Since its publication in 1988, Philip Larkin's Collected Poems has become essential reading on any poetry bookshelf. This new edition returns to Larkin's own deliberate ordering of his poems, presenting, in their original sequence, his four published books: The North Ship, The Less Deceived, The Whitsun Weddings and High Windows. It also includes an appendix of poems that Larkin published in other places, from his juvenilia to his final years - some of which might have appeared in a late book, if he had lived. Preserving everything that he published in his lifetime, this new Collected Poems returns the reader to the book Larkin might have intended.
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As one of Philip Larkin's chosen literary executors, Anthony Thwaite edited the Collected Poems, Selected Letters and Further Requirements. His own Collected Poems, drawing on fifty years work, was published in 2007.
Philip Larkin was born in Coventry in 1922 and was educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry, and St John's College, Oxford. As well as his volumes of poems, which include The Whitsun Weddings and High Windows, he wrote two novels, Jill and A Girl in Winter, and two books of collected journalism: All What Jazz: A Record Library, and Required Writing: Miscellaneous Prose. He worked as a librarian at the University of Hull from 1955 until his death in 1985. He was the best-loved poet of his generation, and the recipient of innumerable honours, including the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, and the WHSmith Award.
Philip Larkin was born in Coventry in 1922 and was educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry, and St John's College, Oxford. As well as his volumes of poems, which include The Whitsun Weddings and High Windows, he wrote two novels, Jill and A Girl in Winter, and two books of collected journalism: All What Jazz: A Record Library, and Required Writing: Miscellaneous Prose. He worked as a librarian at the University of Hull from 1955 until his death in 1985. He was the best-loved poet of his generation, and the recipient of innumerable honours, including the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, and the WHSmith Award.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
160 of 164 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you want an edition that doesn't contain more than forty poems from Larkin's maturity, then this is the one for you. If, however, you would like to be able to read what Blake Morrison called 'Larkin's last great poem' ('Love Again') or other examples that stand comparison with his best work, like 'Marriages', 'Letter to a Friend about Girls', 'Strangers', 'Autumn', 'Maturity', 'The Dance', 'Negative Indicative' etc etc, then avoid this edition at all costs. Try and get the original Collected Poems second hand, which has them all in. Otherwise you risk being socially embarrassed when someone starts talking to you about 'Gathering Wood' and you swear blind Larkin never wrote such a poem. Think of it!
P.S. It has been pointed out that this review has been posted on ALL the editions of Larkin's collected poems, which is pretty stupid and unhelpful. What is the point of listing editions separately and then posting a review aimed at one particular edition on them all? Anyway, this review is aimed at the 2003 edition, which is (I believe) the first to conatin the cuts. Anything before that date should be OK (UK & US editions). There are plenty available, I urge you to buy them and avoid missing out on some superb poems.
P.S. It has been pointed out that this review has been posted on ALL the editions of Larkin's collected poems, which is pretty stupid and unhelpful. What is the point of listing editions separately and then posting a review aimed at one particular edition on them all? Anyway, this review is aimed at the 2003 edition, which is (I believe) the first to conatin the cuts. Anything before that date should be OK (UK & US editions). There are plenty available, I urge you to buy them and avoid missing out on some superb poems.
104 of 107 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
No edition of Larkin's poems could ever be a waste of paper, and anybody without them should buy at once: but please note that this is not the 1980s edition of the same name, and has been cut. It has the same title and editor, and looks like the same book - indeed its blurb is the same - but many of his juvenile poems are omitted and the arrangement is no longer chronological. Given that Larkin spent his adult life as a university librarian, it seems ironic that his Collected will be the source of endless confusion and misidentification in future catalogues. Faber have done him a pointless disservice by this new version, and another by not identifying it as such. But I can only bear to knock one star off the total.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By JAW
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is not, repeat not, Larkin's 'Collected Poems' as a purchaser (myself included) might reasonably expect. It is Larkin's collected PUBLISHED poems and should say so prominently on the cover. A more accurate title would have been 'Philip Larkin: Selected Published Poems' or even 'Philip Larkin: Only the Poems I Somehow Know He Would Have Wanted to Survive'. Many fine Larkin poems (30 or 40?) have been excluded and the casual reader would not be aware of their existence without additional research or stumbling upon a mention elsewhere.
An alleged 'Collected Shakespeare' including only material published in the Bard's lifetime is not a collected Shakespeare (half of the plays weren't published until years after his death) and would/should not be sold as such.
My rating doesn't reflect on the quality of the book's contents (on the contrary...) but its unadvertised incompleteness. The book's title is downright misleading and I would have bought the true collected works in the earlier editions instead had I known.
A close read of the inside cover might have supplied some (but not full) warning I suppose, but I didn't get to see the the inside cover before buying on-line. And I don't think it's good enough to say 'oh, you should have read the fine print...'. I don't do (repeat) business with anyone who says 'you should have read the fine print'.
Please excuse the irascible tone but I feel I've been misled and short-changed.
An alleged 'Collected Shakespeare' including only material published in the Bard's lifetime is not a collected Shakespeare (half of the plays weren't published until years after his death) and would/should not be sold as such.
My rating doesn't reflect on the quality of the book's contents (on the contrary...) but its unadvertised incompleteness. The book's title is downright misleading and I would have bought the true collected works in the earlier editions instead had I known.
A close read of the inside cover might have supplied some (but not full) warning I suppose, but I didn't get to see the the inside cover before buying on-line. And I don't think it's good enough to say 'oh, you should have read the fine print...'. I don't do (repeat) business with anyone who says 'you should have read the fine print'.
Please excuse the irascible tone but I feel I've been misled and short-changed.
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Philip Larkin
Bought as a present for my husband. He had found this book a welcomed addition to his collection of poetry books. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Isabel Kirk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Philip Larkin Collected Poems - A Review by Barry Van-Asten.
The poet and novelist Philip Larkin (1922-1985) worked in various libraries from 1943 and his first collection of poems was `The North Ship' (1945); two novels followed `Jill'... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. B. P. Van-asten
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Warning: Not Complete!
Of course I will give Larkin 5 stars any day. His poetry uniquely captures what it is to be human, British and breathing in the pessimistic 20th century. Just a really class act. Read more
Published 10 months ago by George Wells
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book
This is a fantastic book, a collection of wonderful poems by a truly inspirational writer. I bought it as a gift and they loved it
Published 11 months ago by Asutts
5.0 out of 5 stars
Larkin In One!
I can so relate to Philip Larkin. Its great to have all his poems in one easy to carry and read paperback. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Boss Man
5.0 out of 5 stars
A joy to read
As many of the reviews here point out, this book omits some unpublished poems that were included in earlier editions, which seems puzzling. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Stephen Hudson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bargain Larkin
This one volume actually contains Larkin's four main books in full, and lots of extras from magazines and his youth. As I paid around half price, it is a fine bargain. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jim C. Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Larkin poems
This collected edition of Philip Larkin's poem's is a bargain! My son has removed it from my coffee table and it is now by his bedside!
Published on 26 Mar 2011 by C. M. Noble
5.0 out of 5 stars
Philip Larkin - Collected Poems Review
I am pleased with the quality of the product and the fact that the delivery date was respected. Thank you very much and I look forward to shopping from you in the future.
Published on 29 Jan 2010 by Jozsef Kolumban
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent for those new to Larkin
I received my book yesterday and am very pleased.
I had previously only read Larkin on the internet and am delighted to have a collection of his poetry. Read more
I had previously only read Larkin on the internet and am delighted to have a collection of his poetry. Read more
Published on 26 Jan 2010 by Rambam HaTalmid
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