Philip Larkin, The Whitsun Weddings

Erik Martiny (Paris Science et Lettres)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.09: English Writing and Culture: Postwar and Contemporary Britain , 1945-present.
Vol. editors: Gina Lyle (University of Glasgow), Graham MacPhee (University of Manchester), Kerry Myler (Birmingham Newman University), Jenni Ramone (The Nottingham Trent University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1964

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Poem collection

Resources

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Published by Faber and Faber in Britain and Random House in America in 1964,

The Whitsun Weddings

marks Larkin's ascension to both editorial prestige and critical renown. It was Larkin's fourth published poetry collection and is generally viewed as his second mature poetic work, the first being

The Less Deceived

(1955). Considered by many to be his most sophisticated collection, it contributed a substantial part to what the poet and critic Peter Levi called Larkin's “85 perfect poems”. Although the collection sold modestly in America, it consolidated Larkin's growing reputation in England, becoming an instant success.

The Whitsun Weddings

offers a felicitous blend of finely-tuned symbolism and engaging conversational casualness. As his first biographer Andrew Motion points out, Larkin…

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6059 words

Citation: Martiny, Erik. "The Whitsun Weddings". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 23 March 2010 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=8148, accessed 25 April 2024.]

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