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)
431. Ap 24th Friday.
- Title:
- Ap 24th 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:
- 1936-04-24
- 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-1-428
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-04-24.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Ap 24th Friday. Working over Antigua , Karl typing 'insertions' me inserting them. * Sent off Trial chapter & letter to W. Fuller. Hot day. Tom has reviewed O.S.S. well in Time . The pansy-geranium from Miguel fetched & planted. The first strawberry. Wild cyclamen first noticed.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
432. Ap 25 Saturday.
- Title:
- Ap 25 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1936-04-25
- 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-1-429
- 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_1936-04-25.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Ap 25 Saturday. Lovely day. First white climbing roses. First passion flower. The anemones still go on. Antigua gone over as far as page 176 and all insertions gummed in. Will probably reach 270 pages or more. To sea, but did not bathe. The last two days too rough, today too sea-weedy. Marjorie & Allan came to the Fonda from Soller. We had supper there & afterwards saw a 1910 (?) Chaplin film, about motor races. Solomon now keeps faithfully to heel all the time. Laura started actually writing ' Troy ' again. She is bad with throat still but continues to smoke and won't see a Doctor.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
433. Ap 26 Sunday. Presidential elections. (Centre & Right withdraw)
- Title:
- Ap 26 Sunday. Presidential elections. (Centre & Right withdraw)
- 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:
- 1936-04-26
- 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-1-430
- 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_1936-04-26.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Ap 26 Sunday. Presidential elections. (Centre & Right withdraw) Have jacked up Antigua (making a table of dates) as far as Chapter XIV. Now transcopying, to have a spare copy. Have done 3 chapters. No letters, these days. Hot. To sea, but somehow didn't feel like bathing. Punch in the evening with Str & Schw. Alan and Marjorie & Karl. Punch had wild strawberries in, and superior champagne. A. & M. had nothing to say for themselves. Lefts of Deyá polled 96 votes
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
434. Ap 27 Monday.
- Title:
- Ap 27 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:
- 1936-04-27
- 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-1-431
- 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_1936-04-27.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Ap 27 Monday. Antigua – jacking up Chapter XV & transcopying Chapter 4, 5 and 6. Whole batch of excellent O.S.S. reviews. Wrote to Richards. Walked down the valley, up by Son Bauza. Gelat returned. Had seen the expediente & defended himself to Masquelet, who gave him a solemn assurance that all was well. In the expediente report, derived from the expediente , lies and omissions which Gelat and his lawyer answered. G. & L. both vaguely accused of nefarious antecedents. There is some Palma Staff-Colonel who has done this. G. also got proceedings against carabineros dropped. He brought us a fine leash (vellum halft ) for Solomon. Tea with M. and A. at Can Torrent. Masquelet will pass through Deyá one of these days. Honor wrote to Mrs Glover saying that if she was there, she'd slap her face.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
435. Ap 28 Tuesday.
- Title:
- Ap 28 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:
- 1936-04-28
- 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-1-432
- 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_1936-04-28.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Ap 28 Tuesday. Antigua Jacked up Chapter.16 (dividing old Chapter 16 into 2) and transcopied Chapter 7. Haircut, found my lost brown scarf there. Cold day. (No rain yet. Yesterday is it sprinkled) but sun. No midges. Blackberries spreading dangerously: sending some plants to Str & Schw. £160, surprisingly, from Germany. Maria Murciana cleaning Posada. Laura a bit better. To sea (rough & dirty)[,] brought M & A back to tea, showing them rare wildflowers in the Vinyet. Transcopied Chapter 7. went over typing of 14 13. A & M came to coffee and said goodbye. “Come next summer” ["]I'm afraid we'll not be able to afford it. By next summer we[']ll have children I hope."
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
436. Ap 29th. Wednesday.
- Title:
- Ap 29th. 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:
- 1936-04-29
- 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-1-433
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-04-29.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Ap 29th. Wednesday. Laura wrote firmly in reply to an flattering insolent letter of Yeats about anthologies. Antigua . Transcopied Chapters 9 and 10 and 11. and jacked up XVII (new style). To Posada, which is being cleaned. Heavy weather. Agreed to have picnic with the Fabrica on Friday (May Day). Went over typing of [Chapter] 14. Wrote draft of foreword. Strenge told us long & dreadful story of Emmerich's punch party. (Emmerich's stinginess and greed, & the niece feeding Krasnik's dog on sly with cake, & pointing out that E. was getting all the best things to eat.[)] Dahlias sprouting.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
437. Thursday Ap. 30th The Water Audiencia
- Title:
- Thursday Ap. 30th The Water Audiencia
- 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:
- 1936-04-30
- 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-1-434
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-04-30.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday Ap. 30th The Water Audiencia No audiencia after all. It has been postponed until June because of Fascist trials (son of Son Morages in jail) & may fail then. Only Boy and the Señor of Pedrissa are still in and the latter comes from France next week. Dealt myself a tailor last night. We are having fires in the evening. A close day. There'll be no fruit this year worth mentioning. Finished jacking-up Antigua . Now only Laura's & Bill Fuller's corrections. Sebastian took out tulips, which are now over. Strong letter to Ivor Nicholson about my inclusion in the cigarette cards series of 'Celebrated Living Authors'. Henry Wiatt returned. Miguel senior put in gauze-frames at Can Torrent.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
438. Friday May 1. May Day.
- Title:
- Friday May 1. May Day.
- 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:
- 1936-05-01
- 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-1-435
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-05-01.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Friday May 1. May Day. Transcopied Antigua . At 12 o'clock the Fabrica came: G. M, Magdalena, Juan, Anita, her little sister Francisquita, and we sent the picnic things by donkey-cart to the Vinyet . There was chicken, ham-sandwiches, lamb, beer, crespels , cheese, fruit, chocolates, a cake, beer, wine, mineral-waters. Made coffee (in the little house) to which Bernardo came. Gramophone. The donkey suddenly realized what a lovely place it was and she started braying and kicking up her heels madly & rushing all over the place. Sad. Scores of other picnicers picnickers parties could be seen along the coast. News that Salerosa & Siqui are to be sold, and that the baker would probably sell the house by the sea for 15,000pesetas. We may buy. Played a lot of 66 on return & started scoring by wins not aggregate points. Bad night with stomach.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
439. Sat. May 2
- Title:
- Sat. May 2
- 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:
- 1936-05-02
- 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-1-436
- 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_1936-05-02.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sat. May 2 Started Emma last night. Today have transcopied Ant . up to end of chapter 16. and put in a long insert. Stomach still bad. L. K & I went to Posada, being cleaned out by Maria Murciana & Juana Pescadora and did various lists of things wanted. To bed at 7. owing to stomach. There has been a shipping strike since Thursday midnight: mails come by the revenue-cutters. Full moon & nightingale. Found am not quite cured, after all. Laura saw a hoopoo hoopoe in the garden today.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
440. Sunday May 3
- Title:
- Sunday May 3
- 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:
- 1936-05-03
- 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-1-437
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-05-03.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday May 3 Going through Ant . last time finding a few things. To Palma to Bullfight (novillada ) Young Mejias, nephew of El Gallo & Joselito, and young Belmonte. Both extremely good: each Mejias got 2 fails, & Belmonte 3: clean killing except that M. had trouble with a descabello . Belmonte had the better bulls. Francisquito & Juan came with us. Lena's Bar with Sch & Str. There effusively greeted by the Cooks after this long silence. The two bullfighters carried all the way to Alhambra on shoulders of crowd & there clapped at until they appeared at the window. B. very close to the bull & M. full of ideas.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.