First edition. Original blue cloth titled in gilt in pictorial dustwrapper designed by Biro. Author's presentation copy inscribed on publication to John Betjeman, "John with love from Evelyn / June 30th 1955". A fine copy in a very good dustwrapper which shows a little browning and wear to the corners

A fine association, linking two of the foremost literary figures of the twentieth century. Waugh and Betjeman were introduced by Diana Guinness at Biddeston, the Guinness's country house. They were contemporaries and acquaintances at Oxford, with a number of mutual friends, though not close.
"The relationship between the two men was edgy, perhaps best summarised by Waugh himself in a letter to Betjeman's wife on 7 January 1950 - 'My love to John. Though he does not love me as I love him.'" - A.N. Wilson (Betjeman)
However, Betjeman's undergraduate eccentricity seemingly had one significant literary influence on Waugh. Betjeman famously brought his teddy bear, whom he had named Archibald Ormsby-Gore, up to Magdelen, carrying it wherever he went and talking of it as if it held its own views,
"Archibald has accepted the Incumbency of Raum's Episcopal Chapel, Homerton, E. 17... He has always been associated with the Evangelical Party and he will have to wear a black gown in the pulpit..."
It was this sort of flippant humour that lead his tutor, C.S. Lewis, to describe Betjeman in his diary as an "idle prig" who attended tutorials in "eccentric bedroom slippers". However, such antics undoubtedly formed the basis for Sebastian Flight's behaviour at Oxford in Waugh's Brideshead Revisited.
After coming down from Oxford, Waugh and Betjeman remained friends. Waugh also formed a close and lifelong friendship with Betjeman's wife Penelope, whom he dedicated his novel Helena to and used her as the basis for the eponymous character. The Betjemans attended both Waugh's marriage to Laura and his funeral.
Betjeman mentions receiving this presentation copy in a letter to Waugh of the 2 July 1955, "I came back the night before last... to find your new novel awaiting me and inscribed by you."
It would appear that this book was given by Betjeman to his personal secretary at the time, Anita Dent. Betjeman was a friend of the Dent family and gave the toast at Anita's wedding in 1958. Accompanying the book is a letter of provenance from Anita Dent's son, Simon Coury, outlining the connection with Betjeman.

PROVENANCE: John Betjeman (presentation inscription by the author); Anita Dent (Betjeman's secretary); Family descent.

Stock ID: 28412