Description

Book Synopsis
In the months before the First World War, Richard Herncastle joins his Uncle's illusionist act on the Music Hall stage where he comes into contact with larger than life, garish and outrageous characters. Both funny and sad, Lost Empires tells of a young man's awakening to the world of love and sex, and is also a richly coloured portrait of a dying world of theatre and of lives and a society that the Great War would soon change irrevocably. Received with rave reviews when first published in 1965, this Priestley classic was later made into a major television series starring Colin Firth. Priestley delivers a captivating and authentic snapshot of a fascinating period in theatre history whilst creating a social drama with believable and absorbing characterisation.

Trade Review
"My favourite of all his work... a storyteller supreme, a master of his craft." from the introduction by Roy Hudd; "If you've read this before, embark on a return journey. If you haven't, I envy you."from the introduction by Barry Cryer

Lost Empires

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    A Paperback / softback by J. B. Priestley

    £9.49

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    RRP £9.99 – you save £0.50 (5%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Sat 17 Oct 2026.

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      Book details

      Publisher Great Northern Books Ltd
      Published 4 June 2018
      ISBN-13 9781912101962
      978-1912101962
      ISBN-10 1912101963
      Also in:
      Contemporary Fiction

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      In the months before the First World War, Richard Herncastle joins his Uncle's illusionist act on the Music Hall stage where he comes into contact with larger than life, garish and outrageous characters. Both funny and sad, Lost Empires tells of a young man's awakening to the world of love and sex, and is also a richly coloured portrait of a dying world of theatre and of lives and a society that the Great War would soon change irrevocably. Received with rave reviews when first published in 1965, this Priestley classic was later made into a major television series starring Colin Firth. Priestley delivers a captivating and authentic snapshot of a fascinating period in theatre history whilst creating a social drama with believable and absorbing characterisation.

      Trade Review
      "My favourite of all his work... a storyteller supreme, a master of his craft." from the introduction by Roy Hudd; "If you've read this before, embark on a return journey. If you haven't, I envy you."from the introduction by Barry Cryer

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