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)
201. Tuesday Sept 10th
- Title:
- Tuesday Sept 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:
- 1935-09-10
- 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-1-201
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-09-10.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday Sept 10th All day on Richards again: completed the batch. Sea. Karl painted the chromium lamp shafts at Canellun. Sea: roughish. Rosa came with new blue shirt for me. Catalina did 15 bottles of tomatoes. Letter from John about David. Wrote to John suggesting that David after getting Higher Certificate should travel & prepare for his Oxford scholarship abroad. Offered John & David and amnesty. Change in weather predicted.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
202. Wednesday Sept 11
- Title:
- Wednesday Sept 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:
- 1935-09-11
- 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-1-202
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-09-11.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday Sept 11 Fruit trees sprayed by Gelat's brother in law Jaime. Did a little work on Richards . The Hutchinsons came to lunch: took several photographs of each of us, talked, visited the Posada with the idea of Box & Coxing with Honor next year, went down to bathe with me, came, talked over at Can Torrent. He will do the photography article for Epilogue . Left his poems. Trying to find bathing-girl models. In evening to village alone to order things from Palma & get ice - talked with Medora about Francisquito's diet. Did half Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXV. Wild peony seed pod opened: brightred with black seeds. Cooller.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
203. Thursday, Sept 12 (Name of Maria)
- Title:
- Thursday, Sept 12 (Name of Maria)
- 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:
- 1935-09-12
- 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-1-203
- 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_1935-09-12.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday, Sept 12 (Name of Maria) Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXV. Went over typing of Old Soldier Sahib . Laura read me scene in Helen's chamber from Troy . Old Soldier Sahib in afternoon (marking out chapters) and letter to Amy Graves (also one written by Laura) in answer to disrespectful one of hers about difficulties. Wrote to Richards. Walk past Lluchalcari. Windy: slight rain. It came on to rain violently when we were in the village: where we sat in the Sala talking to the General's son-in-law who promised to advise us on the garden. Letter to Mrs Ashby about spiritism. Watch back mended.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
204. Friday. Sept 13th.
- Title:
- Friday. Sept 13th.
- 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:
- 1935-09-13
- 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-1-204
- 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_1935-09-13.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Friday. Sept 13th. Addition to introduction to Old Soldier Sahib Jenny, David, Catherine & Sam wrote to thank Laura for £1: & also to me. Different tone since the Devil got married (his new house has been turned down, Jenny said) Went over typing of Old Soldier Sahib , Chapter 15 Showery day. Jenny's handwriting like mine at her age. David's like Tony's, Catherine's like Ros & her mother. Wrote to children. Sent Nancy Nicholson £150 Went over typing of Old Soldier Sahib Chapter XVI, and of addition to introduction. Went to village wearing leather shoes. Looked out quotations for ' Poets ' which Laura is going over.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
205. Saturday Sept 14
- Title:
- Saturday Sept 14
- 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:
- 1935-09-14
- 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-1-205
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-09-14.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Saturday Sept 14 Cool & sunny. It was a steady soak yesterday evening and night. Clouded over later. Part of Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXVI Letter from Liddell Hart approving plan, but not sure about time-factor Answered at length, “soon rather than later.” I estimated material at 50,000 words (with notes & references to letters). Walk along road., General's son-in-law came & gave advice about plants. Also the Hutchinsons who talked till suppertime. The Estancos now sell a smokable Virginia cigarette, at 2 pesetas, in cellophane. The first serious step against the smuggling trade. Gelat came: & told us the comic story of how the Doctor, Bartolomé, the Sa Pedrissa colono & young Estanco testified: none was able to make a statement worth anything. The Dr could not even sign his name to his declaration. The Judge's representative had been primed, & if no dirty work is done the interdict will be quashed: but the case will be won.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
206. Sunday. Sept 15
- Title:
- Sunday. Sept 15
- 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:
- 1935-09-15
- 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-1-206
- 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_1935-09-15.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday. Sept 15 Laura had been up till 3 working (at Poets I think) & writing a letter to Ward Hutchinson about his poems: she only found two short sequences of poetry which were all right in his book. The rest merely traditional or ornate. I wrote a letter to Honor & began Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXVII. In the afternoon I went to Lluchalcari with the letter & Laura's Laura and Francisca & Lying Word & since the reaction was favourable invited them to supper. On the way noted a few lines for a Labyrinth poem. Heavy weather again. More Almost Forgotten Times Then supper & we went to the Sala (the side-pieces now painted) & had ices with Gelat & Medora. Introduction bungle because of Laura 's sleepiness & the noise in the Sala. Isabel has symptoms which may be consumptive: must take her in on Thursday. Ordered a mica-glass for my watch: the snap case comes to too glas close to the thin glass & cracks it. Decided to buy Ca'n Gelat, if he will sell it, as a guest house.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
207. Monday Sept 16
- Title:
- Monday Sept 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:
- 1935-09-16
- 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-1-207
- 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_1935-09-16.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday Sept 16 Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXVII started XXVIII. Watch came back mended. To sea but the Cala was full of sea-weed so went along to Lluchalcari & bathed (left my bathing-trunks behind: left message at Hotel for them). Watch came back, and Laura's earrings, a success. Found the meaning of fennel in the Prometheus legend: tinder. Laura struggling with Troy : unable to find Kabesos anywhere. To village with Karl to hear radio: there Gelat's sister gave us peaches. Medora gave us Gelat 's message that he had gone out to “collect bait for fishing.” Finished [Chapter] XXVIII.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
208. Tuesday Sept 17
- Title:
- Tuesday Sept 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-09-17
- 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-1-208
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-09-17.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday Sept 17 Three inserts for Richards: typed & stuck in. Started [Chapter]XXIX Almost Forgotten Times Laura writing dictating letters to Carl (Constable's estimates for books too high) Wrote one or two short letters for her. Melvilles novels , the Sorrows of Werther & the Sheba book came. Looked out dates of electric light stages in diary for Gelat, whose witnesses go in tomorrow. To coffee at Lluchalcari with Hutchinsons & their sculptor friend, John Lite Waters a blond unshaven chap dressed like a sailor: lot of talk, nothing said. Sent melon to Gelat 's sister. Ward Hutchinson completed the photography article.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
209. Wednesday Sept 18th.
- Title:
- Wednesday Sept 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:
- 1935-09-18
- 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-1-209
- 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_1935-09-18.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday Sept 18th. Found Sebastian for him to be photographed by W. Hutchinson. Who took him (with & without flower) & Solomon, & Alice & the rest. Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXIX. Also an insert, in consequence of a letter from Richards: who also said that Morley was pleased. Went over part of Poets with Laura: & transcopied: sent off to Honor. Karl transcopied p 111-226 of Old Soldier Sahib but missed out some 60 ppwhich I did later, ready to send off. Unpleasant Irishwoman in bus. Gelat told us of very successful day. 29 witnesses, only 15 of which needed, escribiente in favour. 'Boy' Boi , the turpe torpe , gave evidence & gave away the whole show - meetings at the Médico 's house, where it was decided to plead in forma pauperis and share expenses; no prejudices from deposito etc. The escribiente said that a criminal action for conspiracy lay. Soon over now, we hope. Laura revising Michael Roberts 's anthology introduction in so far as it concerns us.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
210. Thursday Sept 19th
- Title:
- Thursday Sept 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-09-19
- 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-1-210
- 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_1935-09-19.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday Sept 19th To Palma: Laura Carl & I, also Medora & Francisquito: & Isabel. Doctor said, no tuberculosis only old sclerosis due to some pneumonia or something in past. Gelat met us: paid him 2500 on account, & 1000[pts] as deposit on purchase of Ca'n Gelat - price to be fixed later. Esc. says all well. Laura's throat also not so bad, he says. Bought olive wood cigarette case & Laura got me eau de Cologne & powder. Schwarz went off to Madrid (yesterday he offered to pay expenses of his book). Gelat bought a lot of tables & chairs cheap for Sala at Molinar. Thelin gave us German introduction to St Paul book. Told us of Nazi burglaries of their flat, & tearing up anti-Nazi papers. On return letter from Mother: respectful to Laura. John about David. Harrison Smith about Old Soldier Sahib (not yet read, but Old Soldiers Never Die very much admired). Claudius the God sales less than I had reckoned, but 12,100 sold up to date & 20,000 of I, Claudius & 2000 at 2 dollars. Bought glass grease-stops for candles. Letters for Honor as though coming here.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.