In February 2004, a minor controversy followed after Randall Stevenson, writing in The Last of England? 1960-2000 (OUP), claimed that the achievements of experimental poets, such as Andrew Crozier, Douglas Oliver and, most of all, J.H. Prynne, were of longer lasting significance than that of Philip Larkin and his contemporaries. John Carey, reviewing Stevenson's book for The Sunday Times, rejected this judgement and, in particular, the apparent preference for Prynne. During the following week, the worth of Prynne's poetry was debated both in newspapers and on radio, while his picture was secretly taken by a Times photographer.
What this unusual debate revealed was less to do with a serious engagement with …
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Citation: March-Russell, Paul. "J.H. Prynne". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 21 January 2005 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=5881, accessed 25 November 2024.]
