The best-loved of English poets, John Betjeman (1906–1984) was also a great champion of British heritage whose legacy lives on, not just in his poetry, but in his diaries, broadcasts and letters. A devotee of the railways, this small, beautiful volume brings together some of his correspondences written on his travels, and describes all that Betjeman found of value in the landscape and architecture of this country as it cuts a nostalgic, personality-filled arc through Betjeman's Britain.

Illustrated with black and white photographs and line drawings and accompanied by Jonathan Glancey's vivid introduction and notes, this is a beautiful book for enthusiasts of Betjeman, the railway, and the Britain of the past.

'This pocketsized book is a wonderfully evocative collection of letters, photographs, timetables and Betjeman's drawings, tied together with an affectionate commentary by Glancey that totally explains the poet's passion for the golden days of steam' Daily Mail

'This delightful little volume is full of charater... [it] goes some way to illustrate the romance of train travel' Steam Railway

'A beautiful evocation of the lost world of steam, with Betjeman's letters on rail journeys supplemented by Jonathan Glancey's scene-setting essays' What's on in London

'It is well written and put together and is a lively read... this 'palm-sized' volume... will be interesting and entertaining to many railway aficionados' Railway Illustrated

'Elegant little book... Glancey's essays expand intelligently and trenchantly upon the letters' Journal of the Railway and Canal Historical Society

'A little gem' Steam Days