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Comment 4 of 4, added on March 21st, 2006 at 3:45 PM.
How evocative of a lost idyll this poem conjures up for me. The rigid lines of middle class life in the Home counties, unrequited love and John's awkwardness with girls quite common in his generation of stalwart Englishmen who often had no love at home apart from their nannies. I can smell the pine trees in Surrey and the masked sexuality of Miss Joan Hunter Dunne. Wonderful
Paul Wiseman from Australia
Comment 3 of 4, added on January 27th, 2006 at 11:59 AM.
I like this poem.
Basically, Miss Joan hunter Dunn and Betjiman went to play tennis, then went back to her house, then they got ready for a dance at the golf club. they leave, she drives, they arrive at car park but they stay in the car, dont go to the dance. Finally they get engaged.
This poem is a good example of one of Betjimans favourite themes - strong and domineering women.
Perhaps they have sexual relations in the end, in the car? or perhaps, taking into account the time it was written, it was much more innocent than that?
emma from United States
Comment 2 of 4, added on November 20th, 2005 at 12:45 PM.
Hello, there!
I'm sorry to have to say, that you havn't got the text of this poem right:
Your version reads:
Oh! Surry twilight...
It should read:
Oh! Full Surrey twilight...
with Surrey being a county in the south of England
Can you make sure, that your readers get the right version?
Thank you!
Big Daddy from Germany
Comment 1 of 4, added on September 20th, 2005 at 4:53 PM.
An upper-class satire? An expression of Betjeman's true love of able and capable (almost butch) women? Whatever it trult is, the poem is truly romantic and graceful, with a sublime conclusion.
Kit Buchan from United Kingdom
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How evocative of a lost idyll this poem conjures up for me. The rigid lines of middle class life in the Home counties, unrequited love and John's awkwardness with girls quite common in his generation of stalwart Englishmen who often had no love at home apart from their nannies. I can smell the pine trees in Surrey and the masked sexuality of Miss Joan Hunter Dunne. Wonderful
Paul Wiseman from Australia