NOVEMBER 1937
At the beginning of the month Graves' yew
bow finally breaks; local rodents and wild fowl are safe for the next few
weeks as Graves and Riding pack, say their
good-byes at Ewhurst, and make the move to
31 Alma Square, NW8, London.
It is a month of late nights as Graves continues to work on Belisarius and sends sample chapters of the book to Random House. He promises to have the full draft to the
publishers by the end of January in the new year. He completes a draft of a
new poem entitled "Self-praise," and expresses no surprise when he doesn't win the Nobel
Prize for Literature, which goes instead to Martin Du Gard, a French author.
This month Graves begins to write personal commentary in the diary in
Spanish.
Also this month, Graves begins to write a book on Riding, a project inspired
by talks with her the previous month. Riding herself is busy with the last
section of the "Letter Book" (The World and Ourselves). She receives a "silly, patronizing" note from Heinemann about her poems and
declares she will frame it.
November is a busy month socially. Graves and Riding extend a grudging
welcome to Gordon (of whom Graves
disapproves) "as a Christmas present to Honor."
Mary Lucy visits from Ireland. Evenings
often include marble tournaments with Alix,
Harry, Beryl and Alan. (Hodge's
negotiations with the Times Literary Supplement to publish his letter on Auden seem
promising at first, but in the end the letter is deemed "too
controversial.") A new game - alliterative sentences - also proves
popular. Riding comes up with "Public praise pleases poets provided
private payment plays prominent part." This time spent with friends
is clearly rewarding: at one point Graves writes, "Honor to supper. Went
for a walk with her at night round her childhood memories."
On 15 November Karl and Marie are married, and Graves and Riding move into the
new flat, which Graves declares is the best place they've lived in since Deyá. The remainder of the month includes
shopping for home décor (including a painting by Polish refugee Yankel
Adler) and renewing London friendships.
Graves' mother comes to lunch at the new
flat, and Graves takes a walk with Clarissa
through Kensington Gardens. David drops by
as well, though he brings disturbing news about Nancy: apparently she fainted in the bathtub and spent five days
unconscious. She seems to have recovered fully, but clearly Graves is
disturbed by the account.
There are three enclosures this month:
- 1. Wedding Announcement from Frank Richards to Graves
- 2. Clipping about Frank Richards' marriage
- 3. Illustrated letter from Catherine Nicholson, signed "Kate"