Thanks to the memorable television programmes he made in the 1960s and 70s, the image of John Betjeman as a social commentator and preservationist has endured. As a young man, he had tip-toed through various enthusiasms, often letting his impish side reign supreme. But though the eternal schoolboy in Betjeman would remain, the Second World War and post-War government policy led him to promote beauty, and the need to respect the past, with greater urgency.
Soon after he was made Poet Laureate in 1972 he became beleaguered by illness, yet until his death twelve years later, he continued to help his audience to see railways, churches, the English seaside and the landscape through fresh eyes. In this book, Greg Morse takes the reader on a short journey through Betjeman’s world and explains why he remains an important part of Britain’s heritage.
Reviews
...a brilliant introduction to Betjeman and his work.
The Betjeman Society
Reviews
...a brilliant introduction to Betjeman and his work.
The Betjeman Society
