The Complete Poems

Larkin gave us a gift of tempo and verse that improve the rhythm and meter of the English language, and Archie Burnett's notes provided context.

To my own surprise and embarrassment this was my first, real engagement with Larkin outside an anthologized poem or two like "Here."I've been told that Larkin's style and topical interest varies a bit in quality from work to work; but the poems in this collection are simply stellar and revelatory. I can't think of another poet I've read recently who demonstrates such incredibly precise control and sumptuous taste in his word nuances. Perhaps Galway Kinnell maybe. But there ae asterisks and exclamation marks and "wows" written all over the margins of this book.By way of example (and keep in mind, these are just isolated lines): Larkin renames a baby, "tightly folded bud," Spring is "fold of untaught flower, is race of water,/Is earth's most multiple, excited daughter," the past is "a valley cropped by fat neglected chances/that we insensately forbore to fleece," and skin as "Obedient daily dress."Needless to say, these lines begin, form the body of, and end exquisite poems.I can't wait to continue exploring more Larkin. There is a surprise at every linguistic turn.

Now we are talking about a used book of poetry, so this is a review of the shipper. The book was just as described, priced right, and arrived in a timely fashion. (I didn't like the poems as much as I had expected, and the poet is late, so there's nothing to be done about that.))

I've always been ambivalent about Philip Larkin's place as Britain's greatest post-war poet, but this collection adds to the poems an extensive commentary which helps explain Larkin's pessimism and gloomy outlook. The poems of course stand alone, but the commentary helps in understanding Larkin as someone not entirely mired in discontent, who is reacting in a visceral and personal way to the more troubling circumstances of his life. There are some truly great poems here, and lovely, spare descriptive passages. To my mind, some of his best work remained unpublished in his lifetime and these poems can lead to a new appreciation of his work. Just don't read the book to cheer yourself up.

What a treasure to have all of Larkin’s work, but without a detailed table of content this collection is difficult to navigate. If not for the trouble of returning a book during a pandemic, I would have sent it back.

A highly and pleasurable collection of all the poetry written by one of the great poets of the 20th century. The more you struggle your way into the deep recesses of his poetry, going beyond the easy clarity of a first reading and in fact with each reading, the more cleanly enlightening each poem is, taking up so many of the greatest subjects of poetry back to its beginnings and casting them as a provoking meditation relevant to the circumstances of our ordinary life in our time.

This collection has the poems which have previously been unavailable in addition to all of Larkin's published poems. The latter part of the volume has extensive notes on sources. The addition of the unpublished poems gives further insight into Larkin's famous preoccupation with death. He does not seem to be concerned with the act of dying, the process which gives pause to most of us. He is afraid of the existential state of nonbeing which death entails. Leaving death aside, many of the unpublished poems are very funny.

This collection has two things going for it ....Larkin's poems and Burnett's commentary and notes . Coupled together the result becomes a rich insightful look at the poet and his mind . This is much more than just a reprinting of poems as most collections tend to be , instead, each poem illuminates the writer's thought process revealing a poet who cared about what he wrote . I highly recommend this collection to anyone interested in poetry and/or the process of this art . Wonderful !

The poems speak for themselves and it is good to have them all in one place. Burnett's introduction and comments are very interesting and insightful and help in reading and understanding Larkin's work. A must for lover's of his poetry.

perfect

Great book of poems and quality presentation

Glad to have all the poems in one volume.

Bought this for my partner- he loved it. Great read- arrived in perfect condition .A must for Poetry lovers.Thank you