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Interview of Philip Larkin with Miriam Gross, with correspondence

 Single Item
MS. 16084
Held in our offsite storage facility

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Comprises:

  1. Two signed typescript letters from Philip Larkin to Miriam Gross, concerning arrangement of and correction to the interview for The Observer, 12 Oct-19 Oct 1979.
  2. Photocopy typescript of interview, with manuscript amendments by Philip Larkin, 1979.

Dates

  • Creation: 1979

Extent

1 box

Language of Materials

  • English

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MS. 16084].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Shelfmark:

MS. 16084

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 16084

Abstract

Typescript interview of Philip Larkin with Miriam Gross for The Observer, with manuscript corrections by Larkin, and associated correspondence.

Biographical / Historical

Philip Larkin (1922-1985), author and poet, was born and educated in Coventry, before going on to St John's College, Oxford, to read English in 1940. Within a few weeks of his arrival, he had published a poem in the BBC's The Listener, and he also began work on his first novel Jill while at university. After graduating, Larkin began a career as a librarian, whilst continuing his writing: his first book of poetry, The North Ship, was published in 1945, and Jill the following year, though neither recieved much attention.

In 1947 Larkin published his second novel, A Girl in Winter, which saw more success, but it was not until he made the decision to move to Belfast in 1950 that he made his name as a poet. The reputation earned through his subsequent publications of poetry qualified him to produce an anthology of Twentieth Century English Verse in 1973, and to be bestowed with honourary doctorates from seven universities, and a CBE in 1975. Larkin spent the last thirty years of his life as Librarian at The University of Hull.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased by the Bodleian Library from James Fergusson Books & Manuscripts, with the support of the Roy Davids bequest, Oct 2018.

Related Materials

Hull History Centre (Hull University Archives):

  1. U DX73 - literary manuscripts of Philip Larkin, [1948]-1981.
  2. U DPL - papers of Philip Larkin (11 linear metres), c.1939-1981.
  3. Correspondence with numerous friends, fellow poets, colleagues etc, including: Barry Bloomfield [U DX213], Colin Gunner [ U DP179], Brenda Moon, [U DX257], Andrew Motion [U DP207], James Sutton [U DP174 and U DP182], Ted Tarling [U DP177] and Anthony Thwaite [U DP181].

British Library, Manuscript Collections:

  1. Add MS 52619 - notebook of draft poems, 1944-1950.

National Sound Archive:

  1. Readings and talks by Larkin.

Leeds, Brotherton Library:

  1. Brotherton Collection - letters.
Title
Catalogue of interview of Philip Larkin with Miriam Gross, and associated correspondence.
Status
Published
Author
Finding aid prepared by Tilly Guthrie
Date
2019
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom