Description. An introduction to the social and political influences behind J. B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'. The distinction between when 'An Inspector Calls' is set (1912) and when it was written (1945) is fundamental when analysing the social and political background of the novel.he distinction between when 'An Inspector Calls' is set (1912) and when it was written (1945) is fundamental when analysing the social and political background of the novel.