26 January 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
A quiet journey – though very quick – Walter set me down at the clock tower at 8.30 a.m. precisely. Things busy here. I hope you are managing better now the heavier & more useless creatures have departed. Poor pussy, I wish I cd stay & cheer you, but I don’t suppose I cd cheer you if I did stay & I certainly shd make work. But receive my best love and closest thoughts.
P
1 Addressed to Mrs Sydney Larkin, 73 Coten End, Warwick.
26 January 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
Had a swift ride here in the shooting brake – Coventry very busy at 8.0 in the morning, but after steering Walter through it I fell asleep. I do hope your improvement is holding ground and advancing. I find I have an extra pencil in my pocket & am conscience stricken lest I have taken yours by mistake. Do forgive me if I have.
All greetings & love,
Philip
1 Addressed to Sydney Larkin Esq., Ward 2, Warwick Hospital.
4 February 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
Wednesday
It has gone much colder here: I hope you are not feeling the draught through your windows. This afternoon I encountered a garrulous & learned schoolmaster who said he was a brother of Gillie Potter: this chap was comical enough.2 There is little news here: I go out to Leon’s tonight, Leon of Plato, for “intellectual enjoyment”, as Cobbett calls it. Precious little, I’ll bet. Faber’s have turned down my poems, as I thought they would. Hope you are enjoying your eggs.
All love,
Philip
1 Addressed to Sydney Larkin Esq., Ward 2, Warwick Hospital.
2 ‘Gillie Potter’ (Hugh Peel) (1887–1975): comedian and broadcaster.
12 February 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
Thursday
A quite unremarkable day: a letter from Kingsley bitterly complaining about the amount of married life spent with either his wife’s parents or his own! I sympathise with the poor chap. I wonder if you have started on Penguin island yet. I hope you are well & ‘finding your feet’, as the saying goes.
With all best love,
Philip
1 Addressed to Sydney Larkin Esq., Ward 1, Warwick Hospital.
24 February 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
Warmer weather here is melting the snow, so I hope Mop has been able to pay you a visit. I hope also you are not feeling lonely in your new room – did you have to leave Esquire behind you? I think a lot about you & hope you are feeling better. There is not much news here: Nottingham have taken up my references, I hear from Buttrey.2 They seem to want a shopwalker – someone to ‘please all people with whom he comes in contact’, or something like that.
All love,
Philip
1 Addressed to Sydney Larkin Esq., Ward 1, Warwick Hospital.
2 Chairman of the Library Committee at Wellington.
1 March 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
Have been hoping all day that you are more comfortable than on Sunday. I think it is cooler out, and I hope you feel the benefit of it. I had an uneventful journey back here, dozing much of the time, thinking about you & hoping you are recovering equilibrium. Not much to be seen in Coventry except the usual pinchbeck shops & the sour cathedral.2 I wrote to Auntie Nelly saying you appreciated her card.
With all love & good wishes,
Philip
1 Addressed to Sydney Larkin Esq., Ward 1, Warwick Hospital.
2 Coventry’s medieval cathedral had been reduced to a shell by the German bombing of 1940.
11 March 1948
Postcard1
Leicester
Today I tried to photograph the cat I told you of yesterday: I lay down to get a portrait & it promptly walked over me. So I passed the camera to an onlooker & asked them to take the cat, washing itself, on me. Whether it will come out I don’t know. I hope you are feeling well today. Nothing of note has happened – I have booked a seat to watch the Australians (“What Australians?”)2 A chap came for interview today I used to see about Oxford in 1940. This weekend, warn Mop, I shall be obliged to return on Sunday evening, for work on Monday.
My very best wishes to you & all love,
Philip
1 Addressed to Sydney Larkin Esq., Ward 1, Warwick Hospital.
2 The Australian cricket team which visited England in 1948 was captained by Don Bradman, who was making his fourth and final tour of England.
18 March 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
Chilly & sunny here – have taken a photograph or two. Hope you are getting on satisfactorily, and think of you hourly. Tonight I am dining out with Leon, the Christian philosopher: I hope he won’t trumpet his tenets too loudly through the room, but he is a very clever man.
Much love to you,
Philip
1 Addressed to Sydney Larkin Esq., Ward 1, Warwick Hospital. Sydney Larkin died of cancer of the liver on Good Friday, 26 March 1948.
11 April 19481
6 College St., Leicester
My dear Mop,
I wonder if you will be expecting a letter on Monday as usual! Although there is nothing to say, I can send you my good wishes on this bright Sunday morning. I have just written to Poynton to thank him for his letter: then I really have no other letters to engage me, and I may go out into the country for a while on my bike.
The journey home last night was quite uneventful, except for a girl in the seat next to me who would read my book, and by mischance it seemed to bristle with love affairs & marriage problems with every page I turned. Therefore in desperation I let it lie open on my knee and stared out into the gathering darkness, as if such stuff could not even hold my attention. She read & reread the two exposed pages.2
I have just wrapped up 4 prs. winter wools & stowed them in 4 inches of dust on the top of my compactum, or cupboard (brown gents’).
Love to you, to K & W & to baybay.
Philip
1 Addressed to Mrs Sydney Larkin, 53 York Road, Loughborough, Kitty’s home. Written in ballpoint.
2 Eva replied on 12 April: ‘How very nice it was of you to send me the usual “Monday” letter! […] Kitty & I had to smile over the fact that you were not able to read your book (by Sidney Campion?) on the journey back. Your bus companion would have quite a lot to tell her girl friend when she reached home. […] I took Rosemary out into the park yesterday morning. I have been busy this morning “doing” my room.’
14 April 1948
Postcard1
[6 College St, Leicester]
Many thanks for your two letters & all the enclosures. It looks as if Maton2 intends to be there, doesn’t it? Yes, book my seat to Leicester if that is all right by you. Gunner is in Rhodesia, building, as I expect you noticed.
There is not a great deal of news here – I hope at long last to get my photographs on Friday (2 of Rosemary included) & if so will bring them over on Sunday: I’ll definitely come on Sunday afternoon, if that suits you. The “whisperings” concerning the job here grow more unfavourable, I’m afraid – it’ll be settled by the end of the month.3 Still, it can’t be helped. Goodbye dear puss, & DON’T WORRY – there’s NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.
All love,
Philip
1 This and subsequent letters are addressed to Mrs E. E. Larkin or Mrs Sydney Larkin, 53 York Road, Loughborough, Kitty’s home. Eva also wrote to her son from this address.
2 Maton has not been identified.
3 It seeems that, as well as applying to Nottingham (see card of 24 February 1948), Philip had also applied for internal promotion at Leicester. See letter of 13 May 1948.
29 April 1948
6 College St., Leicester
My dear Mop,
Thank you for your two letters – I am returning the circular to Warwick, though I don’t think it really merited so much trouble.
The 15/- is 10/7d + 4/6d = 15/1d – fare to Lichfield, you see, puss.
Regarding the rent of Penvorn, I am as much in the dark as you about it. £20 a qr. sounds logical: if it came on Oct 1st it should also come on Jan 1st & April 1st & July 1st. I don’t remember any such money coming in and I imagine that the Manager of the bank would be the only person who wd know, as I don’t think it comes through Odell’s,1 does it? If they are paid into Lloyds at W., I should have thought Blenkinsop could have found out by ringing the manager up. Anyway, I should reply by saying that the last entry you can discover was £20 for Oct. 1st, and that you don’t know that any other sum was received. Suggest that he checks it if he is dubious. Odell’s are the auctioneers, and they are at present supposed to be enquiring whether the rent can be increased. That wdn’t affect the payment, though. (The “paying in book” might be called a deposit book.)
Yes, include Lees’ bill.
← Who is this?2
I still don’t know if my friends are coming or not: will send you a postcard. Had a letter from poor Doctor Goetz, wondering what has happened, also one from Alf,3 sounding inarticulate but friendly.
My best love to you: be a restful puss: lie in the window in the sun.
Philip
1 Solicitor.
2 Eva had injured her wrist. On 27 April she wrote: ‘The hospital are giving me treatment twice a week for my wrist. This morning I had it immersed for ½ hour in a hot wax bath and at the end of that time it came out looking as if it had a wax glove on it. This I had to peel off and then do certain exercises.’
3 Alfred Larkin: Sydney Larkin’s brother in Lichfield, with whom the family had stayed during the blitz in 1940.
30 April 1948
Postcard
Leicester
I have received word that Kingsley is going to pay me a visit this weekend and so I feel I shan’t be able to visit you on Sunday. I do hope you don’t mind. Write to me about anything you are uncertain of – two wooden heads are better than one. Get fat! Get fat!
All love Philip1
1 The following Thursday, 6 May 1948, Eva replied that she felt ‘very depressed and miserable – although I suppose I ought not to tell you this – but I find it impossible to keep it to myself. Is there, do you think, any hope for a broken & remorseful heart?’
13 May 1948
My dear
I expect my telegram came along at the leisurely pace this morning to tell you the sad news – I don’t think I ever had a chance, once the applicants had applied. I think it is unusual to be shortlisted but not interviewed: What Pop wd call “a rotten way of doing things”.1 A man named Barker was appointed, from Edinburgh Univ. – not Scots. He stutters. So we shall be yammering at one another like 2 curious birds in the zoo.
Dr Marshall sent me a copy of Local Govt. Finance today & a short letter.
Isn’t the weather fine today? I have done nothing at all – a plague on life at present, as for many years past &, I expect, to come.
Tomorrow to the Red Lion, Wellington, for the weekend: I wonder what you will do. Seven enormous pairs of socks smile sweetly at me as I go in my room, all together. Dear puss, I hope you lay your head on your paws and snooze long snoozes: has your cold gone? I do hope so.2 Have you introduced Rosemary to Bruin properly yet?
I am writing in the library – 8 p.m., very summery evening. We shall meet next week at Warwick, shan’t we: if you feel the urge to visit me at Leics (always welcome) my best possible day is I think Thursday – free 1–5.30 p.m.
1 It seems that Larkin had applied for an internal promotion at Leicester, and been shortlisted but not interviewed.
2 On 16 May Eva wrote: ‘I do so hate to worry you but if you could come over on Monday or Tuesday, (it would be evening)/ there is much I should like to talk to you about. I felt extremely miserable yesterday – I do hope I shall get more at peace soon – else I do not see how I can keep going.’
3 ‘Puss’ must be Eva herself.
10 June 19481
Dearest Mop,
I’m really not a great comfort in time of trouble, am I. Please do not mind my miseries. They are far of less account than yours.2
I’ll try to see another house tomorrow.
I was only 10 minutes late here – I do hope you found your ’bus safely.
All my love,
Philip
1 Addressed to Mrs E. E. Larkin, 53 York Road, Loughborough, Kitty’s home.
2 On 11 June Eva wrote: ‘Dearest Creature, […] Don’t think for one moment that I blame you for being somewhat out of humour on Thursday, I only feel too sorry that circumstances are making me one more problem for you to deal with. I wish I could manage to be on my own. I felt very, very miserable when I returned to Loughborough – but it was not your fault.’
15 June 1948
6 College St., Leicester
My dear Mop,
I sent you a telegram late this afternoon asking you to ring me up at a college no. at 7.0 tonight, but as nothing happened between 7–7.10 I expect it didn’t reach you. It was not urgent, as it turned out. Harrison’s told me when I went there about two o’clock that 35 Byway Rd (the second of the two we saw last week) was going for nearest to £3,000, without auction, and I wondered if you’d like it. But after trying to ring up Ivor & failing, and sending you a telegram, I rang Harrison’s again & found it had been sold. It wd have been a bargain, but the garden was large, wasn’t it?
Then Turnor’s1 rang up & said that Warren’s bottom price for 12, Dixon Drive was £2,950. This is not a bargaining offer, just a statement. It seems a lot to me, & the overall price will probably be £3000 (with stamp duty & paying them for the coal & what not). On the other hand it is well placed, and for that I shd be sorry to lose it.
If we bought it, do you think you would like it? If you don’t think you would, if you think you’d feel “Oh, Philip’s landed me in this horrid little hole”, then we’d better leave it. If you think you would like it, perhaps you’d ring me up.
I am very anxious not to worry you: we’ll leave it till July if you like till you get fatter. It’s a heavy job, thinking about moving.
All my love,
Philip
1 Auctioneers and estate agents, Loughborough.
21 June 1948
My dear Mop,
Well, we now have the house, the offer was duly gobbled up, and I have paid £295 to Turnor & signed a deed of some description “for and on behalf of Mrs Eva Emily Larkin”.
I noted from the deed that we have bought the gas cooker & the cooker & the curtain rails & rings (& something else, I can’t recall what, but I don’t think – oh, I remember: the garden shed) but not the electric light shades & bowls nor the shelves in the garage.
Will you write to Blenkinsop, saying you have named him as solicitor in connection with the purchase of 12 Dixon Drive?
Here’s luck to us!1
All love,
Philip
1 Eva and Philip moved together into 12 Dixon Drive on 17 August 1948.
23 September 1948
Picture postcard1
[Eynsham]
Spending a good time here, and I hope you are “putting your fur on” & trotting round the neighbourhood. Ruth has picked up an awful cold but is otherwise alright. We eat lots of apples & I’m quite well again. The cat here is lovely.
Love especially to you,
P
1 High Street, Eynsham. Addressed to Mrs E. Larkin, 53 York Road, Loughboroug
h. Eva was too anxious to spend her nights alone in 12 Dixon Drive, so when Philip was not there she moved back in with her daughter.
29 December 1948
Picture postcard1
[Dorchester]
Not a good picture of a very pretty town! We got here about 5.30 yesterday after a crowded journey, & today have seen the museum, Hardy’s birthplace, “Mellstock” churchyard & walked altogether nearly 10 miles!2 Tomorrow to Weymouth & the sea.
Love,
Philip
1 High Street, East, Dorchester. Written in ballpoint.
2 Philip was taking a winter holiday with Ruth Bowman.
1949
27 July 19491
Lupton Hotel, Churston Ferrers near Brixham, S. Devon
My dear Mop,
Yesterday I bought a little bottle of suntan oil, & of course today thick clouds obscure the sky. However, it does not look really serious, and anyway I don’t think I shall bathe today. I expect you will have received my postcard by now, though it is a mystery to me that anything or anyone ever leaves this place. You never would. From the front door to the front gate is a brisk walk of seven minutes – from our house, say, to Victoria Park gates: it is a pleasant enough stroll by day, but by night quite eerie enough to set my nerves on edge. It lies through fields & plantations of conifers, etc.
I expect you will want to know “everything” – I have a double room, furthest away from the bathroom, am kept awake by the noise of the electric plant going in a separate building all night, the meals are inadequate, & take so long to appear that they might be coming up from the lodge by hand, & the company liberally sprinkled with uninhibited children. On the credit side, the house is certainly very large – I hesitate to say very beautiful – & peace & silence can easily be obtained. (As I write the library-cum-billiard room is suddenly infested with women: still, they have gone now.)
Philip Larkin Page 23
