LARKIN AT SIXTY: FIRST EDITION INCLUDING SIGNED LETTER FROM GEORGE HARTLEY, CO- FOUNDER OF THE MARVELL PRESS AND THE QUARTERLY POETRY MAGAZINE LISTEN

‘Larkin at Sixty’ was published as a tribute to the poet Philip Larkin on his sixtieth birthday. Laid into this first edition is a typed letter dated 1987 on The Marvell Press headed paper advising its recipient, a Mr John Constable of Addingham, W. Yorks that a revival of LISTEN magazine for a Phillip Larkin memorial issue is planned. The letter requests that Mr Constable contributes a written lecture on Larkin as read and recommended by Jenny Joseph. Letter is hand signed George Hartley in black ink. LISTEN magazine had been published quarterly from 1954–1962 and had featured contributions from The Movement poets, including Philip Larkin. Larkin was invited to be the first author for The Marvell Press.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Original dust jacket backed in clear adhesive covering, an earlier clean tear measuring c.2 cm to top left of front has been repaired underneath using clear tape now yellowed. Grey cloth boards and spine lettered in red gilt in very good condition. End papers front and rear unmarked, text clean and crisp throughout. 13 pp. of b/w photographs. 148 pp. collated and complete. Contributions from Kingsley Amis, Alan Bennett, Clive James, Seamus Heaney, John Betjeman and more. Laid in is A4 letter from The Marvell Press in very good condition folded into three.