Summoned by Bells

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Book cover Summoned by Bells.

Summoned by Bells, the blank verse autobiography by John Betjeman, describes his life from his early memories of a middle class home in Edwardian Hampstead, London to his premature departure from Magdalen College, Oxford.

The book was first published in November 1960 by Betjeman's London publishers, John Murray. A later illustrated edition with line and water colour illustrations by Hugh Casson published in 1989 by Murray (ISBN 0-7195-4696-6).

[edit] Synopsis

Chapter I — Before MCMXIV Memories of the nursery – realisation of class, you could look up:

But what of us in our small villa row

Who gazed into the Burdett-Coutts estate?

I knew we were a lower lesser world …

and, socially and geographically, down

Glad that I did not live in Gospel Oak.

Chapter II — The Dawn of Guilt The author prefers poetry to his father's fascinating world of trade.
Chapter III — Highgate His love for Miss Peggy Purey-Cust and trouble with rivals.
Chapter IV — Cornwall in Childhood Evocative sounds and smells of childhood holidays in Cornwall.
Chapter V — Private School To the Dragon School in Oxford, a new interest in churches.
Chapter VI — London The John's father is doing well, they have moved to Chelsea, "the slummy end"; but he preferred leafy Hampstead.
Chapter VII — Marlborough After a depressing start, the discovery of literature, nature and the Wiltshire Downs.
Chapter VIII — Cornwall in Adolescence Adolescent family troubles – an independent exploration of Cornwall.
Chapter IX — The Opening World Up to Madgdalen, influences, failing at divinity.