logo

39 pages 1 hour read

An Inspector Calls

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1945

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
J.B. Priestley

An Inspector Calls

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1945
Book Details
Pages

72

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Brumley, England • 1910s

Publication Year

1945

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley is a play that begins with the Birling family celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald, only to be interrupted by Inspector Goole, who questions them about the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith who once worked at Arthur's mill. As Goole’s investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that each family member's actions contributed to Eva's tragic fate.

Mysterious

Suspenseful

Dark

Challenging

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

4.1

40,333 ratings

66%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls receives acclaim for its tight narrative and social critique, with engaging characters and a suspenseful plot. Critics appreciate its moral questions and theatricality, although some find the dialogue dated and its didactic tone a bit heavy-handed. Overall, it remains a compelling exploration of responsibility and class.

Who should read this

Who Should Read An Inspector Calls?

Readers who relish socially conscious plays will enjoy An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley. Fans of mysteries with moral implications, akin to Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Agatha Christie's works, will appreciate its themes of responsibility and class disparity. Ideal for those who value dramatic tension and societal critique.

4.1

40,333 ratings

66%

Loved it

26%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

72

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Brumley, England • 1910s

Publication Year

1945

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.