A charming new collection of previously undiscovered poems by Sir John
Betjeman.
John Betjeman (1906-1984), the former poet laureate, remains one of
Britain's foremost and much-loved writers whose poetry has passed into
the collective memory as an affectionate and witty monument to twentieth
century British life. In this new edition of collected unpublished
verse, Gardner promises more treasures for Betjeman enthusiasts the
world over. Harvest Bells contains poems never before published as
well as uncollected poems previously printed only in newspapers,
magazines, broadsides and obscure books.
Betjeman wrote many of these poems in the late 1920s and early 1930s,
when he was still developing his unique poetic voice. They reveal a
young poet experimenting with both Modernism and post-Romanticism. Some
of these are profoundly psychological and personal, and they are deeply
affecting to read today. Here can be seen the clear and surprising
influence of, among other poets, Percy Shelley and Robert Browning. In
these poems we can also witness the development of Betjeman's
characteristic interests and themes: suburbia, desire, faith, and death.
Some have the delicate and eccentric touch of much of his early poetry
and shed new light on his growth as a young poet, while many others
reflect the sustained maturity of his later verse. Most are typically
amusing and highly witty in the manner of a large amount of Betjeman's
work; some are darker in tone. These charming new discoveries, found as
far apart as Waco, Texas and Christ Church College, Oxford will delight
lifelong readers as well as introducing a whole new generation to
Betjeman's unforgettable work.
