March 24 Friday

Went to Rennes at 8 oclock with & wit[RG] Alan, Karl who went back, Dorothy, Beryl, Laura. Beryl & I to Nantes by train[RG] where I saw the U.S. [United States] Consul Mr.Cocke & got a visa arranged. A lonely man who talked of the negro problem and of Reds1. Beryl & I bought socks and ate at a Restaurant Mangay & back by bus. Laura had been getting shoes all day (+ dentist) & fixed it up at 7 oclock only. Greetings to Miguel & Francisca
* Madrid surrendered – (this was a premature report.2)

Editorial Notes

1i.e. Communists eds.
2see 28 March, 1939 eds.

Hands Referenced

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

Places Mentioned

  • Rennes

    Rennes, France
    where Gelat's daughter, Anita, and son-in-law, Juan Vives live; visited by RG and LR et al in 1938 eds.

  • Nantes

    Nantes, France
    city south of Rennes eds.

  • Madrid

    Madrid, New Castile, Spain
    Capital city of Spain eds.

People Mentioned

  • Laura

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

  • Beryl

    Pritchard, Beryl
    daughter of Harry and Amy Pritchard, R.G.'s second wife. Formerly married to Alan Hodge. Robert and Beryl had four children: William, Lucia, Juan and Tomas. eds

  • Dorothy

    Simmons, Dorothy
    Sculptor associated with the Graves-Riding inner circle (1938-39). Married to Montague Simmons. eds

  • Alan

    Hodge, Alan
    Oxford history graduate. Became close friends with LR & RG. First husband of Beryl Graves. CP & 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.

  • Miguel Ripoll

    Ripoll, Miguel
    Juan Vives' business partner from Deyá; married to Francisca née Mayol eds.

  • Francisca

    Francisca
    The "Francisca" of "Laura and Francisca." eds. A young resident of Deyá; her mother Francisca Messiana helped out at Canellun. W.G. Also called Francisquita (but so were other Franciscas in the village). Later m. to Miguel Ripoll (see Friedmann 179) eds.