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)
251. Oct 30 Wednesday.
- Title:
- Oct 30 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:
- 1935-10-30
- 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-1-251
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-10-30.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 30 Wednesday. Housework all day. (Maria de sa Font Fresc helping). Karl also helped. To Posada brought back 5 painted chairs in return for orange wood ones from Can Torrent. Took tartan sofa to Can Gelat in exchange for Karl's couch. Bed and two mattresses & morey table with orange insertions from Posada. Morey table to Francisca's room (New Troy.) Ordered bookshelves for New Troy. Decided on Posada repairs. Tortuga stove from Can Gelat to Sala. Paid Baker. Laura had her hair cut. Making bedroom in cellar: moved jam etc. Fixed up Capella for San Juan with background of old maps. Fixed Candia-Serigo map in frame. Casita walls done.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
252. Oct 31 Thursday
- Title:
- Oct 31 Thursday
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-10-31
- 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-1-252
- 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_1935-10-31.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Oct 31 Thursday Catalina & Margarita came today. To village for head and to send off final telegram (3) to James about meeting him Sunday morning at boat. Juan Ferrer doing plaster work at Mesquida. Maria de sa Font Fresc, Maria Murciana & Maria Luna all working — giving new girls a good start. Maria Luna gave Laura pair of silver, cut steel, pink-topaz earrings. Present of rabbit from Gelat & the other two Juans, from Lluchmayor. Put back escudo . Stove came, & fixed it in New Troy. Put composition mill-wheel in earth beside drive, & fabi with hibiscus in it. Put carnation in other fabi. Cleaning out house, preparatory to girls coming. Brass, dusting, cleaning garden etc. Gordon sends Focus . Everyone very, very tired. Brass nails for chair in entrada .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
253. Nov 1 Friday “Tot Sants”
- Title:
- Nov 1 Friday “Tot Sants”
- 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:
- 1935-11-01
- 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-1-253
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-11-01.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 1 Friday “Tot Sants” Hot weather. Housework all day, & getting maids accustomed to work. They make a good impression. Cooking good. Laura & Karl painted the map of Candia-Serigo. Doctor's idea of arreglo to ask that the turbines do not go in the four summer months. Laughable. Brought chair from Can Gelat to be arm-chair for James. General post between Can Torrent & Canellun of tables & pictures. Offer from Watt for my “next novel” £1250 — 25% rising to 30%! Replied declining. Contract from Kegan Paul signed. Decided on Gelat's suggestion to put a cement terrasse on the casita roof at Can Torrent. Contract for Old Soldier Sahib sent me. Laura sent letter to Glendenning & News Chronicle about a stupid paragraph of pseudo publicity for Epilogue .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
254. Nov 2 Saturday.
- Title:
- Nov 2 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:
- 1935-11-02
- 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-1-254
- 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_1935-11-02.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 2 Saturday. Walls being whitened, tiles on deposito repaired. Heard fishwife calling first phrase of Caller Herring. To Palma Bought square morey arm-chair for my mesquida place 25 p. Also old bottle for Can Torrent, 2 pesetas Two pictures Pharos & Colossus of Rhodes 18 pesetas Fetched oval magenta & gold mirror, the pink rings, & candle-grease protectors 2 apiece. Two silver paste buttons 2.50[pts.] each for Laura's brocade jacket. Silver button brooch from Pomar. Laura bought black suede purse, removed brass chain & put on silver one. (10 pesetas). Natural Need printed will go off Monday. Lost 450 pesetas: found again on Dulan counter. Short to whom gave two books said Maria Luna's new mistress as mad as she. Pomar said Maria Luna 's gift would come 'from any merceria' Lunched with Strenge & Schwarz & coffee & cream & cakes after at their house Zagranada 18. Garett had printed Seizin announcement July in Majorca Sun . Bought another Sally, for Mesquida. Millstone set by Torrent, in earth. New libreria brought to New Troy. Cleaned up my new chair & lowered it by two inches.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
255. Nov 3 Sunday
- Title:
- Nov 3 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:
- 1935-11-03
- 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-1-255
- 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_1935-11-03.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 3 Sunday James After a bad night Laura went off, at 5.30 to Palma to fetch James. I stayed behind & saw to things — joint, flowers dusting etc in now reorganised house. James Laura & I talked all morning. He has little room at Can Torrent, with Old Troy as workroom. In afternoon a walk to Lluchalcari & back, on to Sala, where James introduced. Hot weather. Barley planted a week ago on Luna land, coming up. Richards sent the rest of his stuff. The new maids went to the Dance. American royalties came. A little work on Lars Porsena . Talked till 12. Laura sleepless, she says. I slept till 10.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
256. Nov 4 Monday
- Title:
- Nov 4 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:
- 1935-11-04
- 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-1-256
- 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_1935-11-04.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 4 Monday Up at 10.30. A few letters: Richards, Harrison Smith etc. Talk again. Laura not working yet. Went walk to Cala with James & round by Llucalcari. Epilogue telegram to Constable about paper boards, rounded back. Long time in Sala. Dull day. Sewing machine came (price?) & Sally stove, price 125 pesetas. Very hot still. Talked late: about Communism etc. Wire from Korda about brother coming here for Lawrence film, & saying Claudius to be filmed in May.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
257. Nov 5 Tuesday.
- Title:
- Nov 5 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:
- 1935-11-05
- 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-1-257
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-11-05.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 5 Tuesday. Replied to Korda. “London difficult impossible Majorca impossible difficult; cannot decide unless know probable length of brother's visit and retinue also couldn't honourably undertake unless Liddell Hart reinvited, Sassoon resigns, best regards from Laura Riding & self.” Letters to Harrison Smith about Richards, & about Claudius & about sending money to England; to Arthurby, to Richards, to A.G. etc. Worked on Lars Porsena . Bathed. Laura & James for a walk. Karl finished typing Almost Forgotten Germany Seizin Prospectuses came. Completed my work on Almost Forgotten Germany — until next time. First fire in new Mesquida stove.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
258. Nov 6 Wednesday
- Title:
- Nov 6 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:
- 1935-11-06
- 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-1-258
- 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_1935-11-06.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 6 Wednesday Worked at Richards : did Chapter 17. Roses at their best again. Laura & James working all day on Poets . Gelat went to Palma to find out whom to approach. Approached him. To sea: couldn't find basket lost yesterday. Bathed. Girls a great success.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
259. Nov 7. Thursday
- Title:
- Nov 7. Thursday
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-11-07
- 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-1-259
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-11-07.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 7. Thursday Early (7.30) to Palma. Laura from 9 – 1 at Juzgado . All right. Bought typewriter. Fox portable for 150 pesetas. Blue plate 2.30[pts]. Glass bottles 8 pesetas at Casas, fetched the 2 Wonders of World pictures. 20 pesetas to Catalina Roca whose 2 sons had been shot in Cuba & property seized: only 10 p[ts]. a w month from daughter there. Bought 2 baskets 1.75[pts.] each. Repaid Karl 850 pesetas. Back by La Granja (Esporlas) where Gelat viewed an electric saw. Poems from A.A.Simpson. In the evening danced, & sang.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
260. Nov 8th Friday
- Title:
- Nov 8th Friday
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-11-08
- 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-1-260
- 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_1935-11-08.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Nov 8th Friday Laura doing letters for Karl. Picture postcards arrived, with me bathing, Solomon & Sebastian on shore in two of them. Richards again. Chapter 18: later Chapter 19 to 12.30 in the morning. Pepe building cement bridge up across torrent. Laura, James & I did short blurbs for Seizin Press. James & I hung up Wonders of World at Posada in entrada .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.