John Betjeman was by far the most popular poet of the 20th century. His
collected poems sold over two million copies. Television audiences loved
his quirky evocations of landscape and architecture. As Poet Laureate,
he became a national icon, but behind the public man were doubts and
demons. The poet led a tempestuous emotional life. For much of his
50-year marriage to Penelope Chetwode, the daughter of a field marshal,
Betjeman had a relationship with Elizabeth Cavendish, the daughter of
the Duke of Devonshire and lady in waiting to Princess Margaret. This
book was written using the vast archive of personal material relating to
Betjeman's private life.