Journeying Boy

Best remembered for his operas and his War Requiem, Benjamin Britten's radical politics and his sexuality have also ensured that he remains a controversial public figure. Journeying Boy is a selection of his diaries that offer the reader an unseen insight into this complex man. Encompassing the years 1928-1938, they explore some key periods of Britten's life - his early compositions, his education first under composer Frank Bridge and then at the Royal College of Music, an unhappy but productive period studying under John Ireland and Ralph Vaughan Williams, and his reluctant and often painful process of parting from the warm, safe environment of his family home and his beloved mother. The diaries cast light on an often misrepresented musician whose technique, originality and musical prowess have entranced audiences for generations and who continues to inspire composers and musicians around the world.

John Evans completed his doctoral studies on Benjamin Britten at the University of Wales in 1984. After five years as Research Scholar at the Britten-Pears Library and Archive he joined BBC Radio 3, becoming the network's Head of Music in 1993. His publications include Benjamin Britten: Pictures from a Life 1913-1976 and A Britten Source Book. He is currently President and Executive Director of the Oregon Bach Festival in the United States.