DECEMBER 1935

Graves begins the month with a hangover (up late dancing the night before), the perfect start to what proves to be a rather dreary, not particularly festive December for Graves and Riding. Both suffer illnesses and general exhaustion: too many late nights and too much work take their toll. Graves complains of digestive problems and is taking some kind of "cure," while Laura is troubled by her appendix. Karl, too, is ill. The workload is heavy as they ready the latest issue of Focus for publication.
As well, Graves spends long days on the T. E. Lawrence project,1 and is pleased with the start that Liddell-Hart has made. He also seems pleased with Liddell-Hart's title suggestions. At the end of the month he sends the first draft of his part of the project to Liddell-Hart for commentary.
Riding and Reeves work on Schools until Reeves returns to England mid-month. Riding also reads over Richards' Old Soldier Sahib and drafts a poem entitled "Friendship on Visit." Graves' newest poem is "Prosperity of Poets."
Reeves is replaced by Alan Hodge, who stays on for Christmas, along with the McCormacks, making it a quiet six for Christmas dinner. Graves appreciates Hodge's honest comments about I, Claudius - the younger man suggests that the book reads as if it were "written for money." In the new year Hodge will contribute an article on drama to Epilogue. Honor Wyatt sends seasons greetings and gifts from England. The year ends on a subdued note, with more gardening - Gelat and Graves replace the olive trees with fruit trees (pomegranate, pear and blue plum) and re-do the garden paths.
This month of the diary contains two enclosures:
  • Notice of a "Frontón Balear"2 game in Palma, 4 December 1935, at 9:45 PM.
  • List of words that Graves incorporates into a poem.

Editorial Notes

2 Balearic Islands pelota, or ball(game) eds.