'Sydney shaped Larkin's taste skilfully, leading him away from J.C. Powys and towards Llewelyn and T.F., towards James Joyce with no expectation that he would enjoy him, and towards poets who would remain favourites all his life: Hardy, Christina Rossetti and A.E. Housman. In late 1939, when Larkin discovered T.S. Eliot, W.H. Auden, Edward Upward and Christopher Isherwood, Sydney also encouraged him - continuing, as he had always done, to make reading seem an independent activity, only tenuously linked to schoolwork.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Philip Larkin Print: Book
'The Secretary reported that he had found "Ebony & Ivory" to be an unsuitable book to go round the club & had procured The Incredible Journey (the book to secure next higherst votes) in its place.'
Century: 1900-1945 Reader/Listener/Group: Howard R. Smith Print: Book