Allan Massie
Less of the Tiresome Teddy
WITH THIS THIRD volume Bevis Hillier brings his monumental life of John Betjeman to a triumphant conclusion. It has taken him twenty-eight years, which is longer than a third of Betjeman’s own life span. I call it triumphant because Hillier has retained his enthusiasm and admiration for his hero to the end. There is no sign, such as you find in many biographies, that the author has come to dislike, or at least resent, his subject. This biography is immensely detailed (a true work of scholarship), intelligent, generous, sympathetic, and often entertaining.
Sign Up to our newsletter
Receive free articles, highlights from the archive, news, details of prizes, and much more.@Lit_Review
Follow Literary Review on Twitter
Though 'the hotel had a reputation as the area’s best, its staff were not used to looking after world leaders, so the arrival of Cuba’s new strongman, Fidel Castro, came as something of a shock.'
@dcsandbrook on @simonhallwriter's 'Ten Days in Harlem'.
http://ow.ly/I63850Bvs10
'After all, who knows what anybody is really like, or what they really think? The biographer – same as a painter of portraits – cannot help but reproduce himself to some degree.'
From the archive: Beryl Bainbridge talks to Sebastian Shakespeare.
https://literaryreview.co.uk/sebastian-shakespeare-talks-to-beryl-bainbridge
"fascinating piece of writing ...unexpectedly gripping read...The #RedCircleMinis are a really wonderful initiative; every one I’ve read has been so different and so good... #OneLoveChigusa is an excellent addition to the series! “Thank you @kaggsy59 🙂 https://bit.ly/2ZIdeqL