{"product_id":"required-writing-philip-larkin-9780472085842","title":"Required Writing: Miscellaneous Pieces 1955-1982","description":"The reappearance of Philip Larkin's \u003ci\u003eRequired Writing\u003c\/i\u003e will be welcomed by the late poet's many readers and admirers. The book's first two parts, \"Recollections\" and \"Interviews,\" provide autobiographical glimpses of the very private Larkin's childhood, his youth at Oxford, the genesis of his forty-year career as a librarian, and the influences that initially steered his poetry. \u003cbr\u003eThe second half of the book reflects Larkin's literary standards and opinions in often witty and surprising, always beautifully wrought, essays and reviews. His subjects range from Emily Dickinson (were her first lines her best?) to the contemporary mystery novel. \u003ci\u003eRequired Writing\u003c\/i\u003e concludes with a selection of pieces on jazz music.\u003cbr\u003e\"Larkin is a punctilious, honest critic. He prefers good clear writing to pretentious eyewash; he prefers tunes to discordant wailing; and he prefers home to abroad. Unlike the majority of critics, he is clear-sighted enough to say so.\" --A. N. Wilson, \u003ci\u003eSunday Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"I read the collection with growing excitement, agreement and admiration. It is the best contemporary account of the writer's true aims I have encountered.\" --John Mortimer, \u003ci\u003eSunday Times\u003c\/i\u003e (London)\u003cbr\u003e\"Subtle, supple, craftily at ease, Required Writing is on a par with Larkin's poetry--which is just about as high as praise can go.\" --Clive James, \u003ci\u003eObserver \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePhilip Larkin was the author of poetry collections, including \u003ci\u003eHigh Windows\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Whitsun Weddings\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eThe Less Deceived\u003c\/i\u003e; a book of essays entitled \u003ci\u003eAll What Jazz: A Record Diary\u003c\/i\u003e; and two novels, \u003ci\u003eJill\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eA Girl in Winter\u003c\/i\u003e, published early in his career. \u003ci\u003eRequired Reading\u003c\/i\u003e was originally published by Farrar, Straus \u0026amp; Giroux.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Philip Larkin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0472085840\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780472085842\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e University of Michigan Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/02\/1999\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 328\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.80lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.01h x 5.38w x 0.85d","brand":"Philip Larkin","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":43980971540735,"sku":"9780472085842","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_ba1ea0ae-ea68-4093-8af1-eb4f1fb8b5b4.jpg?v=1683252958","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/required-writing-philip-larkin-9780472085842","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}