Table of Contents

Uffington; film critic; the diarist; "that's shell - that was"; "to Mr and Mrs John Betjeman, a son"; the pipers; continual dew and an Oxford University chest; decoration; observer corps; on the air up to 1940; "Minnie"; old lights for new chancels; Ireland; Daily Herald; admiralty; Farnborough; new bats in old belfries; British Council; a Lincolnshire tale; Oxford Preservation Trust; on the air 1943-1949; selected poems; preservationist's progress up to 1949; "taime and taide"; Wantage; first and last loves; the Boase Gardens; a few late chrysanthemums; cloth fair; on the air 1950-1958; the Daily Telegraph; television personality 1937-1957; "city and suburban"; preservationist's progress 1950-1957; Cincinnati; "Vic Soc and The Doc"; "a really thrilling moment of triumph".

About the Author

Bevis Hillier devoted more than twenty-five years to writing Betjeman's life, a task entrusted to him by the poet himself. Like Betjeman he was educated at Magdalen College, Oxford. Later he joined The Times, became editor of The Connoisseur and a columnist on the Los Angeles Times, as well as writing for many other papers and journals. He edited Betjeman's 'Uncollected Poems' now included in COLLECTED POEMS, compiled JOHN BETJEMAN: A LIFE IN PICTURES and is the author of YOUNG BETJEMAN, NEW FAME, NEW LIFE and THE BONUS OF LAUGHTER. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Society of Literature. He lives in Hampshire.

Reviews

"One of the richest and most entertaining biographies of recent times." John Bayley. - Literary ReviewIt is a book to read slowly for fear of coming too fast to the end. - GuardianThe book is crammed with very funny stories. - Daily Telegraph