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Dread of literary parties led Philip Larkin to shun Oxford poetry professorship Dread of literary parties led Philip Larkin to shun Oxford poetry professorship
(5 days later)
A vision of the “hell on earth” that is a literary party and revulsion for “a lot of sherry-drill with important people” drove Philip Larkin to rule himself out of consideration as the Oxford professor of poetry, according to an unpublished letter recently discovered in a college safe.A vision of the “hell on earth” that is a literary party and revulsion for “a lot of sherry-drill with important people” drove Philip Larkin to rule himself out of consideration as the Oxford professor of poetry, according to an unpublished letter recently discovered in a college safe.
As Oxford graduates prepare to vote for the next incumbent this June, with a spat breaking out over Wole Soyinka’s suitability for the post, the archivist at St Hugh’s College in Oxford has stumbled across a letter from Larkin declining a nomination.As Oxford graduates prepare to vote for the next incumbent this June, with a spat breaking out over Wole Soyinka’s suitability for the post, the archivist at St Hugh’s College in Oxford has stumbled across a letter from Larkin declining a nomination.
Related: Much to be learned from Philip Larkin’s letters | Letters
The letter, typed on Larkin’s letterhead at the University of Hull’s Brynmor Jones library, replies to a suggestion from the college’s then-principal, Rachel Trickett, that he should stand for the prestigious role. Larkin receives Trickett’s letter on 8 October 1968, and after “the luxury of a few minutes day-dreaming on the subject”, writes to dissuade her from putting his name forward.The letter, typed on Larkin’s letterhead at the University of Hull’s Brynmor Jones library, replies to a suggestion from the college’s then-principal, Rachel Trickett, that he should stand for the prestigious role. Larkin receives Trickett’s letter on 8 October 1968, and after “the luxury of a few minutes day-dreaming on the subject”, writes to dissuade her from putting his name forward.
Related: Wole Soyinka dismisses claims he is too grand and old for Oxford poetry chair
The poet tells Trickett he is entirely “unfitted” for the role. “I have never considered literature in the abstract since that blessed day in 1943 when I laid down my pen in the Sheldonian Theatre and sauntered out into the sunshine, a free man; anything I have written since then has either been hack journalism or cries wrung from me by what I believe Gide calls the frightful contact with hideous reality,” writes one of the 20th century’s most beloved poets.The poet tells Trickett he is entirely “unfitted” for the role. “I have never considered literature in the abstract since that blessed day in 1943 when I laid down my pen in the Sheldonian Theatre and sauntered out into the sunshine, a free man; anything I have written since then has either been hack journalism or cries wrung from me by what I believe Gide calls the frightful contact with hideous reality,” writes one of the 20th century’s most beloved poets.
Related: Wole Soyinka dismisses claims he is too grand and old for Oxford poetry chair
He adds that he has so far given just one lecture in his life – “I hated it, and a number of people walked out in the first few minutes” – before explaining that the increasing publicity which comes with the position makes him “quite unsuited” to the position.He adds that he has so far given just one lecture in his life – “I hated it, and a number of people walked out in the first few minutes” – before explaining that the increasing publicity which comes with the position makes him “quite unsuited” to the position.
“My idea of hell on earth (physical pain excepted, and I am not sure that it is excepted even in this case) is a literary party, and I have an uneasy feeling that the post carries with it a lot of sherry-drill with important people,” he writes, describing himself nonetheless as “deeply honoured” to be approached.“My idea of hell on earth (physical pain excepted, and I am not sure that it is excepted even in this case) is a literary party, and I have an uneasy feeling that the post carries with it a lot of sherry-drill with important people,” he writes, describing himself nonetheless as “deeply honoured” to be approached.
Larkin would go on to be nominated for the position, seen as the second most important in British poetry behind the laureateship, by former incumbent WH Auden, in 1972 – and to decline again. He also turned down the poet laureateship in 1984.Larkin would go on to be nominated for the position, seen as the second most important in British poetry behind the laureateship, by former incumbent WH Auden, in 1972 – and to decline again. He also turned down the poet laureateship in 1984.
“There’s a letter from him declining the subsequent offer [which has been published], but this one is much more interesting,” said Peter McDonald, professor of English and related literature at St Hugh’s. “His description of life in Oxford is wonderful …. His description of his career as hack journalism, his dismissal of the rest of his writing – it’s extremely pithy and funny.”“There’s a letter from him declining the subsequent offer [which has been published], but this one is much more interesting,” said Peter McDonald, professor of English and related literature at St Hugh’s. “His description of life in Oxford is wonderful …. His description of his career as hack journalism, his dismissal of the rest of his writing – it’s extremely pithy and funny.”
Larkin’s comments about “sherry-drill” link to his “wonderfully sardonic” poem Vers de Societé, said McDonald. Larkin writes in that poem:Larkin’s comments about “sherry-drill” link to his “wonderfully sardonic” poem Vers de Societé, said McDonald. Larkin writes in that poem:
I could spend half my evenings, if I wanted,Holding a glass of washing sherry, cantedOver to catch the drivel of some bitchWho’s read nothing but WhichI could spend half my evenings, if I wanted,Holding a glass of washing sherry, cantedOver to catch the drivel of some bitchWho’s read nothing but Which
McDonald said: “It’s not a dashed-off letter. He’s writing to someone he knows quite well, and who he has a lot of common ground with. He’s not just rebuffing it – it’s interesting because it is heartfelt.”McDonald said: “It’s not a dashed-off letter. He’s writing to someone he knows quite well, and who he has a lot of common ground with. He’s not just rebuffing it – it’s interesting because it is heartfelt.”
In the wake of the revelation earlier this week that an apparently unpublished poem by Larkin released by the Times Literary Supplement was most likely to have been by the Hull poet Frank Redpath, McDonald said there was “absolutely no doubt” the letter was by Larkin. “It’s on his letterhead, with his signature,” he said. “The authenticity is not in question.”In the wake of the revelation earlier this week that an apparently unpublished poem by Larkin released by the Times Literary Supplement was most likely to have been by the Hull poet Frank Redpath, McDonald said there was “absolutely no doubt” the letter was by Larkin. “It’s on his letterhead, with his signature,” he said. “The authenticity is not in question.”
The discovery comes as the five candidates for this year’s position – Simon Armitage, Soyinka, AE Stallings, Ian Gregson and Seán Haldane – face a vote by Oxford graduates to replace current incumbent Geoffrey Hill. Graduates must register to vote by 8 June, with voting to run until 17 June.The discovery comes as the five candidates for this year’s position – Simon Armitage, Soyinka, AE Stallings, Ian Gregson and Seán Haldane – face a vote by Oxford graduates to replace current incumbent Geoffrey Hill. Graduates must register to vote by 8 June, with voting to run until 17 June.
McDonald is one of Soyinka’s nominators for the position – all candidates must be backed by at least 50 Oxford graduates – but said he thought that either Stallings or Armitage “would also bring something absolutely unique and important to the role … I think it’s a pretty open field and I would be happy if any of those three get it,” he said.McDonald is one of Soyinka’s nominators for the position – all candidates must be backed by at least 50 Oxford graduates – but said he thought that either Stallings or Armitage “would also bring something absolutely unique and important to the role … I think it’s a pretty open field and I would be happy if any of those three get it,” he said.
Earlier this week, a kerfuffle broke out after the broadcaster Melvyn Bragg told the Sunday Times he had decided to back Armitage rather than the 80-year-old Soyinka over concerns the Nobel laureate would not “bother to come to Oxford”.Earlier this week, a kerfuffle broke out after the broadcaster Melvyn Bragg told the Sunday Times he had decided to back Armitage rather than the 80-year-old Soyinka over concerns the Nobel laureate would not “bother to come to Oxford”.
“Soyinka is a grand man … I also query his age,” Bragg said. Soyinka dismissed the concerns: “How curious that anyone would even speculate that I would allow busy and committed people – friends, colleagues and total strangers – to waste their time nominating and campaigning on my behalf for such a prestigious position if I were not serious about contesting,” he said.“Soyinka is a grand man … I also query his age,” Bragg said. Soyinka dismissed the concerns: “How curious that anyone would even speculate that I would allow busy and committed people – friends, colleagues and total strangers – to waste their time nominating and campaigning on my behalf for such a prestigious position if I were not serious about contesting,” he said.
The professor of poetry role has been held in the past by names from Seamus Heaney to Matthew Arnold. The holder is required to give three lectures a year.The professor of poetry role has been held in the past by names from Seamus Heaney to Matthew Arnold. The holder is required to give three lectures a year.