E Y E W E A R, THE BLOG - FREEDOM MEANS BEING UNAFRAID TO WRITE WHAT YOU THINK

Sir John Betjeman (pictured above) is one of England's most charming and popular 20th century poets. It is his centenary this year. He was Poet Laureate, as well as a succesful media personality, and sold millions of books. One of the poetry albums made of his recordings was titled Betjemania , which quite accurately reflects the general public regard for this rumpled, Teddy Bear holding, lovable eccentric: taught by T.S. Eliot and Muse to Philip Larkin . The great Atlantic drift between Britain and America yawns wide on the question of his reputation, thought it also seems up for grabs at home, too. Arguably, Betjeman is little read or valued in America. Meanwhile, the BBC's flagship morning radio news slot, Today , today featured a rather long and winding debate, during its most valued minutes (the last ten before the nine o'clock news) on Betjeman's enduring legacy as a poet. Oddly, one of the commentators expressed the view that Betjeman could not be considered a ...