Journey's end

Retracing the steps of JB Priestley, John Angerson’s latest book has been a long time in the making. He tells Amy Davies all about it

It can take a long time to achieve what you consider to be perfection. I spoke to John Angerson about his interesting project, ‘English Journey’ at the inaugural Photo North in November 2018. Keen to ensure that the resulting book of the project was the best it could be, it was the good part of a year before it hit the shelves and I was able to return to the record of our chat.

English Journey by JD Angerson retraces the steps of the 1934 travelogue of the same name by the English novelist and social commentator, JB Priestley. In the original, the country was gripped by the effects of The Great Depression. It goes without saying how much of a similarly tumultuous period the last few years have been. Whatever your politics, it’s hard to deny it makes for great subject matter.

John is – and these are his words not mine – an obsessive follower of Priestley. ‘I’ve got every book he ever wrote,’ he tells me. ‘I’m a member of the JB Priestley Society. I could tell you where he lived. I don’t think my obsession is a bad thing because it means I embed myself. It’s all about knowing your subject, whatever that might be. You can’t possibly do a great set of photographs if you’re not an expert in that subject.’