Tennis Whites and Teacakes

by John Betjeman, Stephen Games (Editor)

For 50 years, at a time when others were becoming more internationally aware, John Betjeman immersed himself in the glories of English culture—its locations, its literature, its heroes. Seaside architecture, national poets, the great cathedrals, ancient townscapes—for Betjeman, these all were hard-won achievements with untold pleasures and delights. This delightful collection of poems, private letters, journalism, and musings presents a fully rounded picture of Betjeman’s ideas of what it means to be English. From his arguments for new steel buildings to his amusement about the etiquette of village teashops, these works reveal Betjeman not just as a sentimentalist but as a passionate observer with a wonderful sense of humor and an acute eye.

Genres: Poetry, Travel, British Literature, Essays, History, Nonfiction

464 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2007

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a book about and being English, what we have and what as gone before. Read while walking through country lanes in the summer. Bloody marvalous!

[Dave Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weeeell ... I've been reading this on and off, mostly off, for about four years. Finally finished it, and I must say it's something of a relief. It wasn't hard going - far from it - very pleasant and readable in most places ... just not in the least bit gripping. Perhaps this was because most of the prose sections were descriptive of people and things and lifestyles long since gone? Who knows. I tend to quite like the light pastoral tone of Betjeman's poetry (I enjoyed the collection 'Summoned by Bells'), but this left me a bit cold. A particular downer was the way that it closed with a few pages of faith-filled naive religious writing, which felt a bit odd and left a slightly bitter taste in my mouth. Hey ho.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this so much. The ‘blurb’ on the back states that this wonderful collection is: ‘A treasure trove of Betjeman’s poetry, private letters and musings celebrating his England - a place of patriotic poets and seaside coves, village tea shops and eccentric dons’. And I’d say that’s about right. Just marvellous.

[Andy Gore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Betjeman writes so so well and if envy was a virtue I'd cultivate it to express myself as well as him.

[Esther · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice collection of prose and poetry grouped around themes. He's a grumpy old Tory at times, but has his moments. Picked this up in a very trashy looking bookshop in Keighley (town in Yorkshire) on vacation a couple of years ago. In amongst the Jackie Collins and my little pony coloring books, was this for 99p.