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)
1111. Dec 30 Thursday
- Title:
- Dec 30 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:
- 1937-12-30
- 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-1-1047
- 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_1937-12-30.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Dec 30 Thursday Chapter XVIII XIX & most of XX Great interruptions. A solicitor (Hilbery & Son , 4 South Square, West Camden1) about the John Lucy matter – he has written a letter to NN which we intercepted. Also advice from P.P.G. Then Wilfred came in the late evening, joking & helpful. A Jesuit priest J. Flynn of the S.J., 114 Mount St. Westminster1 approached. No work done by Laura. (Also Joyce Reeves came) Alan did finished my geography lists. Cold better. Jenny ill with gastric flu. Insurgent counter-attack at Teruel.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1112. Dec 31 Friday.
- Title:
- Dec 31 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1937-12-31
- 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-1-1048
- 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_1937-12-31.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Dec 31 Friday. Preparing all day for New Year's Eve party. Georgian corkscrew from Karl & Marie. Did Chapter XXI & XXII Belisarius . Visited Jenny who has flu. Len & Jane to supper: Len arguing with Laura (about his general views on visual truth) and speaking of John as a traditionalist in rather a derogatory way. Afterwards Gordon Honor & Gordon – who have had their car stolen – Montague & Dorothy Simmonds, Alan & Beryl, Maisie, Sally & Richard, (Len & Jane still) James & Mary, Wilfred Roberts & one Jane Rendall (uninvited). Gramophone music, talk, champagne at midnight. A whole bottle of Domecq brandy drunk, not much else. Sandwiches of ham & pimiento & cream cheese with fig. Then clearing away mess. Schwarz sent me a gold coin of Justinian.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1113. Log Entries of Letters for December, 1937 Dec 1 Letters
- Title:
- Log Entries of Letters for December, 1937 Dec 1 Letters
- 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:
- 1937-12-31
- 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-1-1048
- 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_1937-12-31_log.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Log Entries of Letters for December, 1937 Dec 1 Letters December 1 G. Murphy: Jenny: Catherine: David: poem manuscript to Watt. 2. Philip 6 Margaret Russell, 7 Lucie with gauds, Mills with cheque. 10 Noel Coward, about Jenny. 12. Drucker (in Latin) Sam: Margaret: Catherine: Kitty: Ward Cready: International Who's Who . Westbank . Leonard Morgan. 13. A.G.; Tweedsmuir, Jenny £6 Nancy. 14. A.G., Jenny. 15. Catherine, Sam, Cribb about map, Lucie, Marjorie Turner. 18. Catherine, parcel. Lucie, parcel. 19 Jenny cheque: Serg. Price: Barker, Faber (orders). Sir Kingsley Wood. Income tax. 20 Nancy about Jenny. 27. O.K. Eddie Marsh. 28. Watt. Haas. John Ald. 29 Paula Chapin; Kander; children; Dorothy & Ward; Dr. Patte 30 Father Flynn; John Aldridge.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1114. Enclosure – Poem to RG from Jenny Nicholson: “Bills”
- Title:
- Enclosure – Poem to RG from Jenny Nicholson: “Bills”
- 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:
- 1938-01-01
- 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-1-1049
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-01-01_01_enc.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Enclosure – Poem to RG from Jenny Nicholson: “Bills” Bills (to Robert who paid them). To hystericaly hysterically shriek “Bill” Nearly always will Bring thousands of men from the streets. But you might have meant Bills That advertise Pills And spots and Potted Meats For unnesessary necessary boasting Has kept one sort of Bill posting The other-sort-of-bill that shows through when its it's wet Perhaps on Somewhere like Portland Bill Where Bill meets Till But it wasn't that sort of Bill that I meant or met. Its those Bills that so often keep spendthrifts awake And make cigar-sucking buisiness business men quake And give one's hands that inebriates shake The cause of the Pauper found dead in a lake Oh those Bills Bills that even bowled out Francis Drake, That make Washington lie, and quite by mistake His stipend inadequate madethe Vicar turned Rake Damn Bills! – From a doctor – one bill For curing a chill And a bill from a doctor who failed A bill to Lafrass – for tickets to Paris: I would it had never been mailed. The third 'please-pay' request From the bloke who dressed My Scapparilli-dream of a figure And now lets let's face – this bill for a case And for photograpes two – tell me, could they be bigger? – Dozens and dozens of them Every day So many bits of paper I must pay. That I should have so many Is quite crazy The hard fact is that I am of course Obviously That I am – lazy. Too lazy at 23 past three To rush to the bank So unable to pay cash I've myself to thank Much to too lazy to pull my socks up And earn dough So lazy that I look at Bills And just – owe. And Ronuk-mannered salesman Nothing loth Sends me this neat epitome Of sloth. – Jenny .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1115. Enclosure – Poem to RG from Jenny Nicholson: “Bills”
- Title:
- Enclosure – Poem to RG from Jenny Nicholson: “Bills”
- 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:
- 1938-01-01
- 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-1-1049
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-01-01_01_enc.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Enclosure – Poem to RG from Jenny Nicholson: “Bills” Bills (to Robert who paid them). To hystericaly hysterically shriek “Bill” Nearly always will Bring thousands of men from the streets. But you might have meant Bills That advertise Pills And spots and Potted Meats For unnesessary necessary boasting Has kept one sort of Bill posting The other-sort-of-bill that shows through when its it's wet Perhaps on Somewhere like Portland Bill Where Bill meets Till But it wasn't that sort of Bill that I meant or met. Its those Bills that so often keep spendthrifts awake And make cigar-sucking buisiness business men quake And give one's hands that inebriates shake The cause of the Pauper found dead in a lake Oh those Bills Bills that even bowled out Francis Drake, That make Washington lie, and quite by mistake His stipend inadequate madethe Vicar turned Rake Damn Bills! – From a doctor – one bill For curing a chill And a bill from a doctor who failed A bill to Lafrass – for tickets to Paris: I would it had never been mailed. The third 'please-pay' request From the bloke who dressed My Scapparilli-dream of a figure And now lets let's face – this bill for a case And for photograpes two – tell me, could they be bigger? – Dozens and dozens of them Every day So many bits of paper I must pay. That I should have so many Is quite crazy The hard fact is that I am of course Obviously That I am – lazy. Too lazy at 23 past three To rush to the bank So unable to pay cash I've myself to thank Much to too lazy to pull my socks up And earn dough So lazy that I look at Bills And just – owe. And Ronuk-mannered salesman Nothing loth Sends me this neat epitome Of sloth. – Jenny .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1116. Jan 1st Sat.
- Title:
- Jan 1st Sat.
- 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:
- 1938-01-01
- 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-1-1049
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-01-01.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Jan 1st Sat. Sam has recovered his bicycle & Honor & Gordon their car, (without Honor's suitcase however). Laura in bed all morning, cold & tiredness; and all day. * Finished going over Belisarius , second time. Did not go out, except to post a letter. Christmas angel from Harry & Alix in Germany.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1117. Jan 2 Sunday.
- Title:
- Jan 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1938-01-02
- 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-1-1050
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-01-02.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Jan 2 Sunday. Inserting small passages into Belisarius from notes. Visited Jenny, who is pretty bad. Laura got up late, did some work on Letter Book . Very tired myself, & hoarse. Mary Lucy writes through Alan. John wants no more to do with her.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1118. Jan 3 Monday.
- Title:
- Jan 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1938-01-03
- 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-1-1051
- 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_1938-01-03.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Jan 3 Monday. Filling in inserts: preparing map material: going over for last time before L's reading. Allott threatens to do a Troilus & Cressida play; I had already decided to do a dramatization of Trojan Ending for Laura. A walk to Lord's cricket ground. Jenny, better; on the phone. John sent a letter asking for forgiveness between threats. Honor to supper & stayed the night. 4 Chapter s. Belisarius ; last time over. 'Rebels checked at Teruel'
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1119. Jan 4 Tuesday.
- Title:
- Jan 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1938-01-04
- 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-1-1052
- 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_1938-01-04.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Jan 4 Tuesday. Richard Cribb came: & I gave him particulars of 5 maps to be made, and gave him sketches. Saw Jenny in afternoon: she has 'catarrhal jaundice' Also Watt: Cassell's apparently are doing both of our Collected Poems . Solace has been greatly troubled with sex these last days. Laura has a bad cold; finishing World & Ourselves still. 6 Chapters Belisarius gone over.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1120. Jan 5 Wednesday.
- Title:
- Jan 5 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1938-01-05
- 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-1-1053
- 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_1938-01-05.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Jan 5 Wednesday. 5 Chapters Belisarius gone over (all day). Two pages of an article about my Harlech cottage, which must finally be demolished. Reading Letters of John Constable . The Mallorquin woman back from frame-maker. Jenny better on phone. Nancy now proposes to settle at, or near, Oxford. Ethel Herdman in the evening. Allott gives up his Troilus & Cressida scheme.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.