This week, we bring to light the unlikely and quirky tale of how a poetry enthusiast from Coventry once mocked the legendary Philip Larkin in a satirical re-write of his An Arundel Tomb.
It sounds obscure perhaps, but both poems and Larkin’s concessionary reponse – all of which we reproduce in this edition – reveal the charm, accessibility and dry wit of the 20th century great who Coventry has relatively belatedly become proud of, even if that sentiment was not always reciprocated by Larkin himself.
It also illustrates why more should be done for UK City of Culture 2021 to celebrate our cultural giants, which include Victorian novelist George Eliot. We await news about her following our campaign.
