I think the _Poetry_ essay on Larkin probably erred in
not emphasizing the way in which the reactions to
posthumous revelations of Larkin's personality traits
were strongly shaped by the Thatcher/post-Thatcher
era--that is, by particular vituperative local
conditions. People made such a fuss about Larkin's
badness because the entire country was in a fussy
mood, and Larkin's _Letters_ gave them fussy-fodder.
Who could resist the letters though? Opened at random:
"Kingsley wrote affably enough, but not saying why he
was suing the BBC -- suing? yes, I fancy so. It is
perfectly monstrous the way people go about repeating
behind one's back things which are absolutely and
completely true. . . ."
=====
David Latanewww.standmagazine.org (Stand Magazine, Leeds)
|