Evocative letters on Britain's railways by the former Poet Laureate.
'This pocket-sized book is a wonderfully evocative collection of letters, photographs, timetables and Betjeman's drawings, tied together with an affectionate commentary by Glancey that totally explains the poet's passion for the golden days of steam' Daily Mail
The best-loved of English poets, John Betjeman (1906–1984) was also a great champion of British heritage whose legacy lives on, not just in his poetry, but in his diaries, broadcasts and letters. A devotee of the railways, this small, beautiful volume brings together some of his correspondences written on his travels, and describes all that Betjeman found of value in the landscape and architecture of this country as it cuts a nostalgic, personality-filled arc through Betjeman's Britain.
From Jonathan Glancey's introduction: 'This selection of letters show how railways infused Betjeman's life. They allow him to be impassioned, funny, snobby, satirical and expert. We should all be glad he had that expert knowledge of railways and architecture; far from standing in the way of genuine progress, his love of railways, coupled to his campaigning spirit, means that from autumn 2007 we will be able to travel, at 186mph, from London to Paris from under the great iron and glass train shed of gloriously Gothic St Pancras.'
Illustrated with black and white photographs and line drawings and accompanied by Jonathan Glancey's vivid introduction and notes, this is a beautiful book for enthusiasts of Betjeman, the railway, and for those passionate about conservation and restoration.