A Little Book of Bourgeois Verse
INSCRIBED BY BETJEMAN
Continual Dew A Little Book of Bourgeois Verse
Murray, 1937.
First edition. Original black cloth with elaborate gilt design in stylish pictorial dustwrapper designed by E. McKnight Kauffer. All edges gilt. Inscribed by Betjeman to Gilbert Harding on the half title, "Inscribed for Gilbert H by John Betjeman" A near fine copy in a very good dustwrapper indeed which shows a touch of tanning to the spine and a little wear to the spine ends.
Gilbert Harding (1907-1960), journalist and television broadcaster who made a hit with his irascibility and sharpness. Harding and Betjeman appeared together on such programmes as 'What's My Line?' and 'Who Said That?'. According to Candida Lycett Green (John Betjeman Letters Vol II, p.44), "They got on like a house on fire."
Following a television appearance together, Betjeman wrote in a letter to Harding,
"you must surely know and that is that you are a GENIUS. You may not know it but you have a turn of phrase that is equal to that of Thomas Gray and Gibbon whom you quoted."
Continual Dew is Betjeman's second book of verse, containing perhaps his most famous poem 'Slough', as well as "The Arrest of Oscar Wilde at Cadogan Hotel" and "The Wykehamist".
Stock ID: 28876
Sold
We have sold this item, but similar items
may become available in the future
