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

About the Author
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.

Reviews
'[Hillier] has unearthed a wealth of detail and anecdote.' * Glasgow Herald *
'This user-friendly trade paperback... will be welcomed as a crucial reference work by students and aficionados alike' * Oxford Times *
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 *
The chubbiest, juiciest book of the year * Barry Humphries, Daily Telegraph *
Strikes just the right note. * Telegraph *
An awe-inspiring piece of scholarship ... Betjeman has had the best and most sympathetic biographer he could have wished for * Artemis Cooper, Evening Standard *
A triumph * Spectator *
Hilarious and very poignant * Duncan Fallowell, Express *
A mosaic in which the true face of the man and his time is revealed * Craig Brown, Mail on Sunday *
A pleasure to read and use. * Evening Standard *
Immensely detailed, intelligent, generous, sympathetic, and often entertaining * Allan Massie, Literary Review *
'[Hillier] has unearthed a wealth of detail and anecdote' * Glasgow Herald *
'A fine portrait of a vulnerable, acerbic man with a teddy.' * BBC History *
'John Betjeman remains extremely popular' * BBC History *
'A stupendous work in many ways' * Daily Telegraph *
'Bevis Hillier's fine biography joins the jubilations' * The Times/Books *
'Where anyone interested in Betjeman will dig happily away' * Sunday Telegraph/Seven *
'Hillier's [biography] has a wealth of often-hilarious detail that Wilson never touches on' * Tim Martin, Daily Telegraph *



Book Information
ISBN 9780719564444
Author Bevis Hillier
Format Paperback
Page Count 608
Imprint John Murray Publishers Ltd
Publisher John Murray Press
Weight(grams) 470g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 127mm * 39mm