Corgi Modern Poets in Focus 5 - Philip Larkin

Advantages: Profound but down to Earth - a poetic genius...
Disadvantages: You'll either love him or hate him!

...Philip Larkin, an insight into the genius, the poet, the man… I have to admit that when I first started to study Larkin for my A – levels, it was difficult not to curse him, let alone like him! On the surface, Larkin appears to be a misogynistic and sexist man with a supercilious eye for anything lower class. This, unfortunately has become the most popular attitude towards Larkin, however, I feel that this is not the case. After having studied only the poetry, it would be, I admit, easy to criticise Larkin, but you must go deeper than the words on the page in order to understand this mysterious but incredible writer, and that is what I intend to help people to do… General Background: Philip Larkin was born in 1922 in Coventry. He grew up there and went to read English at Oxford University. For the remaining thirty years of his... Read review

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Advantages: Stunning, meaningful poetry
Disadvantages: Too small a book!

...My introduction to Philip Larkin and his collection of verse,' The Whitsun Weddings' I owe to my friend David Evennett, one-time Member of Parliament for Erith and Crayford. Back when I was researcher for a Member of Parliament, I had an avocation as a poet, and had just published my first book of poetry. David discovered this, and recommended Larkin as a poetic voice worthy of attention. (His researcher acted surprised, blurting out loud much to our amusement, 'And here I always took you for a Philistine!') I have been grateful ever since, as I frequently return to this slim volume of verse for inspiration and reflection. This volume of poetry includes 32 poems. A small book first published in 1964, it has proven so popular (something rare in poetry circles) that it has been reprinted four times during the 1970s, four times during... Read review

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Advantages: Interesting and unique, superb writing and characters
Disadvantages: Not for you if you prefer plot to character-driven stories

...Philip Larkin is best-known for his poetry, although he wrote two novels: A Girl In Winter and Jill, both written in his mid-twenties. He was an interesting character, said to be obsessed with pornography and racist, although Martin Amis (Larkin was a close friend of Kingsley Amis) denies this. I was surprised to discover that Larkin was also a Jazz critic and a great fan of Thomas Hardy's poetry, and was instrumental in the re-evaluation of Hardy's poetry, which tends to be ignored in favour of his novels - despite Hardy seeing himself as a poet foremost, an author second. His being a fellow fan of Hardy, I softened to him slightly… I studied The Whitsun Weddings (Larkin's most famous collection of poetry) at college and, although I could appreciate their superb structure and sharp insights, he was never going to be my favourite... Read review

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