JANUARY 1936

The new year begins with a luncheon with Walter and Violet McCormack, who plan to take a place in Deyá for two months. January continues unseasonably mild, with warm sea mists, but otherwise the weather is dry. It doesn't rain until late in the month (Graves worries about the garden); fires in the evening are seldom needed. Graves writes of a walk along the road with Laura by (warm) moonlight.

Karl is plagued by dysentery and eczema. Gelat, too, is ill in bed for several days - but is still up for spirited political discussions with Graves. Graves also remarks on the discouraging news of Kipling's death, and of the illness and death of King George.

But the month also brings with it welcome interaction with family and friends. Graves receives letters from David, Catherine and Sam, and Riding's birthday is celebrated quietly with Gelat's family. James Reeves and Mary Phillips announce their plans to marry over the upcoming Easter holiday. Several evenings are spent visiting with the McCormacks, and Graves and Riding also dine with Honor Wyatt's mother, Ann Wyatt eds. who is staying at a hotel nearby. The Junyers show off their art collection - a Brueghel, as well as works by Picasso - and present Graves and Riding with a (reproduction) Holbein engraving of Thomas Wyatt.

Work on the Posada continues favourably, and Graves oversees the planting of lemon and almond trees: the almond blossom is at its best.

This month Graves drafts Dialogue between Friends and Friend, and continues to revise Christmas. He also drafts Evening in the Saddle and Climate of Thought. He and Liddell-Hart keep up regular correspondence, commenting on each other's work on the T. E. Lawrence project, and offering critical suggestions; Graves is pleased with the partnership, appreciative of Liddell-Hart's suggestions and complimentary of his work. Graves also drafts a blurb for T. E. Lawrence by His Friends for Cape's spring list.

Graves goes over the proofs of Old Soldier Sahib, which has met with the publisher's approval. The last of the Focus proofs are corrected and sent off to the printer, as are the last of the Lars Porsena proofs. Reviews of the first issue of Epilogue are in, but not particularly positive - the first one in New Statesman: not a review, nasty & long. The Times and the Spectator also publish reviews. Graves works on English Ecclesiastical Habits, finishing English Ecclesiastical Habits 2 with great difficulty. He also finishes Welsh Ecclesiastical Habits. He begins writing a homily on stealing - later called Theft - while Riding works on one entitled Anger. Riding goes over the first part of Antigua, Penny, Puce, and Graves begins research on the Latin and Greek education systems for Schools.

Riding and Graves have acquired a new canary, who sings well. Graves works in the evening with the bird in his room.