Larkin around: Poet's personal collection goes on display in Hull

HE REMAINS one of Britain's best read poets, yet the more that is disclosed of the contradictory, private life of Philip Larkin, the less understood he becomes.
The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon HulmeThe exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme
The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme

Yesterday, they stripped back his shocking pink bedlinen to reveal a layer of intimate detail only a few had seen.

At Hull University’s Brynmor Jones Library, where Larkin worked for 30 years, the evidence began to stack up: bookcases full of pulp fiction, rude drawings and a top shelf full of pornography.

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“I think he would laugh,” said Anna Farthing, who has curated the exhibition of his artefacts as part of Hull’s tenure as the UK’s City of Culture.

The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon HulmeThe exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme
The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme

“All the same,” she added, “I don’t think he would have got on with me.”

Larkin: New Eyes Each Year, named after a poem of his that explores a library and its visitors, includes clothes, letters and three Super 8 films that capture life at the library.

It was, said his friend and biographer, the poet Andrew Motion, as close to Larkin as it was possible to get.

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It was Motion who had helped to expose the poet’s obsession with pornography, his casual racism and his shift to the political right wing.

The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon HulmeThe exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme
The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme

Yesterday, he noted that elements of his “personality and genius” were bound to remain mysterious.

“This clever balancing is a great achievement, and provides a rare pleasure,” Mr Motion said.

It was a life that had been glimpsed mostly in black-and-white, yet the exhibition, culled from Larkin’s archive of 11,000 letters, 4,000 books and 600 personal items, reveals that he lived it in the most garish colour.

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“His letters were in pink, blue and yellow envelopes, his ties were those swirly ones from the 1970s and his bedlinen was only ever pink,” said Ms Farthing.

The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon HulmeThe exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme
The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme

“Anyone who considered him erudite would have been surprised by the Agatha Christies and Billy Bunters among his reading material.”

Many volumes concealed pressed flowers, rude drawings and other notations, she added.

“It is well documented that he had a stash of pornography but most of that was destroyed. However, we found a certain amount on a top shelf.”

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Larkin’s extraordinary surroundings reveal him to be a prisoner of his own body, Ms Farthing said.

The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon HulmeThe exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme
The exhibition on the life and work of Philip Larkin, at the Brynmor Jones Library, at Hull University. Pictures by Simon Hulme

“He was hard of hearing, partially sighted, bald and he had a stutter. He had three women on the go but I don’t know if he could fulfil his own desires.”

Martin Green, director of Hull 2017, said: “Philip Larkin is one of the most renowned artists to have lived in Hull and we are delighted that this new exhibition is opening as a centrepiece of our Freedom season. We hope it will stimulate even more interest, whether you have read him or not.”

Asked if Larkin would have been embarrassed at seeing his belongings on public show, Ms Farthing said: “I don’t think he would have been horrified. I think he would like the design.

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“But I don’t think he would have had time for me. He didn’t like people very much, and I do.”

What Larkin would have made of Hull’s year as City of Cult­ure must remain the subject of conjecture.

“He was dismissive of Arts Council funding,” said Ms Farthing. “One of the reasons he was in Hull was that it was the sort of place that could hide him. So in this City of Culture year, he might just have moved somewhere else.”

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