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Sir Michael and Sir George: A Tale of Comsa and Discus and The New Elizabethans
In Sir Michael and Sir George Mr. Priestley's mood is highly contemporary and his story of the last days of two competing Arts Councils bristles and sparkles with humour. Unlike much recent satire, however, it is neither sour in feeling nor shrill in tone. It has its author's unique blend of observation and comic invention, of wit and sagacity.
Sir Michael Stratherrick is head of COMSA; Sir George Drake is secretary-General of DISCUS. Their rivalry is pursued in such diverse settings as a Victorian mansion in Berkshire, the Green Gong Club in the heart of the striptease country, the Northern and Midland Hotel in Burmanley and Mayfair's most flambe expense-account restaurant. But it is the transfer of a boozy but crafty executive to DISCUS and the subsequent posting of a beautiful DISCUS typist to COMSA which bring drastic consequences foreseen by neither Sir Michael nor Sir George, absorbed as they are in their modern tournament.
Sir Michael Stratherrick is head of COMSA; Sir George Drake is secretary-General of DISCUS. Their rivalry is pursued in such diverse settings as a Victorian mansion in Berkshire, the Green Gong Club in the heart of the striptease country, the Northern and Midland Hotel in Burmanley and Mayfair's most flambe expense-account restaurant. But it is the transfer of a boozy but crafty executive to DISCUS and the subsequent posting of a beautiful DISCUS typist to COMSA which bring drastic consequences foreseen by neither Sir Michael nor Sir George, absorbed as they are in their modern tournament.
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First published January 1, 1964
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About the author
J.B. Priestley
464 books288 followersJohn Boynton Priestley was an English writer. He was the son of a schoolmaster, and after schooling he worked for a time in the local wool trade. Following the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Priestley joined the British Army, and was sent to France - in 1915 taking part in the Battle of Loos. After being wounded in 1917 Priestley returned to England for six months; then, after going back to the Western Front he suffered the consequences of a German gas attack, and, treated at Rouen, he was declared unfit for active service and was transferred to the Entertainers Section of the British Army.
When Priestley left the army he studied at Cambridge University, where he completed a degree in Modern History and Political Science. Subsequently he found work as theatre reviewer with the Daily News, and also contributed to the Spectator, the Challenge and Nineteenth Century. His earliest books included The English Comic Characters (1925), The English Novel (1927), and English Humour (1928). His breakthrough came with the immensely popular novel The Good Companions, published in 1929, and Angel Pavement followed in 1930. He emerged, too, as a successful dramatist with such plays as Dangerous Corner (1932), Time and the Conways (1937), When We Are Married (1938) and An Inspector Calls (1947).
The publication of English Journey in 1934 emphasised Priestley's concern for social problems and the welfare of ordinary people.
During the Second World War Priestley became a popular and influential broadcaster with his famous Postscripts that followed the nine o'clock news BBC Radio on Sunday evenings. Starting on 5th June 1940, Priestley built up such a following that after a few months it was estimated that around 40 per cent of the adult population in Britain was listening to the programme.
Some members of the Conservative Party, including Winston Churchill, expressed concern that Priestley might be expressing left-wing views on the programme, and, to his dismay, Priestley was dropped after his talk on 20th October 1940.
After the war Priestley continued his writing, and his work invariably provoked thought, and his views were always expressed in his blunt Yorkshire style.
His prolific output continued right up to his final years, and to the end he remained the great literary all-rounder. His favourite among his books was for many years the novel Bright Day, though he later said he had come to prefer The Image Men.
It should not be overlooked that Priestley was an outstanding essayist, and many of his short pieces best capture his passions and his great talent and his mastery of the English language. He set a fine example for any would-be author.
When Priestley left the army he studied at Cambridge University, where he completed a degree in Modern History and Political Science. Subsequently he found work as theatre reviewer with the Daily News, and also contributed to the Spectator, the Challenge and Nineteenth Century. His earliest books included The English Comic Characters (1925), The English Novel (1927), and English Humour (1928). His breakthrough came with the immensely popular novel The Good Companions, published in 1929, and Angel Pavement followed in 1930. He emerged, too, as a successful dramatist with such plays as Dangerous Corner (1932), Time and the Conways (1937), When We Are Married (1938) and An Inspector Calls (1947).
The publication of English Journey in 1934 emphasised Priestley's concern for social problems and the welfare of ordinary people.
During the Second World War Priestley became a popular and influential broadcaster with his famous Postscripts that followed the nine o'clock news BBC Radio on Sunday evenings. Starting on 5th June 1940, Priestley built up such a following that after a few months it was estimated that around 40 per cent of the adult population in Britain was listening to the programme.
Some members of the Conservative Party, including Winston Churchill, expressed concern that Priestley might be expressing left-wing views on the programme, and, to his dismay, Priestley was dropped after his talk on 20th October 1940.
After the war Priestley continued his writing, and his work invariably provoked thought, and his views were always expressed in his blunt Yorkshire style.
His prolific output continued right up to his final years, and to the end he remained the great literary all-rounder. His favourite among his books was for many years the novel Bright Day, though he later said he had come to prefer The Image Men.
It should not be overlooked that Priestley was an outstanding essayist, and many of his short pieces best capture his passions and his great talent and his mastery of the English language. He set a fine example for any would-be author.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 18, 2020
I bought a copy of this back in the early 1970s but sadly lost it.
May 31, 2023
Dated drivel mostly. Some half decent jokes to relieve the boredom.
April 19, 2016
This is the first Priestley novel that I’ve ever read (although I did study An Inspector Calls at school), and boy, was I impressed – definitely impressed enough to want to check out some more of his work. I actually picked this book up from the book exchange at my local arts centre, which makes the story line even more interesting.
Basically, Sir Michael and Sir George are the administrators of two rival arts groups, and the story follows their struggles as it’s announced that one (or both) of the groups might be closed. There’s a lot of politics and infighting, and although the plot might not be considered to be necessarily ‘explosive’, it did make for a fascinating read, especially because I was able to identify who the characters‘ real-life counterparts might be.
If you’re a fan of Graham Greene or Ernest Hemingway, like I am, then you’re probably going to love this as well – it was similarly simultaneously simple and spectacular, a tour-de-force in characterisation with an ending that I didn’t see coming. I’m not going to give away what that ending was, but I can tell you that it was a pleasant surprise, and it was the main factor in me rating this book as a nine instead of an eight. Whether you’ve read Priestley before or not, I’d recommend giving this a go.
Basically, Sir Michael and Sir George are the administrators of two rival arts groups, and the story follows their struggles as it’s announced that one (or both) of the groups might be closed. There’s a lot of politics and infighting, and although the plot might not be considered to be necessarily ‘explosive’, it did make for a fascinating read, especially because I was able to identify who the characters‘ real-life counterparts might be.
If you’re a fan of Graham Greene or Ernest Hemingway, like I am, then you’re probably going to love this as well – it was similarly simultaneously simple and spectacular, a tour-de-force in characterisation with an ending that I didn’t see coming. I’m not going to give away what that ending was, but I can tell you that it was a pleasant surprise, and it was the main factor in me rating this book as a nine instead of an eight. Whether you’ve read Priestley before or not, I’d recommend giving this a go.
August 20, 2015
H B Priestley must have enjoyed knocking out this send-up of institutionalised support for the arts. His tale envisages two rival organisations headed by the eponymous knights.
Sir George has minimal artistic taste but is an excellent administrator. Sir Michael hates the theatre but enjoys the visual arts. As a civil servant, Sir George has to wring every last pound out of the Treasury and the experience exhausts him. Sir Michael, on the other hand, is a natural charmer, but spends too much energy on practising it on the opposite sex.
Readers will have much fun identifying real life figures among characters Priestlry affirms to be completely fictitious.
Sir George has minimal artistic taste but is an excellent administrator. Sir Michael hates the theatre but enjoys the visual arts. As a civil servant, Sir George has to wring every last pound out of the Treasury and the experience exhausts him. Sir Michael, on the other hand, is a natural charmer, but spends too much energy on practising it on the opposite sex.
Readers will have much fun identifying real life figures among characters Priestlry affirms to be completely fictitious.
February 11, 2012
Enjoyable, but not overly interesting story of civil servants and their intrigues. Priestley follows two heads of similar departments and their different approaches to their jobs.
January 3, 2013
English comedy just doesn't 'read' well.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews