John Betjeman on trains - Jonathan Glancey

John Betjeman (1906-84) was a great champion of British heritage whose legacy lives on, not just in his poetry, but in his diaries, broadcasts, and letters. A devotee of the railways, this small, beautiful volume brings together some of his correspondence written on his travels, describing all that he found of value in the landscape and architecture of this country. In his introduction, Jonathan Glancey says: "This selection of letters show how railways infused Betjeman's life. They allow him to be impassioned, funny, satirical and expert. We should all be glad he had that expert knowledge of railways and architecture; far from standing in the way of genuine progress, his love of railways, coupled to his campaigning spirit, means that from autumn 2007 we will be able to travel, at 186mph, from London to Paris from under the great iron and glass train shed of gloriously Gothic St Pancras." Black and white photographs and line drawings accompany Jonathan Glancey's vivid introduction and notes, making this a beautiful book for enthusiasts.