The Philip Larkin I Knew [Hardcover]

Maeve Brennan (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0719062756 | ISBN-13: 978-0719062759 | Publication Date: September 20, 2002

The Philip Larkin I Knew traces the author’s close friendship with the poet and stretches over his 30 year tenure of office as librarian of the University of Hull, taking in his literary achievements from The Less Deceived (1955), through The Whitsun Weddings (1964), to High Windows (1974). It reveals Larkin in a new light – courteous, compassionate, generous, and a man of deep sensitivity and charm – with a natural sense of fun and instinctive wit; in contrast to the gloomy and somewhat objectionable portrait that has emerged since his death.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...a tonally poised, well-written, smart and open-hearted book...a courageous and valuable book." --Toronto Globe and Mail

About the Author

Maeve Brennan held the post of Sub-librarian in the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull, from 1973 to 1985, having held other posts since 1953.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Manchester University Press (September 20, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719062756
• ISBN-13: 978-0719062759
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,520 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Larkin's revisionist profile revised!, April 26, 2011

By 

paul vernon "an old Sailor" (Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Philip Larkin I Knew (Paperback)

It is nice to see a personal counter-balance to the current view of Larkin as simply a grumpy old reactionary. He was, and will remain, one of Britains best poets, his knowledge of Jazz was both deep and wide and, most especially, his very clear understanding of the Blues was far ahead of its time for one of his generation. Those of you who have not read his volume "All What Jazz" are urged to do so, for it contains canny and insightful observations from a period of deep change (the 1960's) that are often still relevant and often downright funny today. His use of certain words and phrases now deemed politically insensitive come from a period when they widely used. You cannot alter history because you dont like it; you must see it for what it was and regard it as just that; history. Judge not the past, for you may be judged yourself in the future.