Writer Ann Thwaite has a long involvement with the society and with Philip Larkin himself. Ann married Anthony Thwaite when they were both young Oxford graduates. Anthony Thwaite brought Larkin’s poems to the BCC and many publications in his work as an editor. Anthony was Larkin’s executor alongside Andrew Motion, and went on to edit Larkin’s letters and poems. Anthony was the founding President of the Philip Larkin Society until he passed away in 2021 at the age of 90. Ann continues to be an active supporter of the society as one of our honorary vice presidents.

A new collection of Anthony’s poems is shortly to be published by Baylor University Press entitled At The Garden’s Dark Edge.

Kevin Gardner https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/12-april/features/interviews/interview-kevin-gardner-lecturer-anthologist

https://academic.oup.com/litthe/article-abstract/23/1/51/938106

Brotherton Library, University of Leeds

https://leedsunilibrary.wordpress.com/2021/04/28/anthony-thwaite-1932-2021/

Ann reads poems by Anthony Thwaite:

Sigma, Silence, Philip Larkin in New Orleans

Philip Larkin poem read by Ann:

The View- ‘Larkin sent the poem with a letter to Ann Thwaite dated 9 Feb 1980. The birthday was on 23 June 1980.’ (Burnett, p. 660)

Six Centuries of Verse written by Anthony Thwaite http://bufvc.ac.uk/shakespeare/index.php/title/19671

Broadcast on ITV in 1984 and compiled by writer and poet Anthony Thwaite, Six Centuries of Verse was the first television series to provide a systematic and chronological overview of the art.

The Japan Foundation https://www.jpf.org.uk/

The New Statesman https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/books/larkin-at-100/2022/07/ann-thwaite-philip-larkin-centenary

British Library audio archives https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13531725

Enitharmon Books (Anthony’s UK publishers) https://www.enitharmon.co.uk/product/a-move-in-the-weather-anthony-thwaite/

Philip Larkin: Life, Art and Love by James Booth  (Bloomsbury, 2015)

Philip Larkin: A Writer’s Life by Andrew Motion (Faber, 1994)

The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse ed. Philip Larkin (Oxford University Press, 1973)

Philip Larkin Collected Poems ed. Anthony Thwaite (Faber, 1988)

Philip Larkin Selected Letters ed. Anthony Thwaite (Faber and Faber, 1993)

Philip Larkin: Letters to Monica ed. Anthony Thwaite (Faber and Faber, 2011)

Colin Dextor’s references to Larkin in Inspector Morse https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/jan/26/severed-limbs-intertextuality-guide-endeavour-hidden-secrets

Grayson Perry in Hull (2017) https://philiplarkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/About-Larkin-44.pdf

Unveiling the Plaque at Kings Cross (2014)

https://philiplarkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/About-Larkin-38.pdf

Elizabeth Jennings https://www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/collected-poems-elizabeth-jennings-elizabeth-jennings

Larkin at Sixty ed. Anthony Thwaite (Faber, 1982)

Larkin at Sixty (review) https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v04/n20/barbara-everett/larkin-and-us

Poems for Anthony Thwaite, a manuscript volume of signed holograph poems collected from notable poets https://archives.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/repositories/2/resources/12550

A A Milne: His Life by Ann Thwaite (Faber, 1991)

Please see the PLS X account @PLSoc for pictures of the interview with Ann Thwaite

Music clips:

Spain by Bob Crosby and the Bob Cats

The Blues Jumped a Rabbit by Jimmy Noone

Reckless Blues by Bessie Smith

Petit Fleur by Sidney Bechet, played Monty Sunshine

Produced by Lyn Lockwood and Gavin Hogg

Please email Lyn at ⁠[email protected]⁠ with any questions or comments

PLS Membership and information: philiplarkin.com 

Emily Tennyson: The Poet's Wife by Ann Thwaite (Faber, 1997)Theme music: 'The Horns Of The Morning' by The Mechanicals Band. Buy 'The Righteous Jazz' at their Bandcamp page:⁠https://themechanicalsband.bandcamp.com/album/the-righteous-jazz