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).

There is also a film/DVD version directed by John Steddell for the television in 1976. An autobiography covering the life of Sir John Betjeman before he started his first job, narrated in blank verse by the man himself, Betjeman visits some of the places that played an important part in his early life.

There are also other works by the same author, including 'Collected Poems' and a further TV film called 'Metro-land' in 1978.

[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 Magdalen, influences, failing at divinity.