Harvest Bells: New and Uncollected Poems by John Betjeman

A new collection of previously unpublished and uncollected poems by Sir John Betjeman, including poems on landscape, suburbia, desire, death, faith, and doubt, is now available. The poems were written in the late 1920s and early 1930s and reveal a young poet experimenting with Modernism and post-Romanticism. They are psychological, personal, and deeply affecting, and reflect Betjeman's growth as a poet. The discoveries will delight poetry lovers and introduce a new generation to Betjeman's unforgettable work.

Format: Hardback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Sir John Betjeman, a renowned poet, has unveiled a captivating new collection of previously unpublished and uncollected poems. This remarkable body of work, spanning ten books, only partially captured his poetic prowess. Many exquisite poems, published in journals or magazines, were excluded from Betjeman's books, leaving them unknown to readers until now. In this exquisite new edition, Betjeman's verse editor, Kevin Gardner, promises to unveil fresh treasures for Betjeman's admirers worldwide. Betjeman's poetic journey is evident in these poems, written in the late 1920s and early 1930s, during his formative years. He experimented with Modernism and post-Romanticism, drawing inspiration from figures such as Shelley and Pope. These poems are deeply personal, revealing a young poet's psychological depth and emotional resonance. They showcase his growth as a poet, with some exhibiting the delicate and eccentric touch of his early work and others reflecting the maturity of his later verse. Almost all of these poems exude Betjeman's characteristic charm and wit, with some bordering on bawdy humor and even hinting at homosexuality. These delightful and unexpected discoveries, unearthed in archives across Austin, Texas, and Christ Church, Oxford, will enchant poetry lovers and introduce a whole new generation to Betjeman's unforgettable work.

Weight: 368g
Dimension: 215 x 137 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472966384