James Booth reads Philip Larkin's mature poetry in terms of his ambiguous self-image as lonely, anti-social outsider, plighted to his art, and as nine-to-five librarian, sharing the common plight of humanity. Larkin is a poet of inexpressible transcendence, but also of afternoons in the park, housing estates, ambulances, and the toad work. Whether discussing Larkin's poems of love and intimacy or uncovering his hidden metaphorical structures, Booth's focus is always on Larkin's artistry with words, the 'verbal devices' through which this purest of lyric poets celebrates 'the experience. The beauty'. Featuring discussion for the first time of two recently discovered poems by Larkin, this original and exciting new study will be of interest to all students, scholars and enthusiasts of Larkin.

'Fresh and engaging; sure to be welcomed by both confirmed admirers of Larkin's work and new readers alike.' - Douglas Dunn, University of St. Andrews

An authoritative and elegant elucidation of the poet's craft; Booth reads the poetry, as Larkin wrote it, for pleasure.' - Janice Rossen, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Centre, University of Texas

Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
The Poet's Plight
Poetry as a Living
Loves and Muses I
Loves and Muses II
Poetic Histories
Living Rooms
Empty Gestures
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index

JAMES BOOTH is Professor of English at the University of Hull, UK. His publications include Philip Larkin: Writer and New Larkins for Old: Critical Essays. He edited Larkin's Trouble at Willow Gables and Other Fictions and helped Maeve Brennan with her memoir The Philip Larkin I knew. He is also Editor of The Larkin Society Journal.