The Philip Larkin Society

About The Journal About Larkin

The Society's Journal was first published in April 1996 and appears twice a year, in April and October. Its first editor, suitably enough, was Larkin's publisher from the 1950s, Jean Hartley, ably assisted by the Society's Secretary, Janet Whitehead. Issues 1-5 established the journal's distinctive mix of unpublished writings by Larkin, critical articles on his work, interviews with those who knew the poet, accounts of Society events, items of topical interest and the occasional original poem. Early landmarks were the publication in Issue 1 of an interview with Ruth Siverns (nee Bowman), and another (by Maeve Brennan) with Winifred Dawson (nee Arnott). Issue 5 (April 1998) contained Maeve Brennan's obituary of Larkin's school-friend James Ballard Sutton (d. 1997), Larkin's letters to whom Maeve had been instrumental in securing for Hull's Brynmor Jones Library.

Following the departure of Janet Whitehead for Swansea in 1998, Jean Hartley became sole editor for issue 6 (October 1998). Then from issue 7 to issue 12 (April 1999 - October 2001) James Booth took over as editor, assisted (from Poole, Dorset) by Martin Blyth. This long-distance relationship worked surprisingly well, though Martin and James did not meet face to face until they encountered each other at the Ledbury Festival in 1994, some time after their editorial relationship had ended. The Society was fortunate, during this period, to secure the generous sponsorship of Larkin's College, St John's Oxford, for issues 9-16. Of particular note during this period was issue 11 (April 2001), marking the death of Monica Jones in February of that year with reminiscences from those who knew her in Kidderminster and Haydon Bridge. Issues 10, 11 and 12 contained hitherto unpublished early prose works from Larkin's days at Oxford.

Needing more time for his editorship of South magazine, for his celebrated blog, and his grandchildren, Martin withdrew in 2002, and for issues 13-14 Jim Orwin acted as Editorial assistant to James. Issue 13, devoted to Larkin at school, featured some of his earliest writings, while issue 14 featured both a long, evocative letter which Larkin wrote to his friend Jim Sutton in August 1940, as he approached his twentieth birthday and, from the other end of his life, the newly-discovered poem addressed to Betty Mackereth, 'We met at the end of the party'.

Issue 15 (April 2003) was edited by the new team of Jean Hartley and Maeve Brennan. However, Maeve died later in the year and the memorial issue 16 was edited by Jean alone. A new start was made with the editorship of Belinda Hakes in issues 17-21. Belinda saw into print the mammoth tenth anniversary issue (20), which ran to 92 pages. It included a fascinating illustrated insight by Rachel Foss into Larkin's creativity as a photographer, anticipating the Exhibition in the Brynmor Jones Library organised by John Osborne, and also a reconstruction of Larkin's early discography by Professor Trevor Tolley.

With issue 22 we make another new beginning. Again we have a long-distance editorial relationship. Janet Brennan, our new joint editor, lives in Totnes, Devon, and is assisted in Hull

by James Booth.