Enclosure – Letter to RG from David M. Mitchell

Hotel Costa D'Or
Lluch-Alcari (Deyá)
Mallorca España
3rd January, 1936
Robert Graves, Esq. [Esquire],
Deya, Mallorca.
Dear Mr. Graves,
You were, at Oxford Islik[DM]1 on the occasion that you do not recall, and recently ×××× [crossed out] when you called on me at the fonda here, very kind to me and that is why I am writing you now although I know you do not wish to have any more to do with the foreign colony in Deya than you can help,[DM] in order to be able to get on with your very significant literary work. It is of course up to me to respect your wishes in the matter ×××× [crossed out] by leaving you alone now that I have decided to live for some considerable time in Deya, but there is one thing which will be rather awkward for me unless I clear it up. That is the question of whether when we meet, as we are bound to do in such a small place and have done twice already, we are going to recognize each other. I am quite prepared to respect your wishes in this matter also: I just want to know one way or the other; and I am aff[DM]raid that you may already think I have deliberately ignored you, thus repaying with rudeness your kindness.
We have met twice since you came to see me at the fonda, once in the little café opposite the post office and once, last night, at the café deportive. The first time I thought that you deliberately did not notice me, and for this reason I did the same thing last night to you; but it has since occurred to me that perhaps you did not recognize me in the imperfect light of the little café, when I was too diffident to speak to you at first and only tried to catch your eye.
I shall do whatever you wish in the matter. I think you are a genius, ×××× [crossed out] and that you are quite right to put your work first; but I find the present uncertain position very embarassing, and would like to end it.
Yours sincerely,
David M. Mitchell

Editorial Notes

1 Islip? eds.

Hands Referenced

    • Annotation: pencil correction of letter enclosure
    • Character: regular
    • Ink: lead

Places Mentioned

  • Hotel Costa d'Or

    Llucalcari, Majorca, Sp
    In Llucalcari. Went there for drinks and occasionally meals. It was the best hotel, the Fonda being rather basic. The Turismo was closed. WG

  • Llucalcari

    Llucalcari, Majorca, Sp
    Hamlet with hotel some three kilometres from Deyá on the way to Soller. WG. RG spells it "Lluchalcari" in the Diary.

  • Deyá

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    Town located on the northwest coast of Majorca, on the hillside between the Teix Mountains and the sea: this was RG's home with Laura Riding from 1929 to 1936. He returned there with his family after WW II. Eds.

  • Majorca/ Mallorca

    Majorca, Sp
    Largest of the Balearic Islands, located in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of Spain. R.G. and L.R. lived there, in Deyá, from 1929-1936. eds

  • Oxford

    England
    home of Oxford University eds.

  • Islip

    Islip, Oxfordshire, England
    small village where Graves and Nancy Nicholson rented, then owned, a cottage named "The World's End" R.P.G.

  • Fonda

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    Inn next to Margarita's Café. Occasionally ate there. WG

People Mentioned

  • 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

  • Robert

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

Organizations Mentioned

  • Editors

    Editors of the Graves Diary Project.