While Lady Elizabeth Cavendish said nothing about her relationship with Sir John Betjeman, he was, before his recognition and as a poet laureate from 1972 until his death, a public figure. To clarify, a poet laureate is defined as a poet appointed for life as a member of the British royal household or one who honorarily represents a particular country. He was extremely popular. The honor came from Queen Elizabeth II. Born in 1906 he was not a young man when he was given this honor.
An only child who was a bit alone and didn't enjoy sports, he recognized poetry as his profession young and hated school as a boy. College at Oxford turned out to be much better as at least there were some literary people there he could relate to. He left there in 1928 without a degree but within a few years he published his first book of poetry.
POETRY FOUNDATION - John Betjeman
INTERESTING LITERATURE ; 10 GREAT BETJEMAN POEMS EVERYONE SHOULD READ
He was introduced on a country weekend to Penelope, his wife, who was from an upper class family that thought she could do better. He was considered to be a middle class man of Dutch heritage, not their kind.
World War II he, his wife, and his first child went to Ireland as an attaché to represent Britain. At one point the IRA wanted to assassinate him. It didn't help that being from a Dutch heritage he was at time taunted that he was the enemy - a German. He was suspected of being a spy.
He loved architecture, especially churches. He became known for architectural preservation of London churches. He was Knighted in 1969.
Betjemen had a sense of humor as well as the keen observer's view point. A number of thematic films for television were made that were popular among the British. These films were designed to showcase a series of poems. As someone who observed and commented on ordinary life, it's my idea that people from all walks of life could relate to his work.
In a YouTube video, called The Real John Betjeman, a documentary of 45 minutes or so, various people who knew the man give their opinions on what he was up to with a wife and mistress. I was glad to find this video which includes a bit about Lady Elizabeth Cavendish.
YOUTUBE VIDEO : THE REAL JOHN BETJEMEN Poster is Aaron Marchant - Poetry and Verse. Source is UK Channel 4 and it appeared in 2000.
It's suggested that the big crisis in his marriage was when Penelope converted to Roman Catholicism while he remained Anglican. It's suggested that the couple loved each other but were incompatible. (It's not lost on me that Catholics were not to be divorced but Anglicans were able and that he wrote poetry about churches and was involved in preserving some. Am I the only one who sees her move as a Big Rebellion against her husband?) At around 33 minutes into this documentary, an "expert" who is not identified says "What John needed was a sort of a Victorian wife who would minister to him - almost a nursemaid." Another expert says he thinks it would have been impossible for him to go on if he had not met Lady Elizabeth! He says John and Elizabeth always lived in separate houses and that was the arrangement. (Yes there are some photos of her and the two together.) So at least there was an acknowledgement of her, unlike many an obituary; even the New York Times focused on the poetry and avoided his personal life.
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