Larkin, Ideology and Critical Violence A Case of Wrongful Conviction [Paperback]

This volume combines a theoretical critique of the biographical method that dominates Larkin studies with a revolutionary interpretation of his works that better accounts for their profound influence upon leading Postmodernists like Ian McEwan, David Mitchell, Carol Ann Duffy, Damien Hirst - and the creators of Jerry Springer - the Opera .Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction: Radical Larkin and the Late Millennial Bowdler Larkin and Modernism: Jazz Larkin and Modernism: Poetry Larkin and Philosophy: Existentialism Larking and Philosophy: Poststructuralism Larkin and Englishness Larkin and Gender Larkin and Politics Larkin and Identity Larkin and Postmodernism Notes Bibliography Index

'...a fearless, cogent counter-attack on those sentimentalists and moral simpletons devoted to doing Larkin down for failing to live up to their high, hypo-critical, humourless standards.' -Craig Raine, New Statesman Books of the Year 2010

'Larkin, Ideology and Critical Violence is not only a major contribution to 'Larkin Studies' but should be compulsory reading for all literary students and teachers.' - The Use of English

'Larkin, Ideology and Critical Violence is... exceptional literary criticism...an ideal starting point from which to commence Larkin studies at the beginning of the new century.... If there is now... a lively resurgence of interest in Larkin... John Osborne's book will consolidate it. He is to be congratulated for it and for playing a timely Horatio's part to the wounded name of Philip Larkin.' - About Larkin

'A gifted polemicist with a profound knowledge and love of Larkin's poems, he is illuminating on Larkin in relation to modernism, jazz, philosophy, gender, politics, and 'Englishness', and his method is inspired, close reading.... Including 22 pages of stimulating footnotes, an extensive bibliography, and a thorough index, this volume stands as a major contribution to modern poetry studies and lC