This second part was as fascinating as the first, offering fresh insights on Mrs Wilson and Betjeman. Although it makes absolutely no difference now, I'm glad that she had a trusted confidant who believed in her and her talents. Thank you for posting.
Excellent post. Thank you for this. The excerpted poems are genuinely touching, and well executed, with the rhyming and scansion flowing naturally. A real find. I ordered a copy of her selected poems. And the friendship with Betjeman is also sweet, and it is rare to see a story of shared respect and kindness with no ugly twist at the end.
I relished every word of this. I was just thinking, I don't remember Mary being in "Time With Betjeman", the series of programmes made by Jonathan Stedall near the end of John's life. In those he was shown chatting to friends like John Osborne, Barry Humphries, Osbert Lancaster and John and Myfanwy Piper. Perhaps Mary was too shy. Thanks Sarah, I did enjoy this!
You will be amused by this quote from Betjeman 'The literary world is malicious and personal. I suffer under Grigson and his like and even under people who pretend to be friends (eg John Piper and his wife) who feel, one knows, that one is 'trivial' and 'not important'.
So absolutely moving, Sarah. I'm a week behind in my reading, but I'm so glad I made note of this one (having read so fondly the first part). Now I want to read the poems. I feel sympathy--and I have no political husband! What does that say about me? Kudos to you for bringing her story out so poignantly. Is she the subject of your new project? or just a small part?
What a beautiful friendship that gave them both so much. Thank you for sharing their story.
Agreed. I felt it. I wanted it. I want it.
This second part was as fascinating as the first, offering fresh insights on Mrs Wilson and Betjeman. Although it makes absolutely no difference now, I'm glad that she had a trusted confidant who believed in her and her talents. Thank you for posting.
So lovely, thank you. Will now read her poems.
This is lovely. I somehow wasn't expecting the best-sellerdom, so that was a completely unexpected happy moment in the whole account.
Excellent post. Thank you for this. The excerpted poems are genuinely touching, and well executed, with the rhyming and scansion flowing naturally. A real find. I ordered a copy of her selected poems. And the friendship with Betjeman is also sweet, and it is rare to see a story of shared respect and kindness with no ugly twist at the end.
Thank you, and for all your appreciation of my posts! It means a lot.
How lovely. I knew Mary Wilson wrote poetry--I had no idea she was so good. And that friendship with John Betjeman is so sweet.
What a wonderful read. I remember buying her book for my dad’s birthday present. Thank you for this.
I relished every word of this. I was just thinking, I don't remember Mary being in "Time With Betjeman", the series of programmes made by Jonathan Stedall near the end of John's life. In those he was shown chatting to friends like John Osborne, Barry Humphries, Osbert Lancaster and John and Myfanwy Piper. Perhaps Mary was too shy. Thanks Sarah, I did enjoy this!
You will be amused by this quote from Betjeman 'The literary world is malicious and personal. I suffer under Grigson and his like and even under people who pretend to be friends (eg John Piper and his wife) who feel, one knows, that one is 'trivial' and 'not important'.
John Betj definitely had his dark moments!
I was crying by the time I finished reading.
So absolutely moving, Sarah. I'm a week behind in my reading, but I'm so glad I made note of this one (having read so fondly the first part). Now I want to read the poems. I feel sympathy--and I have no political husband! What does that say about me? Kudos to you for bringing her story out so poignantly. Is she the subject of your new project? or just a small part?