Summoned by Bells, theblank verse autobiography byJohn Betjeman, describes his life from his early memories of amiddle-class home inEdwardianHighgate,London, to his premature departure fromMagdalen College, Oxford.

The book was first published in November 1960 by Betjeman's London publisher,John Murray, and was read by the author, chapter by chapter, in a series of radio broadcasts on theThird Programme (later to become Radio Three) of the BBC. A later, illustrated edition with line and water colour illustrations byHugh Casson was published in 1989 by Murray (ISBN 0-7195-4696-6).^[1] Apaperback edition appeared in 2001.^[2]

There is also aBBC film version directed byJonathan Stedall for television in 1976.^[3] In an autobiography covering the life of Betjeman before he started his first job, narrated in blank verse by him, Betjeman visits places that played an important part in his early life.

• Chapter I   Before MCMXIV  —   Memories of the nursery, realisation of class. You could:

lookingup socially

lookingdown socially and geographically

• Chapter II   The Dawn of Guilt  —   The author prefers poetry to his father's fascinating workshop; early lines.
• Chapter III  Highgate  —   His love for Miss Peggy Purey-Cust; trouble with bullies.

• Chapter IV  Cornwall in Childhood  —   To Cornwall by rail, evocative sounds and smells of childhood holidays.
• Chapter V   Private School  —   To theDragon School inOxford; bicycling to look at church architecture.
• Chapter VI   London  —   John's father is doing well, they have moved to Chelsea, "the slummy end"; but he preferred leafy Hampstead.
• Chapter VII  Marlborough  —   After a depressing start, the discovery of literature, nature and theWiltshire Downs; manages poetry better than painting.
• Chapter VIII   Cornwall in Adolescence  —   To Cornwall by road, adolescent family troubles, and bicycling independently to explore Cornish churches.
• Chapter IX   The Opening World  —   Up toMagdalen College, Oxford, influences, hobnobbing, versifying, failing at Holy Scripture.

The book references several places that hold particular meaning or atmosphere. Among them isSt Ervan, where the narrator reflects, “In the cool shade of interlacing boughs, I found St Ervan’s partly ruined church…” Other locations includeTrebetherick,Pembroke College, Oxford, andSezincote, each contributing to the sense of place and memory woven throughout the narrative.

In 1962 Betjeman released an abridged version of the book for children, with illustrations byEdward Ardizzone.

• An Oxford University Chest

• 1960 books
• 1989 books
• British non-fiction books
• English books
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• Books by John Betjeman
• Literary autobiographies
• Magdalen College, Oxford
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