description The Good Companions Overview
The Good Companions is a 1929 novel by English writer J. B. Priestley. Its picaresque story brings together people from different social backgrounds who join a struggling touring concert party called the Dinky Doos and travel through England performing popular entertainment.
The novel combines comedy, social observation, and theatrical life, and it received the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction.
help The Good Companions FAQ
What is the plot of The Good Companions?
J. B. Priestley's 1929 novel follows Jess Oakroyd, Elizabeth Trant, and Inigo Jollifant as they become involved with the struggling Dinky Doos touring concert party. They travel through England while trying to keep the company alive and improve its fortunes. [Canongate Books](https://canongate.co.uk/books/1603-the-good-companions/)
Who are the main characters in The Good Companions?
The central figures are the working-class Jess Oakroyd, the wealthy but dissatisfied Elizabeth Trant, and the schoolteacher and musician Inigo Jollifant. Their different social backgrounds drive much of the novel's picaresque movement.
Why is The Good Companions described as a picaresque novel?
The story uses an episodic journey structure, following a group of performers from town to town rather than focusing on one fixed setting. The Dinky Doos' road life lets Priestley show different classes and kinds of entertainment in 1920s England.
Was The Good Companions adapted for stage or screen?
Yes. The novel was adapted into films in 1933 and 1957, and a musical version with music by André Previn and lyrics by Johnny Mercer reached the West End in 1974. [The Good Companions musical overview](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Good_Companions_%28musical%29)
explore Explore More
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
