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)
1301. Thursday June 16
- Title:
- Thursday June 16
- 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:
- 1938-06-16
- 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-1-1215
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-16.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday June 16 Very late nights again Laura finished Ward's Bells ditto Harry's book last time over I went to Lawrence trustees (Carlow & Eliot only) with Liddell Hart & in 3 hours cleared up all the points – rescued all the important excisions. Went over them & incorporated them in the galleys. Tuned the mbichi Margaret here all day doing mending for us, and to supper. Jenny phoned, complaining about money.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1302. Friday June 17
- Title:
- Friday June 17
- 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:
- 1938-06-17
- 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-1-1216
- 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_1938-06-17.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Friday June 17 Packing & jobs. Montague & Dorothy & Alan lunched at Café Royal. Letters. Bought at Lillywhite 2 sponge shirts Alan did all the Cooks & Consulate work. At night came Brian Bliss, Lucie & John's friend: about protocol . Laura asked how he could reconcile homosexuality with literal morality. He had not worked it out; & wondered if he was wholly a homosexual. As usual Laura worked until 4 – going over other people's poems, chiefly.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1303. Sat June 18th
- Title:
- Sat June 18th
- 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:
- 1938-06-18
- 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-1-1217
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-18.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sat June 18th Made a necklace for Lucie. (3 hours) Bought in market two iron woman's-hands – one for self; an old crocheted chair-cover 2d . Transferred corrections to publisher's galleys (Lawrence book) Decided with Laura on last part of The Smuggler . Laura went through part 3 of my Poems with me. Harry came to go over poems with Laura & I went for a walk with Alix & talked over the progress of the last year.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1304. Sun June 19th
- Title:
- Sun June 19th
- 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:
- 1938-06-19
- 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-1-1218
- 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_1938-06-19.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sun June 19th Maisie called in her car at 10.30 and took Laura & me to Arkesden. Thousands of boy & girl cyclists all the way out until Bishop's Stortford; and traffic jams all the way back. Maisie's withdrawal from Protocol makes relationship unreal & spoilt the day: Gordon being affected rather . John & Lucie there to tea, which was the nicest. Honor had beautifully shined up the house & Julian & I played for a long time on the lawn with marbles I gave him – his first. John & Lucie told how they had got a Father Walsh in for the hauntings, who was grateful: & perhaps Benlow's unsaid prayers may cause the hauntings.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1305. Mon June 20th
- Title:
- Mon June 20th
- 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:
- 1938-06-20
- 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-1-1219
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-20.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Mon June 20th Going over amendments of my poems. Phoning all day – Alan, Maisie, Montagu, Watt, Sally, Margaret, Gordon, Len, etc Dictionary prospects bright. with Little, Brown & Co. My Mother came in the evening in purple silk. At Mr Mills bought a garnet bracelet for 6/- Packing up: decided against taking any furniture silver or china to France. Restoring flat to its original barbarity.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1306. Tuesday June 21st
- Title:
- Tuesday June 21st
- 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:
- 1938-06-21
- 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-1-1220
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-21.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday June 21st Packing. Smuggler . Len to lunch to discuss approach to financiers. At Church St Market bought two looking-glass bedside lamps 12/6 & 5/- for Deyá, and a cut-glass powder box for 6d . Liddell Hart, to go over protocol : some few slight amendments of wording. At night Harold Edwards & Olive Wallis: our first thoroughly good time with them. They would like to employ Karl.* Blue bristol bedroom lamp for Gordon * at £1.10- a week; wonderful job KG
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1307. Wed June 22
- Title:
- Wed June 22
- 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:
- 1938-06-22
- 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-1-1221
- 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_1938-06-22.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wed June 22 Busy day. Packing. Lawrence proofs, last attentions Smuggler Collected Poems crosscopying Montague & Dorothy to dinner & goodbye to Len, Jane, Bridget (just engaged to Nevill James). Exchange of presents. Dorothy gave me a yellow glass mug (made of milk bottles) made as a first effort by Beckenham art students – it cost £75 to produce! Also a piece of 17th Century Venetian lace for Laura. My Arabian burnous made up into a magnificent jacket & waistcoat by G. Becker 41 Alma Square.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1308. June 23rd, 1938Enclosure – Letter from RG to Richard Church
- Title:
- June 23rd, 1938Enclosure – Letter from RG to Richard Church
- 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:
- 1938-06-23
- 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-1-1222
- 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_1938-06-23_01_enc.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Enclosure – Letter from RG to Richard Church June 23rd, 1938 Dear Richard Church, I am preparing my Collected Poems for publication in the Autumn with Misters Cassell, and was going to include a poem called Largesse to the Poor written in 1930, first published in a limited edition To Whom Else? ( Seizin Press ) in 1931, reprinted in Poems 1930-1933 ( Barker ). Now I have just for the first time read your Secret Service in Gwendolen Murphy's Modern Poet anthology and am so struck by the resemblance of the two that if it should happen that yours was published first I should consider it my duty to suppress mine in favour of yours. That both are irregular blank verse accentuates the points of verbal and metaphorical similarity: the discontented pilgrim getting a room at the guest-house, flinging away the bunch of keys from his pocket to those who are to occupy the places he has left. The solution of the poetic problem, of course, is different; but though it is perhaps a perfect coincidence, nobody who has read the two poems, (both of which have circulated widely , ) I am afraid) will, I am afraid, doubt that one of us has drawn from the other. A nd since I do not believe (as do many poets, W.H.Auden for instance) that poetry is the communal property of poets to be borrowed without acknowledgement , s each from each; I prefer, as I say, to suppress my poem unless it has the priority of publication. Please regard this asi in all friendliness with nothing held back. Yours sincerely, R.G
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1309. Thursday June 23
- Title:
- Thursday June 23
- 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:
- 1938-06-23
- 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-1-1222
- 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_1938-06-23.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday June 23 Went over proofs of Len pamphlet . Packing. Liddell Hart for Protocol and for Laura proof and proof corrections and goodbye. Interview with Macintyre of Little Brown at Savoy Hotel (Laura & myself). All seems settled: points about printing expenses & methods outstanding. His wife provided dry martinis and a sentence about a red haired schoolmistress who denied the existence of synonyms. Catherine & Norman goodbye – Norman with a £100 rise. – Catherine gave us a Russian enamel salt cellar 1877. Packing all evening after they went Jenny has definitely got a job at Liverpool Repertory .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1310. Friday June 24
- Title:
- Friday June 24
- 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:
- 1938-06-24
- 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-1-1223
- 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_1938-06-24.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Friday June 24 Southern Railway men, packing for storage. Took all away. Lunch with Jenny & David at Cervantes restaurant. with huge Arroz Valenciana Then goodbye from them to Laura who was at Café Royal with Gordon – who has just got a job on Radio Times at £550. Our goodbye to Mr Mills – a 10 pointed crystal Georgian star 10/-. To Liddell Hart to clear up a few points in his T.E. proofs. Sally came for Goodbye & talked about History with Laura. Roz's goodbye – a new practise in prospect in Beaconsfield. Richard's goodbye, fetched Sally from the flat. Letters about Karl & Harold to Sir E. Holderness.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.