John Betjeman (1906–1984)

This selection of Betjeman's poems was read by himself. Some of them had an introduction from him, what he was thinking or the meaning of some words and terms used. At times he is a miserable old so and so "things were better back when...". At other times his attitudes towards women is slightly uncomfortable, the gels etc. But in some of these there are some lovely lyrical images conjured up. I'm fairly sure that there were some in here I'd not heard or read before. As a bell ringer I find his fascination with bells to be enchanting, he really is enthralled by them.… (meer)

Ahhhhh, Sir John Betjeman. He's the kind of person you read if Prince Harry just ain't fucking British enough for ya. Take the tram up Tottenham-of-Berfordshire and come to the land of Hobbiton and The Shire. Much of this book is too esoteric for Americans to "get" but I imagine if you're British and you're not at home this stuff will make you nostalgic. The best of this collection is quite great and contrary to what Christopher Hitchens says of the British laureate-ship and the downhill tendencies exhibited after earning of it, I didn't see a dive in quality. In fact, I had given up on this book for a long time before I reached the material to which Hitchens would've referred. It was his calling himself a "poet and a hack" that made me really come back. It takes a big man to admit to hack tendencies, I think, and as far as poets go he may never reach the heights of whatsay your Tennyson but that could be a deficiency of aim rather than actual talent.… (meer)