FEBRUARY 1936

Graves continues his research for Schools, and goes over "Stealing" with Riding. He continues to correspond with Liddell Hart; the publisher has suggested "Sides and Asides of T. E. Lawrence" as a title for the Lawrence biography, but Graves vetoes the idea. He is also correcting the typescript of Almost Forgotten Germany and working on Antigua, Penny, Puce, which Riding has promised Constable will have by the end of May. Riding is also reading over Gordon's "Enthusiasm," Karl's piece for "Advertising" ("National Characteristics."), and the first part of Honor Wyatt's new novel, The Woman Who Never Lived (eventually titled The Heathen), about which Graves has positive things to say. Mid-February sees the publication of both The Moon's No Fool and A Mistake Somewhere.
The weather is so warm that Graves is able to bathe in the sea with Solomon1 - for the first time since October. Graves writes that the 21 February 1936 is "the hottest February day within recollection." Lemon and apricot trees are planted at the Posada, and the paths are finally finished. The Junyers provide Graves with cuttings from their garden.
At the beginning of the month, Strenge recovers from an ovarian operation. Jenny has her first performance with the Cochran Revue in London, and Sam sends a "really sweet" letter from Folkestone. A dinner engagement with the McCormacks includes, to Graves' obvious delight, stewed raspberries, which he hasn't tasted for years. Also in February, Graves and Riding hire a new maid, Isabel.
This is the month of the Spanish elections, which, after excitement and violence throughout the country, result in a landslide victory for the political left. Writes Graves in the days leading up to the election, "Trouble in Cort2 yesterday: violence by police in dispersing a Left crowd: one man's skull damaged, another shot through lungs. Machine guns now posted in the Plaza. Very foolish."
There is one enclosure this month: a letter to Graves from David Mitchell, an admirer who has apparently attempted to befriend RG and his circle, but has been rejected (see diary 28 and 29 January). The letter is dated 3 January 1936.

Editorial Notes

1his dog eds.
2the square where the Palma town hall is situated (Plaza Cort). WG

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.

  • Folkestone

    England
    a school for the deaf attended by Sam Graves eds.

People Mentioned

  • Robert

    Graves, Robert
    [1st person]. (1895-1985). Poet, novelist, essayist, critic, and author of his diary. eds.

  • Laura

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

  • Liddell Hart

    Liddell Hart, Capt. Basil
    War-fare expert and friend of T.E. Lawrence. Collaborated with RG on a book of T.E.L'.s letters, published in 1938. See RPG p.231. WG & Eds.

  • T.E.

    Lawrence, T. E.
    'Lawrence of Arabia.' Met Robert in Oxford in the early twenties. Made Robert his biographer and had him write "Lawrence and the Arabs." WG

  • Gordon

    Glover, Gordon
    Married to Honor Wyatt. WG

  • 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.

  • 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).

  • Junyers

    Junyer, Sebastian and Junyer, Clothilde
    Often referred to in the diary as "The Junyers," artists Sebastian and Clothilde Junyer spent their summers in Llucalcari. W.G., eds.

  • Strenge

    Strenge, Frau Emmi
    Schwarz's house keeper and ? mistress. WG

  • Jenny

    Nicholson, Jenny
    Jenny Nicholson: oldest daughter of Robert by Nancy Nicholson.

  • Cochran

    Cochran, C. B.
    Director of musical revues in London: RG's daughter Jenny performed as a chorus-girl in his "Follow the Sun" and "Midnight Laughter". (RPG 252-53) eds

  • Sam

    Graves, Samuel
    R.G.'s youngest child by Nancy Nicholson. C.P.& WG

  • McCormacks

    McCormack, Walter & Violet
    Tenants of Ca'n Torrent. Had two daughters: Jennifer, a dancer, & Betty. Continued their friendship with Robert and Laura in England. eds.

  • Isabella

    Isabel
    Live-in maid from Murcia. Her mother (Carmen) then came over with Josefa who also came to work later. WG

  • Mitchell

    Mitchell, David M.
    Staying at the Hotel in LluchAlcari, Majorca. Sent unwelcome letter to RG. See diary enclosure: Gr01-0347-03, and reference in diary entry for Feb. 3rd, 1936. eds
  • Graves, William
    Son of Robert and Beryl Graves. Helped to identify names, places and titles in Deya (1935-1936) and with translations and other references in three ways. He left an annotated printout of the first six months of the diary in the Graves Trust Room at St. John's College, Oxford. He also sent Chris Petter an Excel file with a list identifying names and places, principally in the Majorcan sections of the diary, and a glossary of Spanish terms. Finally he has sent the editors answers in response to reference questions. Notes by William Graves are identified with the initials WG.

Organizations Mentioned

  • Constable & Co., Ltd.

    Constable
    Constable Publishers. Arranged with them to print and distribute Seizin Press Epilogue and books. WG

  • Editors

    Editors of the Graves Diary Project.

Bibliography

    • Title: Schools [an international survey of education]
    • Author: Graves, Robert; Riding, Laura
    • Editor: Riding, Laura
    • Title: Stealing [a homiletic study: later titled Theft]
    • Title: Epilogue II, 1936
    • Author: Graves, Robert
    • Editor: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: Deyá and London
    • Publisher: Seizin and Constable
    • Idno: B24
    • Date: 1936
    • Title: Almost Forgotten Germany [Almost Forgotten Times]
    • Author: Schwarz, Georg
    • Editor: Trans. Graves, Robert/ Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: Deyá & London
    • Publisher: Seizin & Constable
    • Idno: A45
    • Date: 1936
    • Title: Antigua Penny Puce
    • Author: Graves, Robert
    • PubPlace: Deyá & London
    • Publisher: Seizin & Constable
    • Idno: A46
    • Date: 1936
    • Title: Enthusiasm [prose: a Homiletic Study]
    • Title: Epilogue II, 1936
    • Author: Glover, Gordon
    • Editor: Riding, Laura, Graves, Robert (Associate Editor)
    • PubPlace: Deyá & London
    • Publisher: Seizin & Constable
    • Idno: B24
    • Date: 1936-07
    • Title: Advertising [includes four articles]
    • Author: Riding, Laura/ Graves, Robert/ Goldschmidt, Karl/ Cameron, Norman
    • Editor: Riding, Laura; Graves, Robert (Associate Editor)
    • PubPlace: Deyá & London
    • Publisher: Seizin & Constable
    • BiblScope: 230-258
    • Idno: B25
    • Date: 1937
    • Title: The Heathen
    • Author: Wyatt, Honor
    • Editor: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: New York
    • Publisher: Random House
    • Date: 1937
    • Title: Moon's No Fool, The
    • Author: Matthews, Tom
    • Editor: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: Deyá & London
    • Publisher: Seizin & Constable
    • Date: 1936-02-13
    • Title: Mistake Somewhere, A
    • Author: Anonymous [Gordon Glover/Honor Wyatt/Molly Hare]
    • Editor: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: Deyá
    • Publisher: Seizin
    • Date: 1936-02-13