengthening civilian morale during the Battle of Britain. In the following years, his left-wing beliefs brought him into conflict with the government and influenced the development of the welfare state.

He published 27 novels and numerous plays, such as An Inspector Calls and Time and the Conways. His work includes theatrical and social criticism.