FAMOUS FOR THE CREATURES

First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author to James Booth, former Professor of English at the University of Hull and the biographer, editor and former colleague of Philip Larkin. Original black cloth with silver titles to the spine, in the dustwrapper illustrated by John Hamilton. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents as usual lightly toned to the margins owing to the poor quality paper stock. A few light spots to the upper edge of the page block. Complete with bright, sharp dustwrapper. Not price-clipped (£14.99 to the front flap). An attractive copy warmly inscribed from one of Philip Larkin's two biographers to the other.

Inscribed by Andrew Motion in blue ink to the title page, "To James [Booth] / love from / Andrew / 24 Jan 91". Booth has also written his name in pencil to the upper corner of the same page. Like his mentor, friend and fellow poet, Philip Larkin, Andrew Motion wrote two novels early on in his career, and though he has periodically returned to prose fiction, and to the novel, since, the later works are either historical/biographical or completions of/sequels to earlier writers' works. 'Famous for the Creatures' followed Motion's first novel, 'The Pale Companion' (1989), both telling the story of Francis Mayne, following him from adolescence into maturity. Motion befriended Philip Larkin while teaching at the University of Hull between 1977-81 (Larkin was, of course, the librarian). He later became, with Anthony Thwaite and Monica Jones, one of Larkin's literary executors, and first (authorised) biographer, his warts and all portrait of the poet appearing in 1993. The recipient of this book, Professor James Booth, also taught in the English Department at Hull, and published his own substantial biography of Larkin (Bloomsbury, 2014), hailed by many as a more rounded, subtle account of the life and works. He has also edited volumes of Larkin's unpublished fiction and the poet's letters to his parents (both issued by Faber and Faber).