Philip Larkin
English poet, novelist and librarian (1922–1985)
Who was Philip Larkin?
Philip Larkin lived from August 9, 1922 to December 2, 1985. It was during the thirty years he worked with distinction as university librarian at the Brynmor Jones Library at the University of Hull that he produced the greater part of his published work. Philip Arthur Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. He came to prominence in 1955 with the publication of his second collection of poems, The Less Deceived, followed by The Whitsun Weddings (1964) and High Windows (1974). His many honours include the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. He was offered, but declined, the position of Poet Laureate in 1984, following the death of Sir John Betjeman.
Historical significance
His first book of poetry, The North Ship, was published in 1945, followed by two novels, Jill (1946) and A Girl in Winter (1947). He contributed to The Daily Telegraph as its jazz critic from 1961 to 1971, with his articles gathered in All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961–71 (1985), and edited The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse (1973). After taking a Double First from Oxford in 1943 in English, Larkin became a librarian.
