Diary entries for
November, 1937Diary of Robert Graves 1935-39 and ancillary materialGraves, Robert (1895-1985)compiled byBeryl Graves, C.G. Petter, L.R. RobertsUniversity of Victoria LibrariesP.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5CanadaJuly, 2006UVic Text Analysis Portal for Research URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUVic Humanities Computing and Media Centre URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUniversity of Victoria, Victoria B.C., Canada
Copyright of diary available by permission of the Robert Graves Trust
Copyright of introduction to diary available by permission of Elizabeth Grove-White
Copyright of diary markup, editorial notes and abstract by permission of the University of Victoria Libraries
Copyright of notes marked WG by permission of William Graves
Copyright of notes marked KG, Robert Graves Trust
University of Victoria Humanities Computing and Media Centre and University of Victoria Libraries
held in the University of Victoria Libraries, Special Collections, Robert Graves Collection
P.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5Canadaacquired by the Libraries from Robert Graves in 1971 through the offices of Bertram RotaSC050GR01Diary of Robert Graves 1935-39 and ancillary materialGraves, Robert (1895-1985)University of Victoria LibrariesP.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5CanadaJuly, 2006UVic Text Analysis Portal for Research URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUVic Humanities Computing and Media Centre URL: http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/tapor/tapor.htmUniversity of Victoria, Victoria B.C., Canada
Copyright of diary available by permission of the Robert Graves Trust
Copyright of introduction to diary available by permission of Elizabeth Grove-White
Copyright of diary markup, editorial notes and abstract by permission of the University of Victoria Libraries
Copyright of notes marked WG by permission of William Graves
Copyright of notes marked KG, Robert Graves Trust
University of Victoria Humanities Computing and Media Centre and University of Victoria Libraries
held in the University of Victoria Libraries, Special Collections, Robert Graves Collection
P.O.. Box 1800, STN CSCVictoria B.C., VH3 2W5Canadaacquired by the Libraries from Robert Graves in 1971 through the offices of Bertram RotaSC050GR01Victoria, BC, CanadaUniversity of Victoria LibrariesSpecial CollectionsOHC0005681PR6013.R35
Graves' diary manuscript includes 1546 pages including 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games, etc.
Private URIs to the ref prefix are pointers
to entities in references.xml, which contains all
people, places, organizations, and other entities referred to
throughout the project.
Pointers to the repository of facsimile images of the Graves diary.
Laura lazy in bed & phoning. I went to look up the Hammersmith Road Post Master who calls me 'Robert' still.
Work on Belisarius specimen chapters. Rain.
To Café Royal lunch with HonorNormanAlan.
Alan went to Bruce Richmond about Auden article with (possibly) success.
Laura & I went shopping for her – a suit, stockings, gloves
Got presents for Maisie's birthday – a carved ivory pinchbeck backed brooch 7/67 shillings, sixpence eds.; & a blue & silver French box. 10/-. For Beryl a green paste ring 7/6. For Laura a pair of Georgian garnet hoop-earrings £3 & 12 silver buttons (6 for Honor) 7/6. Joints of Meat picture 3dthree pence eds.. & Hester Bateman spoon 3/-. Supper at Tannies with Honor, Tanny, Laura, Honor pie, chocolate mousse, claret.
Nov 2 Tuesday.
Got Karl his opal ring for Marie, & a green paste ring for Mary Reeves.
Caught train with much difficulty – Laura lost her gloves in the taxi – & to Highcroft by 12 o'clock.
Parece que la mujer del queso ha bebido todo el vino de Xeres, secretamente sin decir nada: y hay otras porquerias tambien.Looks as though the cheese woman [i.e. Alix KG] drank all the sherry, secretly without an explanation: and there are other messes besides KG
Working all day at revision of two specimen chaptersfor Count Belisarius eds. (Karl cross-copying).
Todo muy frio con los de la casa.Estranged with Harry & Alix KGAlan came & walked with me to Cranleigh.
Killed a cold.
Nov 3 Wednesday.
8
pp
pages of Belisarius (story of Eugenius) & sent off the two specimen chapters to Random House (additions equivalent to 4 typed
pp
pages at least)
Consulted with Alan about Year of Damagechangedchanges.
Todo un poco nervioso con los otros: el no dice nada; ya nunca jugamos a bolitas como antes.Everybody a little nervous with the others: he [Harry? eds.] never says a word; we never play at marbles, as before KG
Short walk in the dark with Alan, beer at the pubBull's Head.
Nov 4
21
pp
pages of Belisarius
Ch
Chapter XVIII
* and also started my book about Laura, half a page.
Broke the bowyew bow KG finally. Still have 10 orphaned arrows.
A walk with Laura & Alan to the Windmill Inn where we had tea & talked about places: i.e. difference in place-sense now & ancient times.
Worked very late; very tired.
Nov 5 Friday.
To Cranleigh in the car with Harry: to order a new collar for SolaceGraves' cat eds., arrange for removal van, get a key cut for Marigoldname of house, where [Karl] lodged KG, buy paper-clips. Walked back.
Going over yesterday's work & wrote 10 more
pp
pages working all day
till
until 12 o'clock: nearly 340 typed
pp
pages now.
Anita is having another baby at Deyá.
La atmosfera esta muy mal con los dos: sienten el frío.There's a bad atmosphere with those two: they feel the coldness KG
Laura writing letter-book, last section.
Nov 6 Saturday
Very cold, very damp: we are now sending change of address notifications.
Went over yesterday's stuff & wrote 18 more
pp
pages, finishing
ch
chapter XVIII at 1 o clock in the morning.
El frio consigue: hemos hecho las cuentas y toman mal que tienen de pagar tanto: aunque hemos dado tanto, libre, a ellos.The coldness continues: we did accounts and they're upset at having to pay so much: even though we let them off so much KG
Alan & Beryl came. Alan, AlixHarry & I played an 'American' marble tournament which I won surprisingly by 6 moves to Harry's 2, Alan's 1, Alix's 0, A
Mr. Neale died at Islip.
Nov 7 Sunday.
Going over
mss
manuscript & typing of
Ch
Chapter XVIII
Tired: slept in afternoon
Lha dicho todo muy claro a la Señora del queso y no han podido contestar nada.Laura made everything crystal clear to the Cheese Woman [Alix eds.], who was left speechless KG
Beryl & Alan about.
Nada.Nothing KG
Made chicken croquets for supper.
Harry won marbles tournament.
Nov 8 Monday
Karl went & found a houseroom KG with Marie in Alma Square.
I wrote change of address letters etc & 4
pp
pages of
Ch
Chapter XIX Belisarius.
Most of the day working with alone & then with Alan & Laura on theAlan's letter about Auden which Bruce Richmond will print in the T.L.S. – getting it in shape.
Worked
till
until 1 am.
Lha hablado tambien muy claro al rubio referente al asunto.Laura also made things crystal clear to the blond chap [Harry eds.] KG
Amnesty offered to Gordon as a Christmas present to Honor.
Nov 9 Tuesday
Cold & sunny.
7
pp
pagesBelisarius
ch.
chapter XIX and a walk to round the fields with Alan, & alone from Cranleigh after having bought up stocks of cigarettes & type-paper specially kept for us.
El rubio ha hablado con L y llorado porque tomaba muy pesamente lo que ha dicho ella: pero daba derecho a ella. Decia que la senora habia dicto contado <<chismes>> del queso.The blond haired chap talked to Laura, and wept because he took it to heart what she had said to him: but said that she was right. he said that she had made fun about the cheese. KG
Estoy muy bien de salud yo.I'm very well KG
Laura very tired: wearing the 1860 cotton dress from Deyá & pearl pendant, working on Letter book & helping Harry.
WattCassell's agree to Belisarius being 140,000 –
40,000 words longer than contracted for. They prefer Count Belisarius as a title
Nov 10 Wednesday
Began packing: filled a trunk with pictures, blankets, ornaments, cushions. Stored away china against packing, assembled books. restored old lampshades – Alan helped The house is beginning to return to the sordidness in which we first found it.
6
pp
pagesBelisarius
Ch
Chapter XIX
Very cold. Drinks at the Bull (Laura, Harry, Alix, Karl, Alan & I) & played the sentence game alliteratively.
Nov 11 Thursday
More packing. Spent a great part of the afternoon putting back hooks into the awful house – curtains & hanging them up.
Packed nearly all my own stuff.
12
pp
pagesBelisarius
Ch
Chapter XIX
Laura writing letters
A letter from John offering to resume correspondence: giving a wrong account of how it had ceased.
In the evening read aloud Walpole's Noble AuthorsA Catalogue of the Royal and Noble Authors of England by Horace Walpole. London: printed for R. & J. Dodsley..., 1758. eds. to Laura.
Laura:
Public praise pleases poets provided private payment plays prominent partsee last line of November 10 entry KG; i.e. Sentence Game eds..
Hockey on lawn with Harry & Alix. (Todo muy bien ahoraAll's well now KG)
A *monsieur Du GardFrench author Roger Martin du Gard (1881-1958) eds. got the Nobel Prize but someone down our lane won £20,000 also in a football pool.
House now finally restored to awfulness.
Harry lost his heavy platinum & ruby ring.
* Laura: what a waste of good modesty!
Nov 13 Saturday
A little work on Belisarius but packing most of the day: now practically done. In intervals played four in hand marbles, with Harry, Alix, Alan.
Alice & her husband came to say a tedious goodbye.
In car to Shere with HarryAlanAlixLaura & there had tea & bought a pierglass for 37/637 shillings, sixpence eds. & a 6dsixpence eds. mahogany frame for the 'Different Joints' picture. Also Lucullus a Teddy bear for SolaceGraves' cat eds..
To bed early.
RingHarry's KG found on a turnip leaf in the garden.
Nov 14 Sunday
Packing. Frosty days.
Wrote a draft of a poem about self-praise.
Solace Graves' cat eds. got lost & was brought back once more from a mile & a half away in the fields. I helped H & Alix to pack.
* Last day at Ewhurst.
After a special supper of last things cooked up from the larder & some 66card game eds. & marbles & tired sitting about, bed.
Nov 15 Monday
To 31 Alma Square
N.W.
North Way8, after sending off luggage in van, by car: with Solace in her cat-basket on my knee.
Lunch at Dobrin's in Baker St. Then while Laura went to flat & spoke to
W.Comm.
Wing CommanderGayford, I went with Alan & bought shoes & a Heal bed £22 in all.
Unpacking all evening & supper at McWhirter's – Alix, Harry, Laura, Alan, Beryl & I.
Karl & Marie's wedding night.
Unpacking
till
until late.
Nov 16 Tuesday
In bed nearly all morning with a headache.
Alan & Karl did unpacking.
All afternoon Laura & I struggled with Gwendolen Murphy – contributions to her anthology.
In the evening packing up Gayford's things we didn't want.
In evening AlixHarryLaura & I went in the car to Maisie's & Maritza Frishauer's party – L & I wearing evening dress. Among those present were Amabel & Clough Williams Ellis, Ralph Pinker, C. JoadProfessor C.E.M. Joad, philosopher and frequent panellist on BBC's The Brains Trust eds., Otterway & his pal (the schoolmaster from Hampstead) Mrs. Strachey(Henrietta Mary) Amy née Simpson (c.1866-1957) eds., the whole Freeman family, Kitty West, Ward & Dorothy, Honor & Gordon, Alan, S.H.Wood, Hilda Matheson: the biggest joke was one Lady Constance Bonham-Carter who talked art. A dirty feel afterwards.
Nov 17 Wednesday
Putting things away and rearranging furniture.
2
pp
pagesBelisarius
Ch
Chapter XX
In all day: Laura went to buy a cupboard at Heal's.
In evening, lateish, David came & told us about Nancy's fainting in bath (pontine haemorrhagea type of brain haemmorhage eds.) & being given up by 2 doctors: five days unconscious. Now better, & contemplating a move to Devon, selling Poulk.
David very responsible & clear-headed. He went back by taxi at 1 o clock.
Jenny: more hard luck stories over phone.
Nov 18 Thursday.
Today we finally settled in.
¼
p
pageBelisarius. Tea with Harry & Alix in their Victorian Gothic flat. Honor to supper & Alan: talked over the End of World play, each making suggestions.
My bed came.
Completed, finally, my solitaire-marble set with Alan's help: from the dirty old man in East Street.
Dent's may take the dictionary.
Undertook to deliver Belisarius to Random House by end of
Jan.
January
Nov 19 Friday
2
pp
pagesBelisarius.
This is by far the best place we have been in since we left Deyá.
To Caledonian Market & bought all sorts of things for Alan's mad flat – a Polish battle picture 1/6d1 shilling, sixpence eds.plate, blue bedspread 4/-, green baize 1/6, set of six blue plates & soup plates 1/9, map of China (17th
cent.
century) & of Near East 3/6 each & frames for them 6dsixpence eds. & 3/6d, a china ship 1/6, a lustre cream jug 3/6, a solitaire board 4/- butter-dish 2d – also a Dutch flower mug-jug 3/6 for Marie – and for ourselves a W lustre saucer for a pot of cyclamen 6d, a map of Balearics 16th
cent.
century 3/6, four H.B. teaspoons for our set 10/- each, a silver sherry label (HB) 15/-, a frame for Sheldonian picture 6d. Harry& Alix took us & Alix in the car and there was some hesitation about a writing table for Alix which someone else bought.
In the house electricians, glazier; the Spanish chest & Laura's wardrobe came.
To Charing + to see Roz: Jim trying to boss her in a brutal way & making a mess of things for her. Saw Betty Cadness, the pathologist there.
A walk with Laura after supper.
To bed at 2 o'clock after work.
Nov 20 Saturday
Bridget is getting married to someone called Paul & retiring to Devonshire.
7
pp
pagesBelisarius. A walk to St John's Wood. Bought a frame for the Balearic map 7/67 shillings, sixpence eds. & a 1/- set of 'shark's teeth' (some small ivory tusks, 30,) and made a necklace & bracelets from them with amber. Found a table for Alix.
Laura very tired: trying to do letter-book.
Has a story-book sempstress called Miss Story.
Nov 21 Sunday.
Two drafts more on poem about Self-Praise.
8
pp
pagesBelisarius (
Ch
Chapter XX).
Fog all day: walked to Hampstead.
Wrote to Sir Kingsley Wood about demolition of my Harlech cottage.
Jennyon the phone said that I was reported to have written to MacAlpine of Dorchester House accusing
Brig Gen
Brigadeer General KentishBrigadier-General R.J. Kentish, CMG, DSO (1876-1956) Basil Kentish. Served in South Africa with 1st Bn. Royal Irish Fusiliers and in 1914 was awarded one of the first DSOs of the Great War. Famous for his support of games, amateur athletics,
and the international Olympic Committee. eds. of acting as a procurer to the Dorchester Girls.
Nov 22 Monday.
Mother to lunch.
To Yankel Adler & saw his pictures & bought one for £20 because he is a good painter & has had a bad time.
Norman came with his troubles.
8
pp
pagesBelisarius.
Laura wrote 30 letters yesterday & several more today & phoned several more.
I spoke to Nancy on the phone: she sounded much better.
Nov 23 Tuesday.
Caledonian Market, alone.
Silver & dark mother-of-pearl necklace with brooch & cross 22/622 shillings, sixpence eds.. assorted clasps 4/-. Hester Bateman salt-cellars, pair, & pair of spoons £5.5. Curtains 17/- (chintz & one for use as dress material in mauve blue black) Bristol necklace 2/-, brown lustre beads 6d, Worcester plates for Alan 1/-, box of false guineas 2/6, miniature dominoes 7/6, silver chain 7/6, silver thimble & brooch 2/6, coral-&-pinchbeck necklace & pinchbeck bracelet 12/-. Met Ward there.
On return fitted clasps to the ivory tusk & amber necklace & bracelets, to the Bristol beads, to a brown & silver lustre necklace I strung.
Alix & Harry to Bow street with Laura & back to tea. David Reeves came: he thinks of getting a job with Kit Nicholson.
Belisarius 7
pp
pages, finishing
Ch
Chapter XX
Alan's letter turned down by Nowell SmithSimon Harcourt Nowell-Smith (1909-1996), journalist and critic with T.L.S. KG in absence of Sir Bruce as too controversial (¿anything to do with Auden getting the King's Medal?)
He said: 'Now if it had been Edith SitwellDame Edith Sitwell (1887-1964) British poet, critic and biographer eds.!..'
Maisie to supper & talked
till
until 2.15.
Enclosure – Wedding Announcement from Frank Richards to RGDear Robert,
Never thought I would come to this
Frank
Enclosure – Wedding Announcement from Frank Richards to RGMary James
With Mr. and Mrs. F. Richard's Compliments.
8 Wain Ebbw, Nantyglo.November 21st, 1937.
Nov 24. Friday Wednesday
A day entirely filled with people. Margaret Russell all day (she's going to rent a house & take in Croydon police as lodgers), David Reeves, Sally, Alan, Winifred Holmes, Norman.
Marie & Karl had the afternoon off, so lots of work. A walk with Margaret.
Felt tired out. Went over the last four days' work in Belisarius at night.
Laura bought the Adler picture: we have been helping him with introductions.
Lost the cross off the mother of pearl necklace.
Frank Richards was married 3 days ago to one Mary Jamesa shopkeeper's assistant, of Waen Ebbw Nant-y-glo, Abertillery, Monmouthshire [Wales] See enclosure. eds. and sent wedding cake.
Nov 25th Thursday
15
pp
pagesBelisarius
Ch
Chapter XXI
The dressmaker, Miss Story, an old friend of Mr. Fairchild the electrician suggested that he might know of a charwoman: he suggested a Mrs. Rainbow, & she two sewing-women the Misses Air and Pinney.
Alan to lunch. Honor to supper. Went for a walk with her at night round her childhood memories.
Karl has polished the Spanish chest & fixed the knobs with liquid wood.
At Alix's met a Bavarian Baron Tucher a cousin of sorts. 'Germany is going strong' he replied to my question. I said: 'That's the correct answer.'
Enclosure – Clipping about Frank Richards' marriage
No transcription available at this time.
Nov 26 Friday
8
pp
pagesBelisarius
ch
chapter XXI, and adding to yesterday's work.
In afternoon met Clarissa (late) at the Albert Memorial &
walking through Kensington Gardens, then to Philip's – met Kitty, for the first time since 1916, and RubinIsraeli painter Reuvin Rubin (1893-1974) eds., a Tel-a-VivTel Aviv artist (with a rich American wife) who paints successful water-colours; and Sally with whom I went back in a taxi to Hampstead where she gave me the Institutes & Rufin Rutilius's poem. Then to Adler's with Laura & Tanny – who stayed to supper. Laura bought a black velvet evening gown for 12
gns
guineas.
To bed at 1.15.
Nov 27 Saturday
21
pp
pagesBelisarius
Ch
Chapter XXI
To Mills to fetch topaz ring,(rebacked & much more golden in colour.) & bought marbles in East St.
A silly, patronizing letter from C.S. Evans about Laura's poems. which she says she will frame.
Adler shouldGordon, Honor & Julian came, &Julian behaved very wellfriendlily & played with Solace Graves' cat eds..
My new sofa-cover came, & I now have a bed of proper length, breadth & comfort to sleep on.
A walk with Laura to St John's Wood village to do a little shopping (bought 3 Worcester plates for 1/61 shilling, sixpence eds.).
Work practically all day. Laura's cross found the under the desk.
At night wrote 3
pp
pages of the L.R. book.
Nov 28 Sunday.
In morning walked all the way to Beryl's & Alan's at 88 Adelaide Road in the thick fog.
Worked all day going over
ch
chapter XXI of Belisarius.
In the evening did 3
pp
pages of the L.R. book.
Alan & Beryl to cold supper.
In bed at 2.30.
Nov 29 Monday.
Got up late,
Read Year of Damage for Alan.
In afternoon saw Jenny in her rooms at 81
S.
South Audley Street & she told me her plans & troubles. Then to Watt with L's poems, & promise of mine & of Int.Letter book.
Tea at Harry & Alix's.
7
pp
pages
Ch
Chapter XXII Belisarius.
A charwoman: Mrs Witty.
Enclosure – Letter from Catherine Nicholson, signed KateThis was sentAnd was meantTo be readOnly in bed.With a bottleFor your throttleOf some medicineAnd an aspirinTo sustain youIf this pain you.My apologyFor this mudlology.Here's my love.And good wishesFrom this doveAnd little fishes.31. Alma Square.North. West 8.It'is not done, not fareto lick your pl8i.e. plate eds..What fonei.e. fun eds., all square.In good st8i.e. state eds..31st picture layerIn the T8i.e. Tate Gallery eds..I'll become a llama farei.e. fair eds.Near Afghan st8i.e. state eds.. I shouldn't like, to meet a barei.e. bear eds.With his M8i.e. mate eds.Just had a nightmare.In bad st8i.e. state eds..Right some, Answer clare.i.e. Write some, answer clear eds.Wipe your sl8i.e. slate eds.!A fish one tone, I caught hyareA one-tonne fish, I caught here eds.With live b8i.e. bait eds..With a gonei.e. gun eds., I shot a hareon what d8i.e. date eds.?The flirty one is not farei.e. fair eds.Such is f8i.e. fate eds..This action done, all men fyarei.e. fear eds.The open g8i.e. gate eds.. I must rone, up the starei.e. I must run, up the stair eds.For I'm l8i.e. late eds..Move it one, to that square,Now checkm8i.e. checkmate eds.'In the sone', – we must be farei.e. 'In the sun', – we must be fair eds.Is Germany's st8i.e. state eds.Boy thic? eds. sonei.e. sun eds., Thic? eds. yer charei.e. chair eds.,Be moighty nate.i.e. Be mighty ? eds.See you soon, at Alma SquareBest love KateXXXXXX.
Nov 30 Tuesday
Mary Lucy came from Ireland at 6.30. I got her breakfast & went to sleep again.
To Caledonian market. Bought 2 pair long golden curtains with pelmets for Maisie £2.15/-2 pounds, 15 shillings eds.. Set of Woodstock/steel large buttons for Laura's black evening velvet 30/-30 shillings eds.. Ribbons (28 yards) 3/4d3 shillings, fourpence eds.. pair of frames (for Alice & Nicholas[a portrait of] the Deyá cats KG) 3d the pair. 2 savory plates (Casaubon) 1/-. Staffordshire mug 2/6. A mug with 'John' on, 9d. 2 amber beads, 2d. Pair nail scissors 4d. 2 large pearl coat buttons 2d. 6 blue tea-plates 1/9d. For Alan; Spode blue & white tea service 6/- and large platter, 9d.
Went with Mary Lucy and chose frames for Adler's painting & a better one for John's watercolour than the one we got in Lugano.
Put up chandlerie chandelier in Laura's room, framed the pictures, cut baize (left over from Alan's) to go under Spanish chest.
Phoned Morley about Lawrence book. And Nancy about Catherine & a poodle puppy.
9
pp
pagesBelisarius
ch
chapter XXII.
Log Entries of Letters for November, 1937
Letters
Nov 2
Jenny £5. A.G.
Nov 3
Pinker about Herald. Ministry of HealthSir Kingsley Wood eds.. Random House (specimen chapters).