This episode was researched and planned by PLS Trustees Julian Henry and Dr Chris Fletcher, Keeper of Special Collections at the Bodleian Library, Oxford.

Philip Larkin was a librarian for 42 years. He had no formal training when he set off; he chose the career on the spur of the moment as a 21 year old after leaving university, like many students, without a career in mind. However, he came to be one of the UK's most influential and ground-breaking librarians of the post-war years, and his influence is still felt today. In this episode we examine Larkin's life as a librarian and how in interwove with his writing, friendships and relationships.

Larkin poems discussed:

An Arundel Tomb

The Card Players

Long Lion Days

Lines on a Young Lady's Photograph Album

Wedding Wind

The Mower

At Grass

Toads/ Toads Revisited

Other references:

My Particular Talents by Richard Goodman, About Larkin, 4  October 1997.Huddled Tea Breaks in the Cupboard by Pamela Hanley, About Larkin, 4  October 1997.https://philiplarkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/About-Larkin-04.pdf

Agony in the Garden The Independent on Sunday,Dr Christopher Fletcher, 31/10/2004

A Neglected Responsibility by Philip Larkin from Required Writing: Miscellaneous Pieces 1955-1982 (Faber, 1986)

Letters to Monica by Philip Larkin ed. Anthony Thwaite (Faber, 2010)

Philip Larkin: A Writer's Life by Andrew Motion (Faber, 1993)

Produced by Lyn Lockwood and Gavin Hogg

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com 

Theme music: 'The Horns Of The Morning' by The Mechanicals Band. Buy 'The Righteous Jazz' at their Bandcamp page: https://themechanicalsband.bandcamp.com/album/the-righteous-jazz