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)
1251. May 2 Monday.
- Title:
- May 2 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:
- 1938-05-02
- 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-1-1170
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-02.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 2 Monday. Nancy wrote a queer letter refusing L's & my offer of a poodle. Back to formal relationship. More work on letter to S.T. All afternoon worked with Laura on the Protocol . * Laura writing a poem – one she laid down 8 months ago – for first time since then. Leonard to lunch. Decided to take Margaret with us to France.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1252. May 3 Tuesday
- Title:
- May 3 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:
- 1938-05-03
- 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-1-1171
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-03.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 3 Tuesday Smuggler Sam on way to school: brought him to lunch & saw him off at King's +. He had made a wool rug of his own design. Long talk with Mr Mills. Bought for 1/6 an agate brooch with a milky pattern: for myself. Norman to supper. Mary Lucy to say goodbye – going back to Ireland because her husband has become a good Catholic. She gave Laura a length of lace & I gave her some pink beads. She was quite good. Laura & I working on a phrase Norman questioned in protocol .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1253. May 4 Wednesday.
- Title:
- May 4 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:
- 1938-05-04
- 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-1-1172
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-04.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 4 Wednesday. Laura has not been well for 3 days. * Agreed to let Dent do dictionary . John came to lunch and stayed until 4.15, talking about literal way of painting pictures Alan there too. Then Laura to dentist, I to Mr Mills where: ivory earrings for Alix negro boys (Georgian) for Norman Russian dolls for Wanda. (£1.2/- in all) L. John & I met for coffee again in Yarners, Regent St. Then Laura & I went to Dickens & Jones where she bought a brown leather purse with a twirl on it 29/6. Laura worked on my poems , Schools , Harry's book , etc.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1254. May 5 Thursday.
- Title:
- May 5 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:
- 1938-05-05
- 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-1-1173
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-05.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 5 Thursday. Wrote a number of letters for Laura Then lunch with Jenny at Café Royal at 12 oclock David should have come but came by a later train from Oxford. Jenny overworked by rehearsals for Cochran's revue. Back to Alma Square. Len working with Laura. David & I then walked to Piccadilly via Mr Mills (five blue purple Bristol buttons 2/6) took David to Allen's for a dress suit (to be paid for by Mallik) Then back: walk across Park. Then in evening a German film about music at Dresden: monstrously physical. Then David (stopping the night) work with Laura on Protocol till 2.30
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1255. May 6 Friday.
- Title:
- May 6 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:
- 1938-05-06
- 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-1-1174
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-06.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 6 Friday. A very long letter to Tom & Julie. David muddled lunch with Jenny so stopped over until seeing having dinner with her: went back at 10 oclock. David & I went to Church St Market: I bought 4 Wedgewood Wedgwood coffee cups & saucers 1/-, 1 teapot stand Blue flowers 6d Laura to Dentist: David, Alan & I went in a taxi to Baker St & walked back together. I was pretty tired. In evening Mary & Bill Fuller: protocol talk – he slow & industrious, she quick & lazy. Mary F. was given the green & white necklace originally made for L.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1256. May 7 Saturday.
- Title:
- May 7 Saturday.
- 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:
- 1938-05-07
- 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-1-1175
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-07.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 7 Saturday. A lazy day. Did a lot of phoning: went twice to the street market and bought a large coffee pot 6d , a tea-pot stand 1d, a holly-patterned sugar bowl 1/-, a yellow & blue crochetted silk purse 6d, a Russian easter-egg 1/6d, a silver gilt brooch 6d, another cup & saucer 3d. David Reeves in afternoon. Laura & I saw him off at Marylebone Station & walked back in the bitter wind. After supper Julian Symons came to talk to Laura about an American number of his 20th Century Verse: Laura went over a poem of his with him. It was the first time he had been subjected to literal criticism of his poems & he behaved very decently.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1257. May 8 Sunday.
- Title:
- May 8 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:
- 1938-05-08
- 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-1-1176
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-08.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 8 Sunday. Wrote two very long letters for Laura to California, a long one to Eric & so on. In afternoon to Ward & Dorothy's to Wanda's birthday party (we gave her two jointed dolls) – present, Harry & Alix, Janet, Alan & Beryl – then to supper at Len & Jane's – taxi & bus Laura talked film company possibilities with Len and I had a walk with Jane. A.P.H., & Michael & Axelle Ross in the Black Lion. On return tired out by long bus journey and after a discussion with Laura about Immortality went to bed.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1258. May 9 Monday
- Title:
- May 9 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:
- 1938-05-09
- 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-1-1177
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-09.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 9 Monday Letters. In afternoon after a long Talk by Laura to Harry, at which I was present, as to about his relationship with Alix & with us, went to call on Jenny at the London clinic where she has tonsillitis. At Mr Mills' bought a walrus tusk 3/- for Dorothy Simmons to carve. The Mike & Marian Pearson to dinner & talk afterwards. Very warming. Work on protocol with Laura afterwards.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1259. May 10 Tuesday
- Title:
- May 10 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:
- 1938-05-10
- 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-1-1178
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-10.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- May 10 Tuesday 2 versions of a poem: Flat Saw Jenny again. At Mr Mills L & I bought 9 old costume books (property of Irving) for £6. and a Georgian paste brooch 4.6 4/6 Norman came; and we 3 and Alan went in N's car to give Catherine the Russian Easter egg (17th century salt glaze). On Norman's behalf, really. A nice Russian engineer, Paul 'Sheriff', there; and great fun. Norman made a squash engagement with Catherine.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1260. May 101938 Enclosure - Letter to RG from Yvonne Cloud on behalf of the Association of Writers for Intellectual Liberty
- Title:
- May 101938 Enclosure - Letter to RG from Yvonne Cloud on behalf of the Association of Writers for Intellectual Liberty
- 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:
- 1938-05-11
- 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-1-1179
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Special Collection finding aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/robert-graves-collection and Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-05-11_01_enc.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Enclosure - Letter to RG from Yvonne Cloud on behalf of the Association of Writers for Intellectual Liberty Association of Writers for Intellectual Liberty (British section of "Association Internationale des Ecrivains pour la Defense de la Culture"; Writers section of "For Intellectual Liberty.") 23 Haymarket, London, South Way1 Whitehall 224-8 May 10 1938 Dear Mr. Graves, With the spread of Fascism in Europe the lives and interests of men and women in the liberal professions are increasingly threatened. This Association of writers is inviting members of its profession to take part in a large, non-political public meeting to express their abhorrence of this systematic attack on the intelligence. So far, Sir Hugh Walpole, Mr. Desmond McCarthy, Miss Rebecca West and Miss Rose Macaulay have agreed to speak, and many other writers are willing to suport the meeting either by their presence on the platform or by sending a message for the Chairman to deliver. The Association is anxious to make the meeting thoroughly representative of English letters and hopes that you will take part in what can be made a most impressive declaration of the writer's essential faith in free development of culture. The meeting is to take place at the Queen's Hall at 8.30 p.m. on June the 8th. Would you let us know whether you are willing to speak, or to send a message if you cannot be present? Yours sincerely, Yvonne Cloud for the Organising Committee
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.