Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
User Collection Public
The collection consists of a complete autograph diary detailing four years in the lives of Robert Graves and Laura Riding. The period covered is from 22nd February 1935 to 6th May 1939, during which time Graves and Riding lived in Mallorca, Lugano, England, Brittany and Pennsylvania. The 1,546 page diary also contains 117 enclosures of letters from Graves' children, photographs, and press cuttings, as well as 99 other miscellaneous items such as typescripts of poems, articles and letters.
This important diary represents a highly detailed record of four years in the lives of both Robert Graves and Laura Riding, from whom he was seldom separated for more than a few hours throughout the period that it covers. As well as giving full accounts of domestic events - building projects, gardening, jam-making, shopping expeditions, visits from friends and the like - Graves notes precisely the work that he and Laura Riding have accomplished each day, both separately and in collaboration. All their working projects are minutely documented.
Please also see the Robert Graves Diary project website.
Image: Accession Number: 2002-030, Box 5, Folder 6, Lot Gr-24, Item: Gr-77
Permalink: http://vault.library.uvic.ca/collections/cd1721f5-933f-421f-866f-317957fef51d
Collection Details
- Items 1731
- Last Updated 2025-02-21
Parent Collections (1)
Works (1731)
101. June 2 Sunday
- Title:
- June 2 Sunday
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-02
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-101
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-02.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- June 2 Sunday Claudius Film Version all morning. Afternoon: bullfight. Lalanda, Barrera, Ortega: all at their best. Each corto rabo y orejas in at least one bull. Only mar: a puntillero who couldn't finish off a horse trying several times & distracting attention. Ortega, whistled at for the dullness of his performance with the first bull , a difficult one, did some particular stunts in the second - turning the bull in a semicircle (kneeling) with a hand on its horns ending up with his back to the bull 2 yards away. Remarkable pic-ing by Ortega's picador. Letter from an Express man, whom I put off, from John Graves, Ros, Amy Graves and Eliot, saying he had forwarded my letter to Arnie L.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
102. June 3 Monday
- Title:
- June 3 Monday
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-03
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-102
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-03.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- June 3 Monday Baker baked brown bread for us. Claudius Film Version Letters to John G.; Korda asking him for information. To village with Salamo: work begun today on Posada roof. Gelat feeling happier after getting lawyers' advice all round. To sea, bathed: Karl, Mary, Gordon (Honor had pains). Swam round to other bay. Collected stones: for the Posada this time ( Schwarz later). Then to Posada with Laura Honor Gordon Mary Karl - and Pepe to whom we gave orders for repairs and rebuilding. Letter from Harrison Smith saying that Claudius Film Version advance has been sent, from Pinker with news of Arnie Lawrence getting nasty about copyright infringement: but threat came through Field Roscoe, not Eliot. So wrote to Eliot explaining & asking him to act for me to restore dignity to situation. And to Pinker. And to solicitors of Evening Standard . Went through Laura 's Focus & mine to make them tally. Bed at 2.30.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
103. June 4 Tuesday.
- Title:
- June 4 Tuesday.
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-04
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-103
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-04.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- June 4 Tuesday. Cabled to Eliot, Pinker; Korda who last night cabled suggesting sending his brother here for a fortnight to work on Lawrence film-script. I said 'all right'. Wrote a long letter explaining the Arnie trouble, explaining copyright position with Eliot, suggesting Soller as a spot for the brother, mentioning Mary P. as typist etc, agreed to any reasonable terms, asking about Claudius schedule, mentioning Laura's impatience for an answer. To sea: stones. To village: Laura's Julie dress at Margarita. Letter from Harrison Smith about serialization. Oleander blossoming. One pear on pear tree: the first. Gelat business not yet settled. At sea today helped Sebastian & maestro's son bring up stones to Posada - donkey & sacks. Photographer took three photos for me - sea; Sebastian Salamo & Paloni and me: same without me. In evening café group also taken, with Gelat & Castor as well as all of us.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
104. June 5th Wednesday.
- Title:
- June 5th Wednesday.
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-05
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-104
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-05.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- June 5th Wednesday. Got up at 6.30: posted Korda letter. Juan & electricista mended Mesquida light. Wrote to Ros, Mother, Gamage about Rora Dinghy for Sam from Laura; dictated three letters to Mary P. - Gamage about overcharge, H.S. about Claudius Film Version serialization, title, stills; Dulan ordering Andersens Walpole, Gaskell. To Posada with young Miguel - gave him orders for three windows and their shutters, & Antonio Cas Pintada Antonio de Ca's Pintat , orders for two doors. Five men working there. Everyone typing Focus -stuff: my job, dictating illegible hands. In evening went to conjuring show in old Café: cigarette swallowing, card tricks, auction of raffle tickets for a bottle of estomocal - Honor won. Gelat told us the story of how the Médico & Juan were intending to claim by right of “ retracto ” the Can Medo Can Madó land and fountain. He can get out of this by a trick. And he can turn the tables by claiming to buy Molí at the price paid - put as 25,000, really 75,000... - as the previous renter of the property: a new law. And will do so to pay for his 'dolores de cabeza' .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
105. June 6th Thursday
- Title:
- June 6th Thursday
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-06
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-105
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-06.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- June 6th Thursday Up late, after a most long realistic dream about going back to school, & a headache. Worked all day, checking Focus contributions, except for visit to Posada where gave instructions about window sills, stones in living room, cupboard in kitchen, removal of tiles a painted tile from where it didn't show for interior decoration. This morning Sebastian brought up the remainder of the stones and also the log for Can Torrent. Letter from Neville Barbour promising Semitic assistance, from Constable saying that Arnie Lawrence was editing the letters himself for another firm, from Liddell Hart. Wrote to Liddell Hart telling him whose name, but asking whether mine had been in similar place: to Michael Roberts with list of poems for anthology & two more if he wanted, unpublished. To bed at 2 after posting letters.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
106. June 7th Friday
- Title:
- June 7th Friday
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-07
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-106
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-07.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- June 7th Friday Gordon's birthday. Five tier cake from local bakery. To village to find cigarette[-making]-machine, mislaid. Couldn't. Finally Laura asked Solomon: it was in his kennel. Posada; six men at work. Three new window frames now in, and mina dug. Flowers for fiesta (carnations at their best; love in the mist going over) Some pages of Claudius Film Version To Ca'n Juni: will be a good many plums & apples, and a great many oranges. Gelat's news better. He has avoided danger of having Ca'n Medo Ca'n Madó sequestrated. Two lawyers came & said that Doctor's party has no case, & that water cannot be shut by judicial order until the case is lost, and appeal lost etc. Lawyers will see that Dr's party loses a fortune in prosecution costs. Gelat's costs will be paid by not having to run motor. (But nine days late for his plan of sequestrating Molí.) Gordon's party: white table cloth, red runner, cake, candles, pineapple ice from hotel, champagne. Desert island treatment. Gordon rhyme, Mary song, Carl essay, Honor drawing - me, dance in patio with Laura as orchestra. Then to Can Torrent. Beer, buffet. Gordon had to guess his presents by licking, feeling with feet & other tactile impressions. Letter-writing between us, Gordon's case subject of much correspondence between Laura & Honor, & Honor & me. Laura wore her 1860s dress.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
107. Saturday June 8th
- Title:
- Saturday June 8th
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-08
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-107
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-08.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Saturday June 8th Focus to printers. Palma in new car: dentist, 15 pesetas, porcelain filling, no pain. Bank: drew out 500 pesetas. At Pomars bought Mary a pearl & garnet ring , 20 p. At Casas, for Posada, two old blue-glass bottles 5 p[ts], an old carved box for Posada 5[pts]., blue plate 8[pts]. For Honor a jewel-box, for me a jewel box. 2 pes., & two old Mallorquin 1 lb weights as paper weights. At Costa green & blue plate 10 pes. At shop next to Pomas, rose topaz earrings for Laura, 50 pes. Lunch at Parisien. “ Tengo un gato, un perro, un canario, a casa ” , for left over food. 40 Lucky Strikes at 1.50 a packet via Pomar's. A hat for me - Mallorquin superior straw. Chose tiles for Posada and also for Gelats Fábrica dance-hall. Chicken livers for Honor & Gordon. On return found Miguel had fixed the netting for the house windows in my workroom. Letter from Routledge about Lars Porsena .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
108. Sunday June 9th
- Title:
- Sunday June 9th
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-09
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-108
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-09.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday June 9th To Posada, collected the tile. Claudius Film Version To Posada with Laura Carl & Miguel the carpenter: gave him order for glass door & sitting room window & repair of main door. Decided on new window in entrada, ventilation in tiny room, new stone benches etc. there. Schwarz to tea at Can Torrent. The Viñas went to the Foradada. Letter from Eliot giving Arnie Lawrence 's terms – fee of Evening Standard , surrender of letter, undertaking not to print; replied had always offered to pay fee, would not print this or other letter without permission or with; would not surrender letter because it was private. Very hot weather indeed. Reading Apuleius's “Discourse on Magic” [:] “I have now stated why, in my opinion, there is nothing in common between magicians & fishes.”
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
109. Monday June 10th
- Title:
- Monday June 10th
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-10
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-109
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-10.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday June 10th Fiesta (Ascension) Claudius Film Version finished Chapter about Claudius's Second Marriage. Looking for kittens: the wild delphiniums in full flower by the cuevas . Last strawberries. Sirocco starting up. Honor to supper. Letter to Pinker about what to tell Eliot he will pay Arnie Lawrence
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
110. Tuesday May 10 June 11
- Title:
- Tuesday May 10 June 11
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-06-11
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-110
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-06-11.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday May 10 June 11 Sent Korda cable “If Arnie objects my writing scenario prefer withdraw”: to Posada, gave instructions for corner window, ventilation shaft for Mary's room. Sea: where got a few final stones for Posada floor. Honor told me everything settled happily between her & Gordon. Sea seemed very cold. Bill of Lading for my papers from bank. Letter from Jonathan: mentioning “dictation”: answered at length. Claudius Film Version very slow somehow. Met Señor of Son Bujosa who says we can proceed with boat house. Médico, in interview with Juan, demanded 115 hours of water for his pals and payment for water. He can now go to law if he cares. Gelat will get him out of village, one way or another.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.