OCTOBER 1937

The month begins with the arrival of a disturbing letter from John Lucy, Mary's husband, and a sad letter from Mary herself. John is apparently abusive and controlling (Graves hints at this in his July entries), and disapproves of the friendship that Mary has begun with Graves and Riding. The next few months will see John's behaviour become more threatening; in the diary Graves expresses concern for Mary's safety, as well as the safety of Riding and himself. Eventually the police will become involved and, with the emotional support of Graves and Riding, Mary will leave her husband and take the two children with her.

Graves' major writing project for the next few months is Belisarius. In October, however, he also completes drafts of three new poems: The Absentees, The Eremite and a sonnet that he initially calls The Young Captain and which he refers to later as Callow Captain. He also does a bit more work on Galatea & Pygmalion and The Swiss Ghost (earlier The Kind Ghost). October also sees correspondence with Random House about fees, and contact with John Buchan about the proposed dictionary project. Graves also begins reviewing Alan Hodge's Year of Damage with a view to shortening it, as both Constable and Heinemann have suggested that the novel lacks vitality. Later in the month and much to his surprise, Graves receives a call from the Sunday Express about his nomination for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Graves remarks drily: I made no statement beyond that this was the first I had heard of it.

Riding is busy throughout October - and for the rest of the year - with the Letter Book (The World and Ourselves). This month she completes the newspaper recommendation, the friendship recommendation and the education recommendation for Part V in The World and Ourselves. By the end of the month, she begins work on the last section of the book. She also sends a collection of her poems to Heinemann. But she suffers sinus trouble and head colds, which leave her tired and worn. Graves, too, suffers from frequent chills and headaches.

Graves continues to practise archery, graduating from rabbits to pheasants, without success. Despite an early frost and the rain that dominates late in the month, Graves delights in a walk in the mist through moist woods - sometimes joined by Alan Hodge, Beryl, Riding or Alix and Harry. Mid-month, the group celebrates Alan's birthday, and Alan confides to Graves that he is thinking of marrying Beryl.

Another gathering of friends results in a communal sonnet (reproduced in the diary: see the enclosures for October). Norman, Harry, Alix, Riding, James and Mary Reeves and Graves each contribute a line or two - and then send it to the Times Literary Supplement as the work of Thomas Lovell Beddoes.British poet (1803-1849) eds.

But while Graves and Riding and Karl and Marie (who plan to marry) begin to search for flats in London for the winter, and while Graves is cheered by news from Deyá that all is well, the general air of domesticity in the October entries is at odds with the political commentary that punctuates the text. This lends an undercurrent of foreboding to the journal, well suited to the end of summer and the last few months of 1937. Writes Graves:

Sitting round coal-fire in room with purple carpet; talking of plans together, all of us. Basilisk sinks an Italian submarine.

And a few days later:

Honor, L Laura & I talked in her bedroom & L read her friendship recommendation to us. Another 15,000 Italians to Spain.

There are six enclosures this month:

1. Cutting from the Daily Telegraph: Witchballs and Sea Serpents by Graves 2. Graves' page from a word game 3. Photograph of David Graves 4. A sentence game 5. Sonnet A collectively written poem 6. Cutting (perhaps from the Sunday Express): Robert Graves and the Nobel Prize