[lit-ideas] 250 Larkin poems found
- From: "Joe Leduc" <jgl15@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2004 15:21:12 -0400
From the BBC:
Haul of rare Larkin poems found
Hundreds of unpublished works by celebrated poet Philip Larkin have been
discovered in his home city Hull.
The poems were found in library archives by Trevor Tolley, a member of the
Philip Larkin Society, as he researched the poet's early work.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3550924.stm
Despite the euphoric statements in the article, I have doubts how much this
will change our picture of Larkin's acheivement. That he wrote "schoolgirl"
poems we already knew. Nor is it a revelation that he wrote funny ones.
The poem mentioned about his father, "And Yet," is not unique, either - "An
April Sunday Brings the Snow" is one of the best of his early works. And
that he often stopped writing for long periods is obvious to anyone who
looks at the first *Collected Poems*. Nor does the fact that, if the
article is correct, all of the works found are early ones inspire confidence
in their overall interest. Given that so many are applauding the new
version of the *CP* for omitting most of the juvenilia, it's a bit amusing
to see this being put forth as something to get worked up about. It does
make the argument for a truly complete Larkin collection to be issued,
however; some poor shmucks have a lot more to do before they put the bastard
on the skids. Best to all,
Joe Leduc
Providence, RI
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