June 7th Friday

Gordon's birthday. Five tier cake from local bakery. To village to find cigarette-making-machine, mislaid. Couldn't. Finally Laura asked Solomon: it was in his kennel. Posada; six men at work. Three new window frames now in, and mina1 dug. Flowers for fiesta (carnations at their best; love in the mist going over)
Some pages of C.F.V. [Claudius Film Version]
To Ca'n Juni: will be a good many plums & apples, and a great many oranges.
Gelat's news better. He has avoided danger of having Ca'n Madó [sic: Ca'n Medo] sequestrated. Two lawyers came & said that Doctor's2 party has no case, & that water cannot be shut by judicial order until the case is lost, and appeal lost etc. Lawyers will see that Dr's party loses a fortune in prosecution costs. Gelat's costs will be paid by not having to run motor. (But nine days late for his plan of sequestrating Molí.) Gordon's party: white table cloth, red runner, cake, candles, pineapple ice from hotel3, champagne. Desert island treatment. Gordon rhyme, Mary song, Carl essay, Honor drawing - me, dance in patio with Laura as orchestra. Then to Can Torrent. Beer, buffet.4 Gordon had to guess his presents by licking, feeling with feet & other tactile impressions. Letter-writing between us, Gordon's case subject of much correspondence between L [Laura] & Honor, & Honor & me. Laura wore her 1860s dress.

Editorial Notes

1passageway at side of house. KG
2the Médico's eds
4RG continues this entry at the bottom of the previous page in his diary (June 6th) eds

Hands Referenced

Places Mentioned

  • Posada, La

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    House on the Puig next to Deyá church. Originally part of the Es Molí property. It had been rented by the church for Sunday school. RG and LR bought it in February, 1935, to use as a guest house for their visitors. WG, eds.

  • Ca'n Madó

    Majorca, Sp
    Old flour mill, on the road to Palma, converted into a hydro-electric plant by Gelat. Laura bought him a generator. Part of the orchard was bought by LR & RG. WG

  • Molí, Es

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    Large estate which Gelat divided up and sold for the owner. The farm-house was bought by Juan Mayol. RG & LR bought the Posada, Es Piñets and part of Ca'n Madó. WG

  • Can Torrent

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    House next to Canellun also belonging to LR & RG. Built by Norman Cameron. WG

  • Ca'n Juni

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    garden terraaces belonging to Juan Gelat KG . RG also had access to the fruit there. WG

  • Hotel Costa d'Or

    Llucalcari, Majorca, Sp
    In Llucalcari. Went there for drinks and occasionally meals. It was the best hotel, the Fonda being rather basic. The Turismo was closed. WG

People Mentioned

  • Karl/Carl

    Goldschmidt, Karl
    Karl Goldschmidt, later Kenneth Gay: Graphic artist, friend and secretary of Robert Graves and Laura Riding since 1934. R. G. spells both as Carl and Karl.

  • Laura

    Riding, Laura
    (1901-91) American poet. Laura Riding (née Reichenthal; then Laura Gottschalk).

  • Gelat

    Más, Juan Marroig
    Juan Marroig Mas, called Gelat: Landowner on Deyá and friend of Robert Graves and Laura Riding (L.R. & R.G.'s factotum. W.G.)

  • Médico

    Vives, Antonio Dr.
    The village doctor (Deyá). At odds with Gelat (water rights controversy). His brother, Juan Vives, was Gelat's son-in-law. WG

  • Mary

    Phillips, Mary
    Visitor. Typed most of I, Claudius. Later married James Reeves. WG

  • Gordon

    Glover, Gordon
    Married to Honor Wyatt. WG

  • Honor

    Wyatt, Honor
    Journalist. Arrived in Deyá fortuitously. Married to Gordon Glover...Son Julian. W.G. First acquainted with R.G. and L.R. early in 1934; returned to visit in 1935; continued friendship in England. eds (RPG 211).

Bibliography

    • Title: Claudius Film Version [The Fool of Rome] [a condensed novel based on I, Claudius]
    • Author: Graves, Robert