Philip Larkin books in order
English writer, jazz critic and librarian
- Lived
- 1922–1985
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 14
Philip Larkin published 3 novels, 3 non-fiction books and 8 poetry collections, beginning with The North Ship (1945). The best-known is A Girl in Winter (1956).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Philip Larkin
Start here
A Girl in Winter
Philip Larkin's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
A Girl in Winter (1956)
Jill (1975)
Selected Letters of Philip Larkin, 1940–1985 (Jan 1992)
Non-fiction in order
All What Jazz (1970)
Jazz Writings (2005)
High Windows Philip Larkin (2007)
Poetry in order
The North Ship (1945)
The Less Deceived (1955)
The Whitsun Weddings (1964)
The Oxford Book of Twentieth-century English Verse (1973)
High Windows (1974)
Required Writing (1983)
Further Requirements (2001)
Collected Poems (2003)
About Philip Larkin
Philip Arthur Larkin 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 (1947). He came to prominence in 1955 with the publication of his second collection of poems, The Less Deceived, followed by The Whitsun Weddings (1964) and High Windows (1974). He contributed to The Daily Telegraph as its jazz critic from 1961 to 1971, with his articles gathered in All What Jazz: A Record Diary 1961–71 (1985), and edited The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse (1973). His many honours include the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. He was offered, but declined, the position of Poet Laureate in 1984, following the death of Sir John Betjeman.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Philip Larkin FAQ
- How many books has Philip Larkin written?
- Philip Larkin published 3 novels, 3 non-fiction books and 8 poetry collections that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Philip Larkin's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Girl in Winter.
- What is Philip Larkin's last book?
- Jill (1975).
- What is Philip Larkin's most famous book?
- A Girl in Winter (1956) is Philip Larkin's most widely read book.
Authors like Philip Larkin
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.