Aug 20 Friday.

Laura not well: was revising our Midsummer Duet for her Collected Poems. I wrote five letters, and went over typescript of Ch [Chapter] V of Belisarius. Read letters of Cassiodorus1. Catherine only turned up, made an arrow with her. The others at tea time, Sam very mischievous.
Ended the John Lucy correspondence so far as I am concerned: what Mary's relationship is with Laura & me is doubtful. He wrote a very vulgar letter.
In the evening Harry Alix, Karl Catherine, Sam went to the pictures: David stayed at Holmcroft for wireless, I read Life of St. Francis of Assisi to Laura.

Editorial Notes

1Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator (ca 484/490 - ca585), Roman statesman and writer eds.

Hands Referenced

Places Mentioned

  • Holmcroft

    Surrey, England
    Guest House near Highcroft eds.

People Mentioned

  • Laura

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

  • Harry Kemp

    Kemp, Harry
    Poet. Met Graves and Riding through James Reeves in August 1936, just after their arrival in England. In their previous correspondence, Riding had been intrigued by his falling-out with Communism. He became associated with their circle, collaborating on various projects. (RPG 248-49)

  • Alix Kemp

    Kemp, Alix
    Married to poet Harry Kemp. The couple shared a house with Graves and Riding in Ewhurst, Surrey (1937). eds (RPG 277); also referred to as Frau Eierman by RG eds. see Diary August 30, 1936

  • 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.

  • David

    Graves, David
    R.G.'s second child [by Nancy Nicholson]. W.G. In RAF; killed in the war. The only one of Graves' children who might have become a poet had he lived. K.G., eds.

  • Catherine

    Nicholson, Catherine
    Catherine Nicholson: (1922- ) third of four children of Robert Graves and Nancy Nicholson. eds.

  • Sam

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

  • John Lucy

    Lucy, John
    Estranged husband of Mary Lucy; RG and LR are drawn into their marital problems. eds.

  • Mary Lucy

    Lucy, Mary
    Visited R.G. and L.R. at Ewhurst. An admirer of both Graves and Riding, but her marital problems brought tensions to their household. See diary entry January 2, 1938 (and K.G. note).

Bibliography

    • Title: Count Belisarius [1938]
    • Author: Graves, Robert
    • PubPlace: London
    • Publisher: Cassell
    • Idno: A47
    • Date: 1937-07-21
    • Title: MidSummer Duet [poem, first pub'd in Focus IV (1935), and in RG's Year's Poetry (1934)]
    • Title: [Laura Riding's] Collected Poems [1938]
    • Author: Riding, Laura/ Graves, Robert
    • PubPlace: London, Toronto, Melbourne & Sydney
    • Publisher: Cassell
    • BiblScope: 145
    • Idno: A35
    • Date: 1938
    • Title: Collected Poems [1938]
    • Author: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: London, Toronto, Melbourne & Sydney
    • Publisher: Cassell and Co. Ltd
    • Idno: A35
    • Date: 1938