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)
1311. Enclosure – Page out of calendar for Sam's school
- Title:
- Enclosure – Page out of calendar for Sam's school
- 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:
- 1938-06-25
- 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-1-1224
- 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_1938-06-25_01_enc.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Enclosure – Page out of calendar for Sam's school [Calendar page for St. Christopher's School, 19-25 June, 1938; Handwritten entries include performance date of “As You LIke It” and “Parents' day”]
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1312. Sat June 25th
- Title:
- Sat June 25th
- 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:
- 1938-06-25
- 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-1-1224
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-25.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sat June 25th Flat back in original condition. To St. Christopher's School Letchworth to see Sam on Parents' Day. John took A.G. Jenny & me in car. Rather a Peace Pledge & eyewash atmosphere but nice children & nice grounds. Turned a picture of Krishnamurti back to wall, found a lost wedding ring – Rosalind's in As You Like It – heard Mr. Baddeley ex-Bedales talk almost inaudibly – dreary story of blue bottle in Magic lantern. Goodbye to John, Jenny, A.G. Dinner to the French Pleven's, 11 Grosvenor Crescent. He is Breton, Unanimiste, sells telephones. She is small witchlike unpleasant. Excellent food & cuisine. Also Joan Evans there, an expert on jewelry – also has written a psychological book about taste. Difficult & even hostile evening Laura up to all hours writing letters for Len & how to deliver them.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1313. Sunday June 26th
- Title:
- Sunday June 26th
- 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:
- 1938-06-26
- 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-1-1225
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-26.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday June 26th Smuggler Leonard & Margaret to lunch. Leonard in sailor costume & vernacular. We He & I played battles with paper darts & I taught him a paper folding trick I re-learned yesterday at Sam's school from a Colonel Wimperis. Tea at Dorothy Hutchinson's where Wanda's shriekings got on my nerves. To the Pearsons at 7A Ellerdale Road North Way3 to supper, where we met Ronald & Frances McCall, Montreal people, whom we found very good & who came around after & talked until nearly 2 o'clock. A new word arose 'Gradek' (from a German psychologist she believed in – or thought she still did) for something that nice people think nice from old old generous ignorance that really isn't.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1314. Monday June 27th
- Title:
- Monday June 27th
- 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:
- 1938-06-27
- 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-1-1226
- 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_1938-06-27.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday June 27th * Sent off Lawrence proofs at last. * Finished my part of Smuggler . Drafting preliminary questions for Protocol use. Bought opal ring at Sonia Waldman's for 30/- John & Lucie goodbye: John brought the 'Solace' round painting on glass for us. Honor & Gordon. Honor stopped the night. Rejected the Pleven's introduction to Rennes people, as incorrectly phrased in regard to us.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1315. Tuesday June 28th
- Title:
- Tuesday June 28th
- 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:
- 1938-06-28
- 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-1-1227
- 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_1938-06-28.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday June 28th Dorothy to lunch. Goodbye to Ward in nursing home (appendix) at Earl's Court, Maisie in bed at Baker St. (pleurisy) Harry & Alix at night. Supper with Dorothy at Bijon Restaurant, Earl's Court . * Laura finished Smuggler scenario . * Ian Parsons, startled by lowness of Beck estimate, agreed subject to approval of fellow Chatto & Windus directors to print World & Ourselves if L paid half production costs (£150) Pleven sent revised introductions. Alix sells her cheese business tomorrow. A 53 bus-driver undercharged L and me out of pure friendship & memory of Sam. Very windy night. Protocol proofs until late. A great run of luck for all our friends in the last ten days or so. Gordon: job on Radio times Norman: a rise Bridget: engaged. Karl: job with Harold Edwards James & Mary: girl Laura: publisher for World and Ourselves & dictionary self: wind up of the T.E. business Beryl: £10 from her rich father Jenny: £5 a week job in Rep.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1316. Tuesday June 28th
- Title:
- Tuesday June 28th
- 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:
- 1938-06-28
- 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-1-1227
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-28.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday June 28th Dorothy to lunch. Goodbye to Ward in nursing home (appendix) at Earl's Court, Maisie in bed at Baker St. (pleurisy) Harry & Alix at night. Supper with Dorothy at Bijon Restaurant, Earl's Court . * Laura finished Smuggler scenario . * Ian Parsons, startled by lowness of Beck estimate, agreed subject to approval of fellow Chatto & Windus directors to print World & Ourselves if L paid half production costs (£150) Pleven sent revised introductions. Alix sells her cheese business tomorrow. A 53 bus-driver undercharged L and me out of pure friendship & memory of Sam. Very windy night. Protocol proofs until late. A great run of luck for all our friends in the last ten days or so. Gordon: job on Radio times Norman: a rise Bridget: engaged. Karl: job with Harold Edwards James & Mary: girl Laura: publisher for World and Ourselves & dictionary self: wind up of the T.E. business Beryl: £10 from her rich father Jenny: £5 a week job in Rep.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1317. Wednesday June 29th
- Title:
- Wednesday June 29th
- 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:
- 1938-06-29
- 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-1-1228
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-29.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday June 29th Packing last things Finished Protocol proof just in time. Waterloo 4.45. Stopped at Southampton for dinner with Violet & Walter McCormack at the restaurant opposite the Dolphin . Then by * S.S.Dinard to St Malo. Took Navigan and several brandies: was not sick nor was Alan. Beryl & Laura were; though they had bunks & we not.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1318. Log Entries of Letters for June, 1938 Letters
- Title:
- Log Entries of Letters for June, 1938 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1938-06-30
- 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-1-1229
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-30_log.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Log Entries of Letters for June, 1938 Letters June 1 A.G. about cottage; Anita; Short; Vyvyan Richards. Barker for money. 2. F. Rodd. Bank with cheques. Snaith Bookseller( Library Review ). Barker again. 3 N.N. with cheque. Nancy by Sam. Duckworth (Horder); Flower (about Coll.Poems ) 8. O.K. about Swiss Ghost ; Morison (about historical novels terms ); Ethel; CN. 9 Tweedsmuir. 10 Catherine N. 12 Cheques to Bank 14. A.G. ; Bank with Cheque; Ethel about chairs; brooch to Catherine Vandervelde; cheques to Barber. Ethel about Karl. 15 Nancy about Karl; Watt with Albatross contract; Times Book Club. Kitty; Bridget; McCormacks 16. Bank with cheque. Carter (Vancouver) thanking for coin. David. 17. Eliot about Curzon story, W.P.Watt with photo, Roz, Angrid ?. 18. Tom. Schwartz. Heath about List contract. 19 Anita June 20 David. Sam. Sam's school. 21 Henry Tiarks about Len. 22 Offner with cheque. 23 Church. Dawnay. 24. Sir E. Holderness about Karl. 25. Winston Churchill. 26 Watt about with proofs. 28. Nancy, Dawnay, Eliot, Morley, Bank with cheque. 29. Wink (Dutch translation)
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1319. Log Entries of Letters for June, 1938 Letters
- Title:
- Log Entries of Letters for June, 1938 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:
- 1938-06-30
- 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-1-1229
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1938-06-30_log.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Log Entries of Letters for June, 1938 Letters June 1 A.G. about cottage; Anita; Short; Vyvyan Richards. Barker for money. 2. F. Rodd. Bank with cheques. Snaith Bookseller( Library Review ). Barker again. 3 N.N. with cheque. Nancy by Sam. Duckworth (Horder); Flower (about Coll.Poems ) 8. O.K. about Swiss Ghost ; Morison (about historical novels terms ); Ethel; CN. 9 Tweedsmuir. 10 Catherine N. 12 Cheques to Bank 14. A.G. ; Bank with Cheque; Ethel about chairs; brooch to Catherine Vandervelde; cheques to Barber. Ethel about Karl. 15 Nancy about Karl; Watt with Albatross contract; Times Book Club. Kitty; Bridget; McCormacks 16. Bank with cheque. Carter (Vancouver) thanking for coin. David. 17. Eliot about Curzon story, W.P.Watt with photo, Roz, Angrid ?. 18. Tom. Schwartz. Heath about List contract. 19 Anita June 20 David. Sam. Sam's school. 21 Henry Tiarks about Len. 22 Offner with cheque. 23 Church. Dawnay. 24. Sir E. Holderness about Karl. 25. Winston Churchill. 26 Watt about with proofs. 28. Nancy, Dawnay, Eliot, Morley, Bank with cheque. 29. Wink (Dutch translation)
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
1320. Thursday June 30th
- Title:
- Thursday June 30th
- 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:
- 1938-06-30
- 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-1-1229
- 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_1938-06-30.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday June 30th Arrived 5.30 St Malo. Juan Vives met us in car & took us to Rennes where we put up at Hotel Central. Crayfish, winkles (for first time) and very good food otherwise. Saw two magpies on the road to Rennes. Anita wept on seeing us. We went to see a flat no 21 Rue Gurnant & took it: only changing paper of one room. We 'bought' furniture from him, because he mustn't rent a furnished room. Alan & Beryl also got a flat in 103 Rue Nantes. Spent a long time wandering round the streets: a lovely town.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.