''The Whitsun Weddings'' is a collection of 32

poem Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

s by

Philip Larkin Philip Arthur Larkin (9 August 1922 – 2 December 1985) was an English poet, novelist, and librarian. His first book of poetry, '' The North Ship'', was published in 1945, followed by two novels, '' Jill'' (1946) and '' A Girl in Winter'' (194 ...

. It was first published by

Faber Faber may refer to: People * Faber (surname) Companies * Faber & Faber, publishing house in the United Kingdom * Faber-Castell, German manufacturer of writing instruments * Faber Music, British sheet music publisher * Eberhard Faber, German ...

in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

on 28 February 1964. It was a commercial success, by the standards of poetry publication, with the first 4,000 copies being sold within two months. A

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

edition appeared some seven months later. It contains many of Larkin's best known poems, such as " The Whitsun Weddings", "

Days A day is the time period of a full rotation of the Earth with respect to the Sun. On average, this is 24 hours (86,400 seconds). As a day passes at a given location it experiences morning, afternoon, evening, and night. This daily cyc ...

", "

Mr Bleaney "Mr Bleaney" is a poem by British poet Philip Larkin, written in May 1955. It was first published in '' The Listener'' on 8 September 1955 and later included in Larkin's 1964 anthology '' The Whitsun Weddings''. The speaker in the poem is rentin ...

", " MCMXIV", and " An Arundel Tomb".

Poems

* Here *

* Nothing To Be Said * Love Songs in Age * Naturally the Foundation will Bear Your Expenses * Broadcast * Faith Healing * For

Sidney Bechet Sidney Joseph Bechet ( ; May 14, 1897 – May 14, 1959) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer. He was one of the first important Solo (music), soloists in jazz, and first recorded several months before trumpeter Louis Ar ...

* Home is so Sad * Toads Revisited * Water * The Whitsun Weddings * Self's the Man * Take One Home for the Kiddies *

* MCMXIV * Talking in Bed * The Large Cool Store * A Study of Reading Habits * As Bad as a Mile * Ambulances * The Importance of Elsewhere * Sunny Prestatyn * First Sight * Dockery and Son * Ignorance * Reference Back * Wild Oats * Essential Beauty * Send No Money * Afternoons * An Arundel Tomb

Poems

See also