A Pictorial History of English Architecture

by John Betjeman

First American Edition, Dust Jacket, Red Cloth

Genres: Architecture

Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Esther · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lovely old find, Sudbury Hall scene of many childhood excursions on the cover. Out of some 200 pages Betjeman devotes a mere 6 pages to anything post 1930s, which is a shame. But given his tone, it’s clear he is no fan of modernism and verges on snobbish with respect to housing which put me off.

[Andy Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good introduction to architecture with John Betjeman as a charming interesting guide

[Charlie Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

was hoping he’d include more primitive/older vernacular but still a decent read

[Sitatunga · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this for ages .... the Penguin soft covers, though, not the seductive pink papered original John Murray, of 1972. Alas! That was when the poet had just been laurelled and came to school – our school – for speech day. Of course, the publisher put out all his books for our delectation, but I could not afford. How luxurious they looked! How deliciously expensive! A year or so on, of course, and, with the benefit of a university grant, the paperback yielded to my still simmering desire.
I regaled my new friends with the day the great man sat in appreciation of our school chapel and expressed anxiety that he might be ostracised by Old Marlburians (how I recall the phrase!) In his introductory remarks, the head had remarked on Betj’s use of the train to get there (much of the great man’s behaviour baffled our worldly leader) and his serenading of the ‘Italianate arches’ at Shoreham Station. Good times. Well, despite the covers, the end-papers in chocolate brown immediately reassured: nothing had been lost and the colour plates are glorious. Check out p.34 Wells Chapter House stairs, all rippling mellow golden Ham stone, or p.70, Heveningham Hall, Wyatt’s apple green walls and butterscotch scagliola. Talking of which, the captions by Nicholas Taylor are essays in themselves, full of vim. Betjeman’s own narrative is delightfully simple and straightforward, wearing his learning as lightly as ever.