Lovely Bits of Old England

John Betjeman at The Telegraph

Fiction & Literature, Essays & Letters
Cover of the book Lovely Bits of Old England by Betjeman, Aurum Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Betjeman ISBN: 9781781311004
Publisher: Aurum Press Publication: November 8, 2012
Imprint: Language: English
Author: Betjeman
ISBN: 9781781311004
Publisher: Aurum Press
Publication: November 8, 2012
Imprint:
Language: English

John Betjeman began writing for the Telegraph in 1951 and continued to do so for a quarter of a century.

During that time Britain underwent profound social and cultural changes. In architecture, grand Victorian edifices were pulled down to make way for gleaming brutalist monuments to the Future. In literature, a new generation of angry young men (and women) challenged convention head on. In music, pomp and circumstance gave way to the electric guitar. And in fashion, hemlines crept up.

Amongst much of the population, however, such rapid change met with disquiet: a nagging sense that the New had displaced much that was wonderful in the Old. By turns eccentric, wistful and polemical, Betjeman’ s writing for the Telegraph gave voice to this unease.

From contemporary reviews – often refreshingly caustic – of novelists such as Ian Fleming, Nancy Mitford and J.D. Salinger, through prescient warnings about the threat posed to the English skyline by office blocks,  motorways and concrete lamp-standards, to elegiac paeans to  Norman churches  and, of course, the gothic majesty of St Pancras station, Lovely Bits of Old England collects the very best of Betjeman’ s contributions to the Telegraph for the first time. Taken together they offer a eulogy for what was lost and an impassioned defence of the past in the face of progress’ s  relentless onward march.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

John Betjeman began writing for the Telegraph in 1951 and continued to do so for a quarter of a century.

During that time Britain underwent profound social and cultural changes. In architecture, grand Victorian edifices were pulled down to make way for gleaming brutalist monuments to the Future. In literature, a new generation of angry young men (and women) challenged convention head on. In music, pomp and circumstance gave way to the electric guitar. And in fashion, hemlines crept up.

Amongst much of the population, however, such rapid change met with disquiet: a nagging sense that the New had displaced much that was wonderful in the Old. By turns eccentric, wistful and polemical, Betjeman’ s writing for the Telegraph gave voice to this unease.

From contemporary reviews – often refreshingly caustic – of novelists such as Ian Fleming, Nancy Mitford and J.D. Salinger, through prescient warnings about the threat posed to the English skyline by office blocks,  motorways and concrete lamp-standards, to elegiac paeans to  Norman churches  and, of course, the gothic majesty of St Pancras station, Lovely Bits of Old England collects the very best of Betjeman’ s contributions to the Telegraph for the first time. Taken together they offer a eulogy for what was lost and an impassioned defence of the past in the face of progress’ s  relentless onward march.

More books from Aurum Press

Cover of the book Read People: Understand behaviour. Expertly communicate by Betjeman
Cover of the book The Seven Deadly Sins by Betjeman
Cover of the book The Chief by Betjeman
Cover of the book Top Man by Betjeman
Cover of the book Steamy Sex by Betjeman
Cover of the book Did Anyone Else See That Coming...? by Betjeman
Cover of the book Runner by Betjeman
Cover of the book Bedazzled by Betjeman
Cover of the book Fedegraphica by Betjeman
Cover of the book Pet Subjects by Betjeman
Cover of the book Mich Turner's Cake Masterclass by Betjeman
Cover of the book Douglas Haig by Betjeman
Cover of the book The Spies of Winter by Betjeman
Cover of the book Unlikely Warriors by Betjeman
Cover of the book Out On Your Feet by Betjeman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy