
Poems in the Porch
The Radio Poems of John Betjeman
Kevin J. Gardner(Editor)
Continuum International Publishing Group Ltd.
Published on 18. September 2008
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-1-84706-328-1 (ISBN)
Description
This book represents a genuine and important discovery in the canon of Betjeman's poems, often considered closed with the publication of the "Complete Poems".Between 1953-57, John Betjeman read a series of poems on 'The Faith in the West' program airing on the BBC's West of England Home Service. This series, called 'Poems in the Porch,' was so popular that Betjeman received constant requests to publish the poems. Although he deprecatingly referred to the poems as mere 'verses', Betjeman at last capitulated to the public. The result was a slim volume of six poems, entitled "Poems in the Porch". What few people now realize is that Betjeman read at least 20 original poems on the radio in this series, perhaps even more, although owing to the haphazard records of both the BBC and Betjeman himself it is impossible to reconstruct with complete accuracy the history of this series.Kevin Gardner has been able to identify and collect 26 of these poems and has written a fascinating introductory essay recounting the story of Betjeman as a radio poet and discussing the artistry of these poems. Most have never been published and currently exist only in manuscript.
We know for certain of 20 occasions when Betjeman read his poems on the 'Faith in the West' program, and of these we know 16 specific titles. Despite the gap between the BBC records on the one hand and the printed and manuscript texts on the other, Gardner has been able to construct a relatively reliable edition of Betjeman's "Poems in the Porch".This book will cause a radical reassessment of his canon and will create great waves in the Betjeman community.
We know for certain of 20 occasions when Betjeman read his poems on the 'Faith in the West' program, and of these we know 16 specific titles. Despite the gap between the BBC records on the one hand and the printed and manuscript texts on the other, Gardner has been able to construct a relatively reliable edition of Betjeman's "Poems in the Porch".This book will cause a radical reassessment of his canon and will create great waves in the Betjeman community.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-84706-328-1 (9781847063281)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Kevin Gardner is Professor of English Literature at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is currently writing a scholarly monograph on Betjeman's Christian imagination.
Content
Introduction; Poems -; Diary of a Church Mouse (6 October 1953. PP, CP); Electric Light and Heating (10 November 1953. PP); Christmas (8 December 1953. [prev. publ.1947] CP); Blame the Vicar (12 January 1954. PP); Septuagesima (16 February 1954. PP); The Friends of the Cathedral (prob. March 1954 [publ. Punch 1954] PP, CP); Churchyards (6 April 1954. PP); The Bishop (2 November 1954. ms - Victoria); [The Advent bells proclaim 'Prepare!'] (14 December 1954. ms - Victoria); The Conversion of St. Paul (25 January 1955. [prev. publ. 1955] CP); [Now when the Lenten season comes] (22 March 1955. ms - Victoria); The Parochial Church Council (19 April 1955. CP); [The Reverend Martin Willson wrote] (7 October 1955. ms - Victoria); Advent 1955 (2 December 1955. CP); [Before the Christmas holiday] (6 January 1956. ms - Victoria); [Three crosses stand upon a hill] (unk. - 30 March 1956? ms - Victoria); Honest Doubts (12 October 1956. [publ. Orbis 1983]); [Well yes, perhaps I am a ghost] (1 February 1957. ms - Victoria); [Last week a friend remarked to me] (ms - Victoria); [In late July when people faint] (ms - Victoria); [The feast day has come round] (ms - Victoria); [For faith and work have shown we will] (ms - Victoria); [Now when the Church's year comes round] (ms - private collection); [Three more weeks to fast and pray] (ms - private collection); [Till Jesus came] (ms - British Library); [Yes, fifteen hundred years ago] (ms - British Library); Conclusion.