Book 100 - John Betjeman "Tennis Whites And Cake"
John Betjeman "Tennis Whites And Cake" (John Murray)
I once read that ’If you thought Betjeman was just a poet, then read this and you'll find he's just as entertaining and thought-provoking as a journalist, a diarist and a correspondent. This book is a must-buy for anyone who wants to understand the patron saint of Englishness…’ remarking that it was a “delicious” read.
Particularly entertaining is the musings on Teas, High Teas and even Dainty Teas and why he wished he was a Station Master. Not of British rail of course, but a ‘branch-line’ in the country with rambling roses climbing the station’s wall, two Clydesdales thumping aboard a van, the rattle of milk churns and the ‘crunch of steps on the gravel’. All vaguely remembered even in my generation. Another included piece is almost a hymn, from our Saint, on the old country railroads “The Great Western” with descriptions of it’s great Pullman’s service to Cornwall, it’s sleepy branch lines and cuts and Betjeman’s feeling that it was a privilege for him to have been born so early in the century (1906) that he was to enjoy it all.
It is, of course, on churches, cottages and old building that the Poet laureate waxes most lyrical - if he was a Patron Saint of anything it was the education - by poetry, prose, radio and television - of the British to encourage and support the preservation and renovation of fine old buildings - and of taste.
A wonderful book to dip into.
http://jazzy-dave.dreamwidth.org/
I once read that ’If you thought Betjeman was just a poet, then read this and you'll find he's just as entertaining and thought-provoking as a journalist, a diarist and a correspondent. This book is a must-buy for anyone who wants to understand the patron saint of Englishness…’ remarking that it was a “delicious” read.
Particularly entertaining is the musings on Teas, High Teas and even Dainty Teas and why he wished he was a Station Master. Not of British rail of course, but a ‘branch-line’ in the country with rambling roses climbing the station’s wall, two Clydesdales thumping aboard a van, the rattle of milk churns and the ‘crunch of steps on the gravel’. All vaguely remembered even in my generation. Another included piece is almost a hymn, from our Saint, on the old country railroads “The Great Western” with descriptions of it’s great Pullman’s service to Cornwall, it’s sleepy branch lines and cuts and Betjeman’s feeling that it was a privilege for him to have been born so early in the century (1906) that he was to enjoy it all.
It is, of course, on churches, cottages and old building that the Poet laureate waxes most lyrical - if he was a Patron Saint of anything it was the education - by poetry, prose, radio and television - of the British to encourage and support the preservation and renovation of fine old buildings - and of taste.
A wonderful book to dip into.
http://jazzy-dave.dreamwidth.org/