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)
221. Sept 30 Monday.
- Title:
- Sept 30 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:
- 1935-09-30
- 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-1-221
- 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_1935-09-30.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sept 30 Monday. Wrote to John G. & Jonathan Cape Cleaning out cellars in preparation for Magdalena: all morning — Laura, Karl, Catalina & me. Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXXIV. To Posada with various things. Heavy weather. Decided to build casita at Can Torrent. Gas finished. Magdalena arrived. Bought spring from Bernardo for 1500 pesetas. Wrote to Arthurby about overdue quarterly returns. Went to Sala & played Parchesi with Gelat, Karl & Laura. Magdalena came too & talked to Anita. Started Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXXV A close night with distant lightning.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
222. Oct 1, Tuesday
- Title:
- Oct 1, 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:
- 1935-10-01
- 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-1-222
- 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_1935-10-01.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 1, Tuesday Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXXV. Started A.F.T. [Chapter] XXXVI. Went round garden with Laura deciding on whereabouts of plants & bushes. Took a cutting of the yellow & green leafed bush which Joän gave us. To sea. Isabel M. wired about her going to New York on the 18th. Richards returned second batch & sent corrections, which I gave Karl to type after I had gone over them. Letters to Morley asking for return of first batch, to Richards acknowledging, to Sanders paying a/c. Heavy weather, distant lightning but no rain. To village with Laura & Magdalena Marcus has disgustos with the orchestra it seems.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
223. Oct 2 Wednesday.
- Title:
- Oct 2 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:
- 1935-10-02
- 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-1-223
- 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_1935-10-02.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 2 Wednesday. Gas drum changed. Incorporated Old Soldier Sahib corrections. Gelat came, & talked for 2 hours about things — removal of olive trees, Valldemossa electric scheme (but not until everything is settled about hours of water), the Sala café & the importance of keeping it under our control. Alice brought her many 3 of her four kittens to Canellun (drain-pipe). Pepe came & Gelat, he & we worked out position of new casita at Can Torrent. Two men now working at the fuente in search of water for the house: went there with Gelat. Very little water is needed for the garden, & since this is October in a dry year if water is found it is likely to last all the year round. To Margarita to try on my coat after many months; heard wireless news of invasion of Abyssinia by the Italians & of a possible Anglo-French naval rapprochment . Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXXVI & started A.F.T. [Chapter] XXXVII. To Café where failed to get Daventry news but played Parchesi with Juan & Modern Girl & A.N.OTHER & won.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
224. Oct 3 Thursday.
- Title:
- Oct 3 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-10-03
- 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-1-224
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-10-03.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 3 Thursday. Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXXVII began A.F.T. [Chapter] XXXVIII. Antonio the guitarrist & Antonio the Murcian trying out the spring, but short of pulling down the wall can only find a trickle of 10-15 litres an hour. Today the Judge came on his inspection: Gelat arranged that neither of the lawyers should come out with him, and that the news of his coming should not be given out until 1 o'clock when it would be impossible to send a wire to Deyá, so that only Gelat himself was there when the Judge turned up. A very windy day. Morley sent an agreement for Old Soldier Sahib (doesn't like the title but hasn't a better) for me to approve for Richards. Sent back for alteration of translation-rights commission (33 1/3% was too high) & ditto serialization rights, & omission (on the other hand) of a cheap edition clause. Wrote to Richards about this. To Margaritas with Laura — tried on my jacket.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
225. Oct 4 Friday San Francisco
- Title:
- Oct 4 Friday San Francisco
- 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:
- 1935-10-04
- 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-1-225
- 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_1935-10-04.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 4 Friday San Francisco Heavy rain at 8 o'clock & then showers. Finished Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXXVIII. Only one left now. Amador getting green olives for salting. Told of first fighting in Abyssinia. Finished A.F.T. [Chapter] XXXIX which is the last of the book: Karl has still 11 sheets to type. Gelat came with Solomon's kennel & Miguel creosoted it. Gelat & I went up to view the spring: no good: went higher & found quite a good one — perhaps 30 or 50 litres an hour, more by searching. Settled accounts with him, including carpenter's bill. He had mended the donkey “ carreton.” Went with him in afternoon to Can Medó for apples, grapes & beans. To Posada: well nearly done. Laura dissatisfied with Magdalena who finds life lonely: & Isabel's careful touch is missed. (Gelat spoke to her.) To village: heard wireless news of Adowa advance. Damas de noche budding.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
226. Oct 5 Saturday.
- Title:
- Oct 5 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:
- 1935-10-05
- 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-1-226
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-10-05.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 5 Saturday. Went over Almost Forgotten Times [Chapter] XXXII to end; Karl having typed so far now. Wrote declining to send handwriting specimen to Sunday Times Book Exhibition Laura in last stages of her Decline of Prophecy struggle. Sebastian transplanted Sweet Williams. Rosa brought my pink silk shirt. Hair cut. Tried on hand-made coat with Rosa. Went over some pages of Richards. Posada well done, except for a small 10-minute job which Matias will do tomorrow. At Fábrica heard Medora's dos alegrias : her daughter comes tomorrow & Gelat has gained his case, with costs: but this is not official until Monday. James Reeves book specimen came finally: appears all right after all. Missing pages of Old Soldier Sahib came from Morley. Laura wrote to Constables about necessity of hurrying.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
227. Oct 6 Sunday.
- Title:
- Oct 6 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-10-06
- 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-1-227
- 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_1935-10-06.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 6 Sunday. Transcopied & corrected Old Soldier Sahib Statement from Barker (£6 underestimated). Magdalena sad, so Laura glad to let her go. I cooked Sunday round of beef. (Sabater sent proofs — 1 sheet short & a glaring new misprint. Ana & Juan & Juanita came: Gelat advised neutrality during their stay. Brought Laura a mackintosh. Went to see Francisquito's mother, promised Francisquito a present tomorrow. Karl's razor apparently stolen in the posts.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
228. Oct 7 Monday.
- Title:
- Oct 7 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:
- 1935-10-07
- 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-1-228
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-10-07.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 7 Monday. Turbines again. Went to Palma, dropping Magdalena at Valldemossa, who left without a proper goodbye & 1/2 a month's pay — having at the last moment repented & blamed it on a cold — but no! Raining hard, but later cleared up. Cashed pension cheque rapidly (because of the rain) & also got 26% (375 pesetas) from Credito Balear & a certificate about the rest. Bought a coral necklace for Laura to make up for one given to Isabel. Silk stuff for blue shirt. Various old cotton handkerchiefs at Margaritas & two blue plates horse & flowers; & peasant woman & salmonetes. Decided against dragon picture. Laura found a decent umbrella shop at last in the Jaime II. Bought Karl a hat. Laura got a pair of pig-skin shoes, cheap — made to measure by a foreign woman & then abandoned. Official 'fallo' of water-case. Visit to Schwarz and Strenge 's new flat by the Taberna Vasca . He gave Laura a beautiful emerald-matrix silver-gilt ring, in an old shagreen ring-box. Sabater gentle and offered to reprint first page with corrections: L. offered to share the expense. He will send the stuff off to Constables. Bought blue filing cases. Talk of getting a Jewish girl, whom Karl knows, a Hitler victim, to work: but later decided against possible complications after an illuminating talk. To village: thunder & lightning. Played parchesi with L & Gelat. Won. Solomon spent day with Catalina, at her house. No more mosquito nets. Casita work began
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
229. Oct 8 Tuesday.
- Title:
- Oct 8 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:
- 1935-10-08
- 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-1-229
- 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_1935-10-08.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 8 Tuesday. To Palma village: no ice. No head for Solomon at Margarita's, who is annoyed at our going to the Sala: so made arreglo at the Cas Ferrer. Transcopying Old Soldier Sahib First dahlia. Fine day, rained later. In garden, cut back carnations, planted cuttings of it. Took cuttings of geraniums. Took cuttings of fuchsia to put in a fabi . Nice letter from Sally Graves. [Horace] Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting came. Planted grey-green cuttings along deposito side. Laura slowly at Troy . In evening Laura went to bed & Karl & she & I played “66” with her: she won, 8 games in a row, Karl hardly a point, me forging ahead. When she & I played alone I won 8 in a row & then lost one & then won. The streaks of luck were not easy to account for. Problem of cats: 3 grown kittens wild — too many.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
230. Oct 9, Wednesday.
- Title:
- Oct 9, 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:
- 1935-10-09
- 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-1-230
- 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_1935-10-09.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 9, Wednesday. Old Soldier Sahib is now complete up to date in both copies — about 60,000 words. Wire from Constable about giving manuscripts to Beck to print. Laura replied. Men came to fix the stone tables: Gelat is waiting until Castañer's departure before he gives us the good ones: the ones we have are only cement. Went to village, met Gelat in the Clot gathering apples near Peñaranda's house. Best I have tasted in Mallorca. Cleaned my glass pebbles. Planted stock seeds. Men put up two table columnas . Sun & showers and a rainbow exactly across the sea. Gelat brought apples. Turbine lighting very bad. Juan traced it to some electrical burden put on the line by the millonario. When that was removed all was well. Parchesi with Gelat, L, & Magdalena. Ate sardines & sobrasada at the old café. Margarita wanted to know if I was still angry. Was. Later went to ask G. if there was anything on his mind. Laura & I thought there might be about I & J talking in the café. There wasn't. Wrote to Hillgarth about the Dia and its anti-English English page. Two blanket weather.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.