A lifelong conversation: the correspondence of Philip and Eva Larkin
Philip Larkin is internationally renowned for his poetry, but there were many other sides to the poet. He was a well-regarded University Librarian, an avid amateur photographer, a jazz enthusiast, a prolific letter writer, and a devoted son. Much has been written over the years about Larkin’s childhood and familial relationships, with suggestions that he had somewhat difficult relationships with both his parents. Despite whatever issues there may have been, Larkin wrote at least one letter home every week for over thirty years, increasing the frequency of this endeavour towards the end of his mother’s life. His letters home number over 3800, date from 1938 to 1977, and provide an unparalleled insight into Larkin’s relationship with his parents, particularly his mother Eva, but also his own views of his poetry, librarianship, romantic relationships, friends, and current events. This correspondence was not one-sided, with Eva writing an equivalent number of letters to her son in return. Building on the invaluable work of volunteers Ivor Maw and Philip Pullen, a full catalogue of Larkin’s correspondence with his parents is now available (U DLN) for anyone interested in Larkin’s life and poetry.
Larkin’s letters to his parents began in earnest when he
left home to take up his place studying English at St John’s College,
University of Oxford, in 1940. Exempt from military service on medical grounds,
Larkin’s studies were left relatively undisturbed by the war (aside from a
stint as a fire-watcher) and much of his early correspondence is thus
unsurprisingly given over to details of his course, tutors, friends and college
events. There is, however, also genuine concern for his parents’ safety, the
fate of Coventry in the Blitz, and comments regarding various friends who had
been called to serve in the armed forces. He also discusses his early poetry,
some of which was published in University magazines, and he clearly shared a
love of literature with his father, Sydney. Philip raises doubts about his
academic potential as well as his poetry, showing a lack of confidence in his
abilities that would continue throughout his life. Amongst all this, he also
took care to answer his parents’ questions and comment on their activities.
Post-university, Larkin had his first serious romantic
relationship, with Ruth Bowman, and his long-term partners Monica Jones and
Maeve Brennan are regularly mentioned in his later letters. Following the death
of his father in 1948, his letters home begin to focus more significantly on
domestic issues, reflecting the importance of the domestic in Eva’s life and
letters. In her letters to Philip, Eva often gives thanks for the practical
help Philip would give her during his visits, as well as his advice on financial
and legal matters, such as the sale of Penvorn the Larkin family home in
Coventry which was eventually sold under a compulsory purchase order to make
way for a new road. Eva’s letters are full of the minutiae and concerns of
domestic life, with Philip’s replies carefully attending to her worries and
detailing some of his own annoyances, such as damp rooms or unappetising food
offered by his landladies.
Once settled into (or perhaps resigned to) a professional
life as a librarian, Philip’s letters to Eva become valuable sources for this
aspect of his life. There’s commentary on his busy workload, his fear of public
speaking, his dislike of Library Committee meetings, and his regard for
colleagues, particularly Betty Mackereth and Brenda Moon. Of course, news of
friends, such as Kinglsey Amis, Bruce Montgomery and many others, his interests
of jazz, football and cricket, and his holidays, all continue to feature.
Philip’s physical health, such as his deteriorating hearing and his weight
gain, begins to be included more prominently in his letters as he gets older
alongside his ongoing difficulties with depression and low moods, a condition
he appears to have shared with his mother. And beside all this, his letters
provide details of his poetry writing, broadcasting, and publications, with
Eva’s letters revealing her enjoyment of and pride in her son’s literary
accomplishments.
Larkin addressed and signed many of his letters to Eva to
his dear “Old Creature”, his care for his mother obvious both in words and
through his drawings. He included small pen drawings in a great number of his
letters to Eva, most depicting either himself and/or Eva as sea lions often
undertaking some activity or task described in the letters. Some drawings are
humorous, some loving, some simple faces, whilst others are intricately
detailed, but all suggest an attentive creator who took time and effort to compose
an interesting missive.
Both Larkin’s and Eva’s letters, however, are not without
controversy. Dating between 1938 and 1977 it is, perhaps, unsurprising that
both correspondents convey various outdated and offensive attitudes,
particularly regarding immigrants to the United Kingdom. Larkin’s writing also
contains opinions that would now be considered misogynistic and in other cases
antisemitic. Consequently, any researcher should approach the letters with this
in mind.
Philip and Eva Larkin’s letters offer fascinating insight
into not only their devoted, yet somewhat complicated, mother-son relationship,
but also into their individual personal lives. Moreover, Philip’s side of the
correspondence offers researchers on all aspects of his life and work
unparalleled access to the thoughts of the man himself. An invaluable source
for Larkinites, the full catalogue for the Papers of the Larkin Family (U DLN),
including Philip’s and Eva’s letters, can now be accessed here: U DLN
Verity Minniti, Archives Assistant, University of Hull
For full transcripts of Larkin’s letters and further
reading, see ‘Philip Larkin: Letters Home 1936-1977’ edited by James Booth
(Faber, 2018).
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