Faith and Doubt of John Betjeman: An Anthology of His Religious Verse

By John Betjeman

Book Overview

Sir John Betjeman was one of the twentieth century's great makers of the Christian imagination. He was maybe the most significant literary figure of our time to declare his Christian faith and his terror of dying. Betjeman used his formidable gifts for poetry to show us how to think about the Anglican faith and about Englishness and Christianity in general. Here is an anthology of about 75 poems on religious themes, with clarifying footnotes and a critical introduction that offers an overview of his life and poetry as well as a commentary on some of his more difficult poems. Here is a new perspective on Betjeman's life and beliefs. This new edition of Betjeman's religious poetry will demonstrate that Betjeman is the great poet of the Church in the twentieth century; it will also introduce delightful, accessible and important poetry to new readers. It will suggest to both British and American readers ways of thinking about spiritual cultural and ecclesiastical matters as well as about the intersection of literature and art.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0826482724
• ISBN13: 9780826482723
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Continnuum-3PL
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 3.9" x 9.7"

Customer Reviews

Excellent book--great poetry and great explication

I'm biased, as I had Dr. Gardner as a professor years ago before he was at Baylor, but I think this is one of the better poetry books I have read in awhile. The explanatory notes are very well done, the poems are organized well, and overall, it's a very strong book. I'm enjoying going through it.

An excellent anthology of Betjeman's religious verse

This book is an excellent introduction to the religious verse of John Betjeman and is presented in a very easy-to-read style. The book introduces each group of poems with background details and light commentary on the poems along with biographical information on the poet which helps to explain the content. The themes in the anthology include death, spiritual doubts and fears, belief, vanity and hypocrisy in the church and the church in society and include many of his most well-known poems including "Slough" and "Diary of a Church Mouse." This is an excellent book for those who want to study Betjeman's religious verse or who want to read the thoughts of one whose faith was often tested and unsure but who loved the Church of England as a vital part of England.