This talk was given to the Philip Larkin Society in 2010 by Emeritus Reader of American History at the University of Hull, John White. John White is the PLS jazz consultant and along with Trevor Tolley, compiled the wonderful ‘Larkin’s Jazz’ 4 disc CD released on Proper Records. This was part of the Larkin25 commemorative events. The talk is a warm and witty exploration of Larkin’s -sometimes extremely dry- sense of humour taking in camels, Jack Nicholson, raccoon coats and wine that tastes ‘like cricket bats.’

Content warning- liberal use of swearing…

References:

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

Pretending to Be Me- Tom Courtney (Hachette Audio Book 2003)

The Philip Larkin I Knew- Maeve Brennan  (Manchester University Press, 2002)

Selected Letters of Philip Larkin 1940-1985 (ed. Anthony Thwaite, Faber 1992)

Philip Larkin: A Bibliography, 1933-1994- B Bloomfield

All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961 - 1971 (Faber) Philip Larkin

Poems referenced:

Church Going, Wild Oats, This Be The Verse, Vers de Societe, 

Self’s The Man read by Philip Larkin can be heard at the end of the talk.

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