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)
81. Monday May 13
- Title:
- Monday May 13
- 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:
- 1935-05-13
- 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-1-81
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-05-13.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday May 13 Proofs of Progress of Stories most of day. Have nearly finished picture pasting. Wire to Eddie Marsh about not coming to London and long letter. Laura wrote to Constable about Epilogue etc. Painted with black enamel top of inking slab; of sort cabinet; my file, the paper chest. Letter from Arthur Barker about List [Verlag] : who in his latest quarterly returns only admits having sold 1800 copies — having boasted the book was in its 10th edition. Eyes tired by proofs which have now gone over. At night Kurtz & Ferres to coffee at Ca'n Torrent: she goes tomorrow. Letter from John Aldridge Seems stuck at Place House as we here. Wire to Honor about bringing records. Trouble with Isabel.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
82. Tuesday. May 14
- Title:
- Tuesday. May 14
- 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:
- 1935-05-14
- 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-1-82
- 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_1935-05-14.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday. May 14 Wrote to Arthur Barker about List [Verlag] 's faking: and about sending introductory chapters of Claudius Film Version to Curtis Brown. To Oman. To Margaret Russell. Paid Dulan for Hippopotome Proofs with Laura to p. 120. Gelat came in afternoon: talk about soon building kitchen, and deposito at the Can Barceló boundary of Can Torrent: will get stones from restos of Hotel Florida. Talk about Bernardo's family crisis & probable sale of Son Canals. Went with him to sea: will bring up my tree stump. Will ask Señor of Son Bujosa for permission to roof a discarded hut for my boat. At 11 went out with for walk with Salamo, on return found car from Palma with Short and Garett: news of T.E. Lawrence 's accident believed fatal. Undertook to write obituary notice for Associated Press.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
83. Wednesday May 15
- Title:
- Wednesday May 15
- 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:
- 1935-05-15
- 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-1-83
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-05-15.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday May 15 Worked from 11 pm to 12.15 next day – 7000 words, extracts from letters chiefly. Carl typing. In morning Laura went through it with me and helped to make carbon corrections. No further news all day, though car from Palma expected, to collect the stuff. Slept in afternoon. Sudden downpour the first heavy rain for weeks. Josepha to prepare supper because Isabel not well, tired out by all this fuss from her family about her sleeping at Canellun or not .
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
84. Thursday May 16
- Title:
- Thursday May 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-05-16
- 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-1-84
- 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_1935-05-16.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Thursday May 16 This is the day Honor (& Gordon?) start. Wedding of Antonio Cas Pintat & Martine of the Casa Guapa: wedding breakfast in New Café: chocolate, ensaimadas , cream ices, sherry, champagne, sponge-cakes, cigarettes, cigars, bags of sweets to take home. Strenge to lunch ( Schwarz in Barcelona) Finished the picture-pasting & varnished over. Rainy day. Morey round table came. To Margarita's with Laura. Karl returned from Palma: news of T.E. Lawrence : may live: fractured skull. Accident was Monday. Tomatoes in case came. Very tired. Changed Posada picture came. Wired Edward Marsh about T.E. Lawrence To village with Gelat to hear radio news. "Unchanged" Gelat told of visit of mysterious French engineer with designs on his water power.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
85. Friday May 17
- Title:
- Friday May 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-05-17
- 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-1-85
- 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_1935-05-17.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Friday May 17 Went to Viña Vieja to prepare house for Honor & Co. Women doing Laura 's bedroom. Wire from Eddie Marsh "Almost no hope: sinking." Got Gelat to put motor in going to provide power for radio. Listened in but couldn't get news through. To Palma with Amador: Strenge came with us because Schw. arrives tomorrow early. Listened in at Short's 5 p.m. Unchanged. Went and bought things. Laura's turquoise ring at Margarita Mateu 's. Also curtain for her room; lace length; for table, three more silhouettes for Posada , yellow bits for mesquida table, Ibizenca scarf. Three wicker chairs for Posada. At Pomar's I got a light gold ring 25 pts. which we gave to Strenge because she was upset; and chose a baroque pearl necklace to be strung by an hour later for 140 pts. Laura liked it. She & Karl talked things over with Sabater. Got 400 odd pts from Short and he helped me send off T.E. Lawrence 's self-written obituary by airmail to Pinker to be used only in case of. Cabled to Pinker that it was coming. Listened in at 9.15[p.m.] but no news obtainable.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
86. Sat. May 18th
- Title:
- Sat. May 18th
- 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:
- 1935-05-18
- 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-1-86
- 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_1935-05-18.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sat. May 18th Rosa came: cushions for press-room sofa etc. Black painted catches on patio door. Women doing Laura's workroom, only dusting, not whitewashing as smoky yellow colour pleasing. No wire from Short. All afternoon at Viña Vieja and Can Gelat: both women, Laura , Karl & myself. Brought furniture, eventually for Posada, in donkey cart with Sebastian: just escaped rain-storm. Made both houses suitable & clean, putting up pictures, hangings, shelves etc. Deposito will be finished by Wednesday: two days lost by rainy weather. The man will come & mount turbine on Monday. Wrote to Westminster Bank for brown paper parcels to be sent here by sea. At nine o'clock listened in at village but could not get station until 1/2 way through news. "This morning's bulletin stated his right lung (lobe?) affected." Don't know if this was him or not.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
87. Sunday May 19th
- Title:
- Sunday May 19th
- 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:
- 1935-05-19
- 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-1-87
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-05-19.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Sunday May 19th No telegram yet from Short. Went to baker & paid 2½ months bill - 140 pts. And paid 50 on account at Estanco. Felt rotten. Wrote to Mother. Karl came; had told Emmerich about her effect on Strenge 's nerves. Emmerich felt insulted. I had to go along to talk her quiet, representing Strenge as ill. In afternoon locked up and slept till 5. Then to village. Laura over-tired. Apparently Gordon is coming: letter for him. Late went to hear radio at New Café: could only get a German newstation- heard T.E. Lawrence bulletin, but missed the important sentence. Louis Golding's Five Silver Daughters came: we found it incredibly bad. New law: licence for dogs & bicycles needed. S's licence is 10 pesetas. Camelia blossomed.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
88. Monday May 20
- Title:
- Monday May 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-05-20
- 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-1-88
- Fonds Title:
- Robert Graves collection
- Fonds Identifier:
- SC050
- Is_referenced_by:
- Robert Graves Diary project URL: http://graves.uvic.ca/diary_1935-05-20.html and Special Collection finding aid: https://search.archives.uvic.ca/robert-graves-collection
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Monday May 20 To village: plates & cups & things for Viña Vieja. Table from Fábrica too. Two cables to London: to Pinker telling him not to use article unless T.E. Lawrence succumbs. to Constable with particulars for the Epilogue estimate. Then all morning at Viña and Can Gelat: putting up mosquito nets, mirrors, shelf paper etc. Laura has appendix trouble: went to bed on her return. To Calabat to pay for hen: ordered another. Picked another 2 lbs of strawberries. One cherry. Can expect no fruit this year. News from Short via Gelat that T.E. Lawrence died Saturday night. Cable from Pinker that obituary published in E.Standard tonight. From Cape asking permission reprint Lawrence and the Arabs at 4/6 10%. Replied, “Yes.” Strenge & Schwarz back: with Breeze a pedigree puppy. Gave him Strick Drunter . He gave me a silver Gallo-Roman coin.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
89. Tuesday May 21
- Title:
- Tuesday May 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:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985 and Authors, English
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-05-21
- 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-1-89
- 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_1935-05-21.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Tuesday May 21 Laura had a bad night with dysentry. Supplied her with hot-bottles & tea. In morning to village: curtains to Catalina at Viña Vieja to sew rings on. Wire to Short about Llandaff Castle arrival. Round Can Torrent ash table: success. Also oval Mesquida one being made by Miguel, inlaid with olive oval and mulberry. Afternoon making beds etc at Viña Vieja. Cable from Pinker for permission reprint article in Toronto Star & for copyright authority. Replied. Also from Korda asking whether would undertake T.E. Lawrence film. Replied yes with approval of trustees. Letter from Isabel Mayer about possible visit of N.S.R. here. Cable putting off & “possibly visiting U.S. this autumn” also long letter to Isabel and N. Also letter to Hon E.E. about copyright. Laura in pain ate only porridge & toast. Llandaff Castle, according to Short, delayed until 5 p.m. Accounts from Barker & U.S. [£]800 in all. expected [£]1000.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.
90. Wednesday May 22.
- Title:
- Wednesday May 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:
- Authors, English and Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Creator:
- Graves, Robert, 1895-1985
- Language:
- eng
- Date Created:
- 1935-05-22
- 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-1-90
- 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_1935-05-22.html
- Date Digitized:
- 2002-07-19
- Transcript:
- Wednesday May 22. To Palma with camión at 11 p.m. a.m. Laura opened a/c with Hispano-Americano bank. Paid Pomar. Ordered brooch setting for coin. At Casas, Laura bought mirror with drawers for 25 p[ts]. Bought pañuelos at Ribas. News that boat was delayed. Waited about at Alhambra & Lena's bar (first lunch at Parisien Restaurant: good) Finally learned that [Llandaff Castle] wouldn't come in until tomorrow. Paid Short £5 commission for T.E. Lawrence work & Garett £1 & Karl £5. Everyone pleased. Gelat upset at learning of médico's machinations.
- Technical Note:
- 300 dpi TIFF. Migration metadata by MT.