Dec 4 Wednesday

Palma after morning on T.E. Took Focus in: at 3 o'clock. Then[RG] To Fronton Balear1 to see Pelota2. Betted on Red & lost (Cantabria [sic: Cantarrabia] & Loyola).
Then to Triana3 where by going out early I did not see desnudismo4 which L. [Laura] James and K [Karl] said was rather horrible. (Had done shopping at Margarita Mateu's, various small gifts — needle case for Gordon, silver rattle-whistle & gipo for Julian, painted tray for John, table centre & binding for Maisie, frame for James. Also mirror frame for James at Casas 80 p.5 & some 1840ish[RG]engravings 5 pes [pesetas] for 15. Handkerchiefs for James, silk stockings for Laura, tie pin for Karl (30 pts.)[RG] gold pendant for Maisie with red and green flowers (50 pts.) & diamond buttons to be converted into earrings for Laura (flat-cut 1790ish) for 300 pts.)
My gold watch repaired. Also bought towels.
Laura reading Richards6.
Back at 2:30 a.m.
Hot bottle leaked, had to sleep in my workroom. Slept till 12.

Editorial Notes

1Balearic [Islands?] Pelota Court. See poster enclosed. eds
2Basque Ball Game, called Jay Alai in U.S. KG
3night-club. KG
4strip-tease. KG
5pesetas (pts.) eds.

Hands Referenced

    • Annotation: ink correction
    • Character: regular
    • Ink: black

Places Mentioned

  • Palma

    Palma, Majorca, Sp
    Capital and largest centre of Majorca.

People Mentioned

  • Laura

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

  • 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.

  • James

    Reeves, James
    Schoolmaster, writer and Poet. Friend of Jacob Bronowski. W.G./ K.G.; m. to Mary Phillips; daughter Stella born June 14, 1938 eds.

  • Margarita Mateu

    Mateu, Margarita
    Antique dealer, mostly jewellery, in Palma. WG

  • Gordon

    Glover, Gordon
    Married to Honor Wyatt. WG

  • Julian

    Glover, Julian
    Honor & Gordon's baby. WG

  • Aldridge

    Aldridge, John
    (1905-1983), painter and close friend and collaborator. WG m. to Lucie Brown 1940 eds.

  • Maisie

    Sommerville, Maisie
    Head of BBC Education broadcasting department. Friend of R.G. and L.R. Arranged accomodation for them when they returned to London as exiles. W.G., eds.

  • Casas

    Casas
    Antique dealer in Palma. WG

  • Richards

    Richards, Frank
    Author of Old Soldiers Never Die and Old Soldier Sahib which R.G. rewrote for him. Was in The Royal Welch Fusiliers, R.G.'s regiment. eds.; Birth name is Francis Phillip Woodruff eds. see Diary September 27, 1936

Bibliography

    • Title: T.E. Lawrence to His Biographer
    • Author: Lawrence, T.E.
    • Editor: Graves, Robert
    • PubPlace: New York
    • Publisher: Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc.
    • Idno: A49
    • Date: 1938
    • Title: Focus I, II, III, IV [newsletter]
    • Editor: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: Deyá
    • Publisher: Seizin
    • Date: 1935
    • Title: Old Soldier Sahib
    • Author: Richards, Frank
    • Editor: Graves, Robert
    • PubPlace: London, New York
    • Publisher: Faber & Faber; Harrison Smith & Robert Haas
    • Idno: A44
    • Date: 1936