Wikipedia:Today's featured list/February 13, 2015
.jpg)
John Betjeman's writing and broadcasting career lasted from 1931 to his death in 1984. In 1931 he became the assistant editor of The Architectural Review, which reflected his deeply-held affection for buildings and their history; the same year he published his first book, Mount Zion, a collection of poems. He began radio broadcasts in 1932, initially about architecture, but widening his subjects until he appeared on panel and game shows, interviews, documentaries and poetry readings, with a whimsical, humorous and avuncular delivery. Much of his output focussed on his concern over the destruction of Victorian and Edwardian architecture to make way for depressing, often faux contemporary developments. He continued to write about architecture and publish poetry throughout his life. In 1969 he was knighted and, in 1972, he succeeded Cecil Day-Lewis as Britain's Poet Laureate. He died in 1984, a unique figure in British poetry. (Full list...)