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)
391. Sunday March 15.th
- Title:
- Sunday March 15.th
- 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:
- 1936-03-15
- 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-1-388
- 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_1936-03-15.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday March 15.th Wrote 11 pages of Chapter VIII of Antigua . Hot day. Laura going over 'Private Conversation' for Epilogue Gelat wires 'arriving tomorrow'; from Alicante. Medora pessimistic. Laura's green shot-silk blouse from Margarita. Transplanted the Dama de Noche . Anti-March demonstrations in Palma. First artichokes.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
392. Monday March 16
- Title:
- Monday March 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1936-03-16
- 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-1-389
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-03-16.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday March 16 To Palma. Met Gelat at Alhambra where he tricked us into thinking his cousins Don Pedro and Donna Catalina who came with him to avoid troubles in Madrid were mannerless strangers. Had been to see Governor of Madrid, Azaña, Portela, the Mallorquin deputies & Minister of War: the latter reassured him xabout road. Franco, in prison, is said to have been, with March, the person intriguing against foreigners in Mallorca. Ques asking parliament to rescind 5 kilometer decree. Saw Str & Schw.; who had gone on writing his anecdotes . Bought silver scarf pin with blue enamel for 4 pesetas gold brooch with emerald matrix & pearls for 45 pesetas, topaz earrings for 6[pts]. Laura made Mrs Wyatt cry: she came to coffee & again to beer. Sent Julian things by her. Tried to get suit made: but [tailor] refused to copy; so lost job. The charlatan had made long report & taken snaps of us: described garden wall as a fortification 1 metre thick. Gelat also a spy.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
393. Tuesday March 17
- Title:
- Tuesday March 17
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1936-03-17
- 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-1-390
- 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_1936-03-17.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday March 17 14 pages of chapter 8 of Antigua . Watt treating with Dr.Schwartz. Don Pedro, Dona Catalina & all Fabrica people came with Gelat in afternoon. In evening at Sala Don Pedro & Mrs MacCormack had conversation each in own language & D.P. told about his exchanging French & Spanish when a young officer with a girl at the his pension. I said " El efecto del Amor. ["] ["] No Señor pero el Amor fué el efecto." But then he had to go to the War in Africa & doesn't know who taught her the rest of Spanish. Boirà on the mountain. Catherine wrote about L: & L replied & I said her heart did her credit, but her facts were wrong.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
394. Wednesday March 18
- Title:
- Wednesday March 18
- 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:
- 1936-03-18
- 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-1-391
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-03-18.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday March 18 Antigua chapter 9. 9 pages in the morning. No letters except from H.S. who is deleting nothing from O.S. Tulips (parrot tulips now) coming up all crooked & wrong (except Kauffmannia) from the soil being too heavy still. First artichokes. Planted some love[-]in[-]the[-]mist in the bed by the deposito . 4 more pages in evening. Pointless afternoon with Kitty West, Joyce Forde & West child (friends of Maisie's) who brought out Laura mandarin coat, from Honor, name-tapes for me, books for Laura & bottle of scent. Nothing said: all polite. Only remark that nobody could be an opera singer if tonsils removed.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
395. San Pepe Thursday March 19
- Title:
- San Pepe Thursday March 19
- 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:
- 1936-03-19
- 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-1-392
- 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_1936-03-19.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- San Pepe Thursday March 19 Catalina went to Palma to look for a fellow-criada . (Maria Murciana & Antonia) V. Richards wrote enclosing section of his Lawrence book; about S.A. Said that A.W.L. knew who S.A. was & would reveal in (September) Symposium. I answered that A. told me years ago that it was Sharif Achmed: but that I didn't agree. Also wrote to L.H. Read chapter 6(?) of Honor's novel & liked it. Gelat came outlined his local political scheme: for work, & pressure on council, water, road etc. Earrings came from Palma: L wore them & mandarin coat to Mac Cormacks, where talked about marriage. All there agreed: 'a bad marriage is better than none.' 15 pages of Ant (chapter 10).
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
396. Friday Thursday March 20
- Title:
- Friday Thursday March 20
- 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:
- 1936-03-20
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-393
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-03-20.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Friday Thursday March 20 Ordered frames from Miguel for Betty. Paid estanco. Planted seed bed beside the drive 1 Ageratum 8 Walflower 2 Dahlia 9 Delphinium light blue 3 ? white daisies 10 Lobelia dark blue 4 Zinnias 11 Brompton Stocks 5 African marigolds 12 Lupin 6 Calceolaria(?) 13 Mignonette 7 Wild peony 14 Salpiglossis Letter from Bill Fuller about legal side of Antigua . Recast story to meet his objections, and wrote to ask him whether allright. Jenny had written nicely to Margaret Russell. Heavy day with boirà . 4 pages of Antigua . Unexpectedly good reviews of Tom's novel. Gave Betty frames & said goodbye to her. Mysterious telegram from “May”: which on enquiry proved to be Roca's mistake for Norman. Laura lost silver pin I bought her.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
397. Saturday March 21
- Title:
- Saturday March 21
- 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:
- 1936-03-21
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-394
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-03-21.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Saturday March 21 Boira again, after rain in night. Antigua (doing auction scene) finished chapter X. Letter from John Graves. Wrote. Faber anthology came. Catalina returned, has maid, she thinks. Sch & Str. returned. Laura doing Fantasia over for Epilogue , and the study of English . A Black Boy tulip out.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
398. Sunday March 22.
- Title:
- Sunday March 22.
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1936-03-22
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-395
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-03-22.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday March 22. To Rovira at Soller by the camion at 7 am. Rovira said I was constitutionally inclined to the things & they were of an unusual kind, hard to expel. Go on with the treatment. In his waiting room & afterwards at cafá worked over Chapter VIII again; expanding in afternoon & giving to Karl to type. At this rate should get it done by end of April, in 17 chapters or so. It rained violently, hot sun in afternoon. * MacCormacks said goodbye after a chicken supper and afterwards a comedia from Palma at the Sala – the first held there. About 200 present. Vida Nuova & El Sexo Debil the first in Mallorquin. Juan cleared 120pesetas . The M's left us various bottles & jars, 2 camp chairs, a stick of shaving soap, chutney, some studs, some old murder mysteries. Betty's gold net cap, a present for Laura, which she had forgotten to deliver.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
399. Monday March 23
- Title:
- Monday March 23
- Description:
- Page from Robert Graves diary manuscript. The diary includes 1,546 pages with 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games.
- Subject:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1936-03-23
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-396
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-03-23.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday March 23 Rewrote Chapter IX again, and gave to Karl to type. Laura getting on well with Epilogue . Wrote to Watt. In afternoon went with Karl to Salerosa, whence dug out flowers – monbretia & chrysanthemum which we planted at Posada. Laura's striped green silk costume from Margarita. Rewrote Chapter X. Camellia flowered surprisingly. The pink magenta fleshy flowers with triangular leaves flowered: last year April 6th was the date. S
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
400. Tuesday March 24th
- Title:
- Tuesday March 24th
- 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:
- 1936-03-24
- Rights Statement:
- In Copyright
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access. This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text
- Extent:
- 1 page : 12 x 19.5 cm or smaller
- Additional Physical Characteristics:
- The diary is written on quarto sheets, folded horizontally to form octavo booklets, one recto page devoted to each day.
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Robert Graves Diary, 1935-1939
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- diaries
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Accession Number: 1969-003, Item: Gr-1-397
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-03-24.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday March 24th 9 pages of chapter. XI of Ant . in morning. Wrote to Arthurby. John sent Cardoon Thistle seeds. Mimosa bush from Str & Sch. came: planted beside the drive. Laura sees hopes of getting Epilogue done by end of March or so. Started a poem in bed about murder mystery.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.