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)
591. Monday Sept 21st
- Title:
- Monday Sept 21st
- 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:
- 1936-09-21
- 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-1-579
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-09-21.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday Sept 21st Worked on Strabo poem again (four drafts now): L & I went over the L.H. analysis and sent it off. Mr. Brooks (of A.M.Heath) came & arranged with us about translation rights in Seizin books. Jenny to borrow money: had almost a row with her. Shortage due to letting a broke boy-friend off paying for night-club on the Thursday. To Charing Cross road bookshops. Bought dictionary: little else. News theatre – no news, only jokes. Back to work. Cards for Epilogue . Fifth draft of Parent to Children .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
592. Tuesday Sept 22nd
- Title:
- Tuesday Sept 22nd
- 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:
- 1936-09-22
- 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-1-580
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-09-22.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday Sept 22nd Jenny has been offered £100 for her life story for Daily Sketch Worked on outline for her, to keep it within bounds. Perceval suddenly came to lunch, full of old stories and a new farce he has just written. Supper with Norman at Prada – he has quarrelled with Dylan Thomas because D. threw a drunken party in Norman's studio & didn't clean up afterwards. Then went to Chelsea to see if M.G.M. had used any of my Copperfield version in their film. Awful. Noticed an anachronistic banana . No plagiarisms, though. Nice note from Mrs. Churchill.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
593. Wednesday Sept 23rd
- Title:
- Wednesday Sept 23rd
- 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:
- 1936-09-23
- 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-1-581
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-09-23.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday Sept 23rd Splitting headache: to bed again with Aspro and hot bottle. Letter to Saturday Review of Literature to correct solecistic inversion of names. Margaret Russell sel sent me a Parker fountain pen. Tea with Jenny: went over with her, notes I had made of her life-story. Sherry party at Constables: representatives of W.H.Smith, Jackson, Times Book Club, Simpkin Marshall, Bumpus etc. Depressing talk, but sherry & olives & prawns carried it off. Maisie to supper.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
594. Thursday Sept 24th
- Title:
- Thursday Sept 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1936-09-24
- 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-1-582
- 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_1936-09-24.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday Sept 24th Looking over Alan's poems; wrote to Mrs Churchill, Black about the £1000, A.G enclosing £52 for Sam's school. Catherine to lunch, and Jenny, at Prada's. Afterwards Jenny Laura & I went through her life-story with her. Then with Catherine to Selfridge to buy her chocolates & marshmallows etc for school; then saw her off at Marylebone St Station. Norman to supper: getting Jenny's life in order for her, Karl typing it. Laura going over Norman's poems. Reassuring news of Government counter-offensive at Talavera.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
595. Friday Sept 25th
- Title:
- Friday Sept 25th
- 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:
- 1936-09-25
- 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-1-583
- 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_1936-09-25.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Friday Sept 25th 21st anniversary of Loos. Left Jenny's life at Charles', collected Timothy, who was very well-behaved. Went to Caledonian market. Bought pinchbeck chain 2/-, carbuncle & red glass brooch 4/6, dark blue Victorian beads 1/-, Victorian tartan stamp-box 2/6, blue Wedgewood platter 5/-, completed solitaire set at 2d a marble, turquoise ring 15/-, French carved shell and silver powder puff (1790) 15/-, length of silk 2/6, soup-plates 1/-. Also for Maisie Wedgewood coffee pot 6/-, Scotch brooch 2/6, for Dorothy a brooch 2/6, a shell with cameo of Wellington for Gammers Hall (The Hutchinsons). Karl took Timothy to a cinema. Started on a difficult poem. In evening David Reeves came & worked out with Laura dimensions of a jewell-case for her.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
596. Sat. Sept 26th
- Title:
- Sat. Sept 26th
- 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:
- 1936-09-26
- 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-1-584
- 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_1936-09-26.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sat. Sept 26th Worked at the poem: tore it up. Lunch with Glendinning at Prada: he explained the composition of Constable's. Went down the Caledonian road looking for a table to replace the limed oak one in the living room – nothing. Feet ached Shin muscles ached with the pavement. Anxiety about Spain. Going over Harry Kemp's & Ward H's poems with Laura for Epilogue . Margaret Russell's Parker pen which she sent me refitted with a medium nib; cushions from Heal in brown glazed chintz.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
597. Sunday, Sept 27th
- Title:
- Sunday, Sept 27th
- 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:
- 1936-09-27
- 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-1-585
- 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_1936-09-27.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday, Sept 27th Richards came at 12.30 and stayed with us till 11 (news film). He was very pleased & talked a little too much: rejected food at Prada's as not in his line, but enjoyed cold supper at flat. Told of Blaina's unemployment problem – “all as happy as trout.” Has just got his birth certificate clearing up the mystery of his birth. His real name is Francis Philip Woodruff & his father was a colliery owner. Spanish news still more anxious. Richards & I called on Jenny, who was had heard nothing from Charles.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
598. Monday Sept 28th
- Title:
- Monday Sept 28th
- 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:
- 1936-09-28
- 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-1-586
- 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_1936-09-28.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday Sept 28th Honor & Julian came: Julian played with marbles. I lunched with Faber & Morley at Simpsons – with Richards. After hot brandy at a pub with R. & M. Morley was surprisingly better than I had expected. I told him that Auden was a thief. He agreed – 'a magpie'. Faber was surprised. Silverside, Stilton, lager, port. Laura had lunch with Norman & Honor. To Antique dealers exhibition with David Reeves Grosvenor house. Great sameness of exhibits: bought 5 Hester Bateman teaspoons (45/-)
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
599. T ue hur sday. Sept 29th
- Title:
- T ue hur sday. Sept 29th
- 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:
- 1936-09-29
- 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-1-587
- 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_1936-09-29.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- T ue hur sday. Sept 29th Checking Harry's Philosophy , for Epilogue , with Laura; & the reconstituted Ward Hutchinson poems. Charles has returned Jenny's life – saying that she ought to say how what chorus girls earn their & how they spend their money. Letter from Mallik after 12 years: he is coming to England. Written as if all just the same as ever. Lunch with Eddie Marsh at Etoile . He is now personal secretary to Malcolm Macdonald. We had thought to Ramsay, & were surprised that he thought him so nice and that he had never heard a word against him. To Selfridges: L. bought lizard shoes & mackintosh, I, mac, warm slippers, brown jersey. Bridget to supper (black hat & volant for L.): stories about the beastliness of rich customers: Mrs Foch, Mrs Simpson etc. Lost wallet with £2. ? ¿.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
600. Wednesday Sept 30
- Title:
- Wednesday Sept 30
- 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:
- 1936-09-30
- 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-1-588
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1936-09-30.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday Sept 30 Poem about writing a poem. No good. Laura to Doctor who reassured her about her heart tonsils and appendix: told her to stop smoking because of inflammatioin of throat. New spotted muslin curtains in work-room. Walk in Park with L. (Dahlias.) Michael Sadleir & Miss Smith (publicity) of Constables. Talk about impossibility of selling good books. To Student of Prague and Bed & Sofa at Forum under Charing Cross station. Temporarily stopping smoking except for a cigarette after each meal.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.