Nov 15 Monday

To 31 Alma Square N.W. [North Way]8, after sending off luggage in van, by car: with Solace in her cat-basket on my knee.
Lunch at Dobrin's in Baker St. Then while Laura went to flat & spoke to W.Comm. [Wing Commander] Gayford, I went with Alan & bought shoes & a Heal bed £22 in all.
Unpacking all evening & supper at McWhirter's – Alix, Harry, Laura, Alan, Beryl & I.
Karl & Marie's wedding night.
Unpacking till [until] late.

Hands Referenced

Places Mentioned

  • Alma Square

    London, Westminster, England
    Between Maida Vale and Abbey Road; R.G. & L.R. lived there in the winter of 1937. eds

  • Baker Street

    Westminster, London, England

People Mentioned

  • Laura

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

  • Alan

    Hodge, Alan
    Oxford history graduate. Became close friends with LR & RG. First husband of Beryl Graves. CP & WG

  • Beryl

    Pritchard, Beryl
    daughter of Harry and Amy Pritchard, R.G.'s second wife. Formerly married to Alan Hodge. Robert and Beryl had four children: William, Lucia, Juan and Tomas. eds

  • 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.

  • Marie

    Goldschmidt, Marie
    Karl Goldschmidt's first wife. RPG 280-81. The couple met when Marie was employed as domestic help at Ewhurst (summer 1937). eds.

  • Alix Kemp

    Kemp, Alix
    Married to poet Harry Kemp. The couple shared a house with Graves and Riding in Ewhurst, Surrey (1937). eds (RPG 277); also referred to as Frau Eierman by RG eds. see Diary August 30, 1936

  • Harry Kemp

    Kemp, Harry
    Poet. Met Graves and Riding through James Reeves in August 1936, just after their arrival in England. In their previous correspondence, Riding had been intrigued by his falling-out with Communism. He became associated with their circle, collaborating on various projects. (RPG 248-49)

  • Wing Commander Gayford

    Gayford, Commander
    (1893-1944), Wing Commander for British Royal Air Force. L.R. and R.G.'s landlord in Alma Square, London (Nov. 1937 - June 1938). eds.

Organizations Mentioned

  • Heal's London

    Heal's
    London department store eds.