World of John Betjeman

There is no better chronicler of the English way of life than John Betjeman, poet, observer, diarist and journalist with a keen eye for the details that make England what it is. Betjeman thought sentiment no bad thing but he wasn't afraid of writing about bullying or the gay culture of 1920s Oxford.

He was a one-off - a man with great enthusiasm for life and an extraordinary ability to express himself in a way that makes his subject - whether a village church or a teashop, a game of tennis or a seaside holiday - unique. This guide to John Betjeman looks at some of his best-loved poems, his life and loves, and the places and people that, through his words, have become part of our national consciousness.