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John Betjeman: The Biography Bevis Hillier

John Betjeman: The Biography By Bevis Hillier

John Betjeman: The Biography by Bevis Hillier


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Condition - Very Good
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Summary

John Betjeman was the best-loved English poet since Tennyson and became an institution - a 'teddy bear to the nation'.

John Betjeman: The Biography Summary

John Betjeman: The Biography by Bevis Hillier

This biography takes the reader from Betjeman's troubled childhood in north London, through his blossoming at Oxford; a gay fling with W. H. Auden; a clandestine marriage to a field marshal's daughter; pranks as a film critic; wartime service and probable espionage in Ireland, to the glory days of his later years when his Collected Poems became a runaway bestseller. This book is a distillation of Bevis Hillier's three-volume biography, authorized by Betjeman himself.

John Betjeman: The Biography Reviews

'Hillier's enthralling, many-voiced biography is an awesome achievement. But it is no more than Betjeman's due' -- John Carey, Sunday Times 'Fascinating' -- Humphrey Carpenter, Sunday Times 'Sharply perceptive ... compelling ... A biography this good abolishes time in its own way, and triumphantly ensures Betjeman's survival' -- Peter Conrad, Observer 'A mosaic in which the true face of the man and his times is revealed' -- Mail on Sunday 20041128 'The chubbiest, juiciest book of the year' -- Barry Humphries, Daily Telegraph 20041128 'Strikes just the right note.' -- Telegraph 20041113 'An awe-inspiring piece of scholarship ... Betjeman has had the best and most sympathetic biographer he could have wished for' -- Artemis Cooper, Evening Standard 20041113 'A triumph' -- Spectator 20041113 'Hilarious and very poignant' -- Duncan Fallowell, Express 20041113 'A mosaic in which the true face of the man and his time is revealed' -- Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday 20041113 'A pleasure to read and use.' -- Evening Standard 20041113 'Immensely detailed, intelligent, generous, sympathetic, and often entertaining' -- Allan Massie, Literary Review 20041113 '[Hillier] has unearthed a wealth of detail and anecdote' -- Glasgow Herald 20060624 'A fine portrait of a vulnerable, acerbic man with a teddy.' -- BBC History 20060701 'John Betjeman remains extremely popular' -- BBC History 20060801 'A stupendous work in many ways' -- Daily Telegraph 20060819 'Bevis Hillier's fine biography joins the jubilations' -- The Times/Books 20060819 'Where anyone interested in Betjeman will dig happily away' -- Sunday Telegraph/Seven 20060827 'Hillier's [biography] has a wealth of often-hilarious detail that Wilson never touches on' -- Tim Martin, Daily Telegraph 20060827

About Bevis Hillier

Bevis Hillier has 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'. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Society of Literature. He lives in Hampshire.

Additional information

GOR003214200
9780719564437
0719564433
John Betjeman: The Biography by Bevis Hillier
Used - Very Good
Paperback
Hodder & Stoughton General Division
2006-06-19
608
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

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