Diary entries for March 1936Diary of Robert Graves 1935-39 and ancillary materialGraves, Robert (1895-1985)compiled byBeryl Graves, C.G. Petter, L.R. RobertsUniversity of Victoria LibrariesP.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5CanadaJuly, 2006UVic Text Analysis Portal for Research URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUVic Humanities Computing and Media Centre URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUniversity of Victoria, Victoria B.C., Canada
Copyright of diary available by permission of the Robert Graves Trust
Copyright of introduction to diary available by permission of Elizabeth Grove-White
Copyright of diary markup, editorial notes and abstract by permission of the University of Victoria Libraries
Copyright of notes marked WG by permission of William Graves
Copyright of notes marked KG, Robert Graves Trust
University of Victoria Humanities Computing and Media Centre and University of Victoria Libraries
held in the University of Victoria Libraries, Special Collections, Robert Graves Collection
P.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5Canadaacquired by the Libraries from Robert Graves in 1971 through the offices of Bertram RotaSC050GR01Diary of Robert Graves 1935-39 and ancillary materialGraves, Robert (1895-1985)University of Victoria LibrariesP.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5CanadaJuly, 2006UVic Text Analysis Portal for Research URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUVic Humanities Computing and Media Centre URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUniversity of Victoria, Victoria B.C., Canada
Copyright of diary available by permission of the Robert Graves Trust
Copyright of introduction to diary available by permission of Elizabeth Grove-White
Copyright of diary markup, editorial notes and abstract by permission of the University of Victoria Libraries
Copyright of notes marked WG by permission of William Graves
Copyright of notes marked KG, Robert Graves Trust
University of Victoria Humanities Computing and Media Centre and University of Victoria Libraries
held in the University of Victoria Libraries, Special Collections, Robert Graves Collection
P.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5Canadaacquired by the Libraries from Robert Graves in 1971 through the offices of Bertram RotaSC050GR01Victoria, BC, CanadaUniversity of Victoria LibrariesSpecial CollectionsOHC0005681PR6013.R35
Graves' diary manuscript includes 1546 pages including 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games, etc.
Private URIs to the ref prefix are pointers
to entities in references.xml, which contains all
people, places, organizations, and other entities referred to
throughout the project.
Pointers to the repository of facsimile images of the Graves diary.
Primary hand.
Secondary hand.
Secondary hand.
March 1st St David's Day.
A.F.G.
JoannaJuana? K.G.; same as "the fisherwoman" (W.G.)? eds.came,
saying that AntoniaJoanna's daughter
eds.(Servidora) servant eds.; a nickname
K.G. wanted to work for us; Lauracomprometidoedbespoken K.G. for 2 years hence.
H.S. wrote enclosing suggestion from
one Jamieson that my poems should be
published: wrote about Seizin plans
for a single publisher in America to publish at least
key-books.
Wrote out legal questions of Antigua.
Isabellamaid K.G. dismissed for lying & being out late with Pancho etc: Gelat talked to her.
March 2 Monday
Isabella went.
A.F.G. nearing the end: at it all day.
Schw.Str.young Nikl
Schw & his friend came. Went to tea there & supper
to Salerosa.
It rained there: back by car.
G. probably going to Madrid on Wednesday.
Vines already in leaf.
Plum & cherry (my seedlings) planted behind Can Torrent.
March 3 Tuesday .
Up before 7.
Went round the garden (L & I)
deciding on plants. Hung pictures at Can
Torrent. Antonia (Joanna's daughter) came
on trial to work. Schw.,Nickel & Fraulein ?
Fraulein Query. RG; see Mar. 5th.
eds to tea.
A.F.G. finally finished, all but the aphorisms, at 12.30
a.m.
(Laura then worked on at those)
Wrote to L.H. enclosing note based on Stenning's excavations of Midrash comments
on Seven Pillars in proverbs: and to thank Stenning.
March 4 Wednesday .
Cabled Leicester GalleryRun by Sandy Brown; London K.G. to
sell Deyá Valleyby John Aldridge K.G. instead
of keeping for us; & to Watt
'awaiting cable' about T.E. stuffmaterial for the projected biography? eds not yet
acknowledged.
G. goes to Madrid, after a row with the Mayor, the
medico'sdoctor's eds. sisters & a plain declaration to the
maestroschoolmaster K.G. & Secretariocivil servant administrator in the Deyá town hall
W.G. that he is going to get rid of Medico & turn out the Parish council.
Watt replied not yet received: but Castor says has gone by sea: takes weeks.
Laura tired & went to bed (gave G. 1000pts.).
Went over Schw.
Aphorisms? Not identified. See also Aug. 24, 1935. eds.
with Laura. Note on Translations.
March 5 Thursday
Went once more over A.F.G.
Letter from A.G., writing her memoirs.
To Posada, planted a Canpabo rose & replanted pinks.
Laura unwell (dull cold heavy day)
& went to bed in afternoon, as yesterday.
G. sailed tonight.
Gordon sent a love-novelBolero K.G.; sent back. Visit, goodbye,
to Nickel &
Fraulein Query.
At night I worked over Sch. note
on organ-music: in bed.
G. stopped men working on depositoreservoir K.G..
March 6 Friday .
Going over organ-music note with Laura.
Kordanot calling on me this month. Letter from Jenny about her life.
Went to Salerosa to greet Betty & Jennifer
who had brought me a hat I had ordered.
Laura disgusted by Catalina's mess in the cellars.
Practically gave notice.
Going over Sch.Anecdotes of
Art dealing till very late.
Telegram from Watt announcing arrival of
mss
manuscripts.
Laura's new grey-green suit.
Wrote to V.W.R: Laura too.
Today L.H. sees Arnie about leave to publish.the T.E. Lawrence material for T.E. Lawrence to His Biographers. eds
March 7 Saturday .
Hot day.
Rosa came: Laura's pink & blue green thing
.
More work on Anecdotes & getting organ stuff clear for Karl.
'Gavin Douglas' came.
Laura works on Convalescent Conversations.
To Lluchalcari for tea x(me beer & sausage sandwich) where SolomonGraves' dog
eds. broke his leash trying to eat Norte, the dog there.
Worked late on Anecdotes. Finished them. No more A.F.G.until except typescript and proofs.
March 8 Sunday .
Hot day: eyes very tired.
To Posada, where watered plants.
At Canellun put begonias in pots.
Had to write questions about Law in Ant. again: lost them. A lawyer called FullerWilliam i.e. Bill henceforth K.G. will answer them.
Madora arrived to say that Gelats her cousin had wired that Gelat had arrived safe.
MacCormacks to tea: Betty brought Laura
cigarettesTheir preferred English brand was "Richmond Gems Mild"
K.G. & me a tobacco pouch.
Reading Laura's Convalescent Conversations.
At a short session"66" K.G.; card game eds.L & K both got double-tailorsrefers to card game. eds..
Convalescent Conv at night.
1936 March 9th Monday
To sea: to bathe in small calacove K.G.. Let SolomonGraves' dog eds. off the
leash to follow. He ran away. Returned to Canellun, hoping to find him there. Not there. Down to Cala sea again, found him in other Cala, where he had old-fashionedly gone as more
suitable place. Meanwhile Mrs. MacCormack
had gone back from Cala to Salerosa to tell W. McC not to bring down the dog, Ramell, for fear of a
fight. Karl went down by long road to look
for Solomon all the way to Cala.
Went over points in C.C. with Laura.
Warm wind.
21Vingt-et-un - card game K.G. at Salerosa with the 4 McCormacks.
Wrote to Jenny, A.G., Clarissa, Fuller with questions.
March 10 Tuesday
Hot wind.
Telegram from Gelat: no news till Wednesday.
Went over Ant
Ch
chapter 4 with Laura.
Sent off A.F.Germ. and C.Conv.by "Madeleine Vara" K.G.
a.k.a.Laura Riding eds.
L.H. reports that Arnie has referred letter business to Cape.
Everyone feeling very tired. Thought of Palma. To bed early after 66see note Mar. 8
eds. & a tailorrefers to card game. eds. by
me.
March 11 Wednesday
Wrote to Catherine & Mary P.
Also Vyvyan R.
Corrected Ant.
Ch
chapter 4.
Fine day: to Posada to water flowers. MacCormacks to tea.
Working over Ant.
Ch.
chapter 5.
Laura at Epilogue II editorial.
To village late.
Two white (wild) tulips out & a red one.
March 12 Thursday.
Rained in night.
Working at
Ch
chapter. 5 & 6 of Antigua.
Korda will call on me at end of April, he
writes.
Juan brought tubs for Laurels: one of which
seems to be dying. A telegram from Gelat:
'va bien hoy hablado con el Ministro de Guerra no se cuando
volvere.'"all well today talked to War Minister don't
know when returning" K.G.
Planted 2 pinks, a marigold & a number of nasturtiums at the Posada.
March 13 Friday
Working at
Ch
chapter 5 & 6 of Ant. all day.
To Posada, planted
love-in-the-mist
and hollyhock.
Laura doing other people's poems such as
Ward H.
MacCormacks to supper.
Played 21see Mar. 9 eds.. I won about 10 pesetas at 5 centimo
pts.points? K.G.
March 14 Sat. .
Laura working at Suicidenot found. eds. for Epilogue. I at Antigua: making out sequence definitely for end of book.
Hot day.
Bathed: water very cold. Many figs & almonds nipped by sea-air in too
early leaf.
No news from G.
Wrote to A.G., A.B., Korda.
Sunday March 15.th
Wrote 11
pp
pages of Chapter VIII of Antigua. Hot day.
Laura going over 'Private Conversation'possibly "From a Private Correspondence on Reality"? eds. for Epilogue
Gelat wires 'arriving tomorrow'; from
Alicante. Medora pessimistic.
Laura's green shot-silk blouse from Margarita.
Transplanted the Dama de Nochean evergreen shrub eds..
Anti-MarchJuan March KG; RG associates with Franco: see March 16th. eds demonstrations in Palma.
First artichokes.
Monday March 16
To Palma. Met Gelat at Alhambra where he
tricked us into thinking his cousins Don
Pedro and Donna Catalina who came with
him to avoid troubles in Madrid were mannerless strangers. Had been to see Governor of Madrid,
Azaña, Portela, the Mallorquin deputies & Minister of
War: the latter reassured him xabout
road. Franco, in prison, is said to have
been, with March,See March 15th. eds the person intriguing
against foreigners in Mallorca. Ques asking parliament to rescind 5
kilo
kilometer decree.
Saw Str & Schw.; who had gone on writing his anecdotes.
Bought silver scarf pin with blue enamel for 4
pes.
pesetas gold brooch with emerald matrix & pearls for 45
pes.
pesetas, topaz earrings for
6pts.
Laura made Mrs
Wyatt cry: she came to coffee & again to beer. Sent Julian things by her.
Tried to get suit made: but
tailor refused to copy; so lost job.
The charlatan had made long report & taken snaps of us: described
garden wall as a fortification 1 metre thick. Gelat also a spy.
Tuesday March 17
14
pp
pages of
Ch
chapter 8 of Antigua.
Watt treating with Dr. Schwartz.
Don Pedro, Dona
Catalina & all Fabrica
people came with Gelat in afternoon.
In evening at SalaDon Pedro & Mrs MacCormack had conversation each in own language
& D.P. told about his exchanging
French & Spanish when a young officer with a girl at the his pension. I said "
El efecto del Amor."" No Señor pero el Amor fué
el efecto."
The effects of love.No, sir, but love was its effect. K.G. But then he had to
go to the War in Africa & doesn't know who taught her the rest of
Spanish.
Boirà on the mountain.
Catherine wrote about L: & L replied
& I said her heart did her credit, but her facts were wrong.
Wednesday March 18
Antigua
Ch
chapter 9. 9
pp
pages in the
morning. No letters except from H.S.
who is deleting nothing from O.S.
Tulips (parrot tulips now) coming up
all crooked & wrong (except Kauffmannia) from the
soil being too heavy still. First artichokes.
Planted some
love-in-the-mist
in the bed by the depositoresevoir K.G..
4 more
pp
pages in evening.
Pointless afternoon with Kitty West, Joyce Forde & West child (friends
of Maisie's) who brought out Laura mandarin coat, from Honor, name-tapes for me, books for Laura & bottle of scent. Nothing
said: all polite. Only remark that nobody could be an opera singer if
tonsils removed.
San PepeJosé K.G.Thursday March 19
Catalina went to Palma to look for a fellow-criadamaid K.G.. (Maria Murciana
& Antonia)
V. Richards wrote enclosing section of his
Lawrence book; about
S.A.mysterious dedicatée of
introd.
introduction to Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.E.L. K.G.
Said that A.W.L. knew who S.A. was &
would reveal in (September) Symposium. I answered that A. told me years ago that it was Sharif Achmed: but that
I didn't agree.
Also wrote to L.H.
Read
Ch
chapter 6(?) of Honor's novelThe Heathen. eds & liked it.
Gelat came outlined his local political
scheme: for work, & pressure on council, water, road etc.
Earrings came from Palma: L wore them & mandarin coat to Mac Cormacks, where talked about marriage. All there
agreed: 'a bad marriage is better than none.'
Letter from Bill Fuller about legal side of Antigua. Recast story to meet his objections, and wrote to ask him whether
allright.
Jenny had written nicely to Margaret Russell.
Heavy day with boirà.
4
pp
pages of Antigua. Unexpectedly good reviews of Tom's
novel.The Moon's No Fool. eds
Gave Betty frames & said goodbye to
her.
Mysterious telegram from May: which on enquiry proved to be Roca's mistake for Norman.
Laura lost silver pin I bought her.
Saturday March 21
Boira again, after rain in night.
Antigua (doing auction scene) finished chapter X.
Letter from John Graves. Wrote.
Faber anthology came.
Catalina returned, has maid, she thinks.
Sch & Str. returned.
Laura doing Fantasia over for Epilogue, and the study of English"The Exercise of English" by Laura Riding and Robert Graves pub'd in Epilogue II? eds..
A Black Boy tulip out.
Sunday March 22.
To Rovira at Soller by the camionbus eds. at 7 am. Rovira said
I was constitutionally inclined to the thingskidney stones?
K.G. & they were of an unusual kind, hard to expel. Go on
with the treatment. In his waiting room & afterwards at
cafá worked over Chapter VIII again; expanding in afternoon
& giving to Karl to type. At this
rate should get it done by end of April, in 17 chapters or so.
It rained violently, hot sun in afternoon.
* MacCormacks said goodbye after a chicken
supper and afterwards a comediaplay K.G. from Palma at the
Sala – the first held there.
About 200 present. Vida NuovaNew Life K.G. & El Sexo DebilThe Weaker Sex K.G. the first in Mallorquin. Juan cleared 120
p
pesetas . The M's left us various bottles
& jars, 2 camp chairs, a stick of shaving soap, chutney, some studs,
some old murder mysteries. Betty's gold net
cap, a present for Laura, which she had
forgotten to deliver.
Monday March 23
Rewrote Chapter IX again, and gave to Karl
to type.
Laura getting on well with Epilogue.
Wrote to Watt.
In afternoon went with Karl to Salerosa, whence dug out flowers
– monbretia & chrysanthemum which we planted at Posada.
Laura's striped green silk costume from Margarita.
Rewrote Chapter X.
Camellia flowered surprisingly. The pinkmagenta fleshy flowers with triangular leaves
flowered: last year April 6th was the date.
S
Tuesday March 24th
9
pp
pages of
Ch
chapter. XI of Ant. in morning.
Wrote to Arthurby.
John sent Cardoon Thistle seeds.
Mimosa bush from Str & Sch. came: planted beside the drive.
Laura sees hopes of getting Epilogue done by end of March or so.
Started a poem in bed about murder mystery.this poem and "No One Can Guess" evidently became the poem "X". DW
Wednesday March 25
Heavy rain until 11.
Finished Chapter XI (9
pp
pages).
Gelat explained to us
more fully his political schemes for the
Ap
April 12
elections: may have to be mayor when the Right Council is elected and then forced to resign by pinpricks.
Reading Epilogue. Pansy singing in new
cafá.Bar Las Palmeras eds
Mystery of Lockharts' not-tipping Juan.
Red, and white tulips .(Elegans Alba and
Gesneriana)
Thursday Mayrch 26
Gelat's triumph with the pomegranate. It is
showing signs of life at last, when all other pomegranates are in full leaf.
Gelat threatened it only yesterday that if it died he'd
plant it again.
LoquatsEriobotrya japonica eds. turning yellow.
Reading Epilogue.
Fine day, rather cold.
Getting house tidy.
Watt can get £1000 for material"T.E.L." K.G. - £500 for my letters. But is sending to
U.S. to Rosenbach
antiquarian bookseller K.G. first.
Lunch at Costa D'Or with Kitty West & Joyce
Ford and Tony West. Much nicer.
Then to Soller & back by taxi.
Brought back candytuft from Costa Brava.
In evening flamenco in Sala, with dancing by a Cuban woman and a dirty tale in Mallorquin
by the guitarrist. Raffle as usual. The Pansy, 'Pepito de Can Jordi', was persuaded to sing so we left.
Friday. MayMarch 27
Three drafts of a poem: No one can Guess.see entry for Apr.3, 1936. (Check drafts in Buffalo for this title.) DW; eds.
Reading Epilogue. We have more than enough material we find.
Ortelius'sAbraham Ortelius (1527-1598) eds. map of Spain 1573
came (30/-). Took it to be framed in lemon wood.
Stomach better: bad for the last three or four heavy days. Lovely day today.
Epilogue all day.
Yesterday, Gelat says, the Engineer was
encouraging about water. Has now decided to look for water in Antonio'sAntonio de Ca's Pintat? Antonio Murciano? eds ground: water for Puig and our attic that way. (The
government to pay 25% of the 30,000 pesetas needed).
Carl made a tailorrefers to card
game. eds. three days agoat "66" K.G., 1 today. We
play every night.
Saturday MayMarch 28
Chapter XIII 7 pages.
Hot day.
Bathed. Mrs Oliphant'sMargaret Oliphant(1828-1897) K.G., eds.
Lit.Hist.of England Literary History of England 1790-1825
K.G. came; one volume short. and Plato in Bohnedition
K.G..
Bee-orchids.
Laura's new blue silk blouse.
Pansy woke us up at 12.30 carolling along
carreteramain road K.G..
Catalina's gift vase refused: she was very
sweet about it.
Carl says Next time she'll give you a
book-token.
Sunday MayMarch 29th
Chapter XIII Ant. 7
pp
pages.
Can't feel well these days.
Consulting with Laura about poems for Epilogue.
Planted periwinkles, and a hydrangea at the Posada.
Matthias who gardens at Can Barcelo gave me roots of the marguerite plant
there; put it into the bed.
Slept in afternoon by mistake.
Read Murder in St John's Woodby E.C.R. Lorac, 1934. eds. in the evening.
Monday Mayarch 30th
Finished Chapter XIII.
Black boy tulip out.
Boira and headaches: Laura with a bad cold.
To the Pinets which have been put in order,
ploughed & the trees trimmed.
Laura wrote for Honor to come, even for a month.
Don Pedro & Dona Catalina came to Canellun & we played them boleros
& jotasSpanish dance music eds. on the gramophone.
Laura went to bed at 6 oclock.
7
pp
pages of Chapter XIV.
Planted bee-orchids in a pot, from the Pinets.
Tuesday Mayrch 31
Fine sunny day.
TamariskTamarix eds. in bloom.
11
pp
pages of Chapter XIV.
Watt reports having made terms with Doubleday Doran & has good
hopes of the book selling in U.S.
Laura a bit better, doing Hodge's 'Philosophy' for Epilogue. Planted some mimosa at the Posada.
All plants there are doing well.
Str & Schw. gave us dahlia roots.
Supper at Costa D'Or as guests of Don Pedro & Da Catalina.
Lots of laughter. Gelat drank a lot and saidjoked that he was more than a
socialist, he was a communist. A ver este pugnopuñoSee this fist! K.G. (clenching his fist).