July 24 Wednesday My Birthday

Slept till 11.30.
Took map of Troy to Francisco1 to frame. Honor & Mary gave me a brandy[RG] bottle of brandy; Carl cigarettes (buttons previously) My present from Laura was the morey2 chair. Gordon wrote birthday letter, expecting to come again soon "for Spanish living, come what may financially." Wrote a little on Poets, but too tired.
Bathed with Carl & Mary.
Paid Castor up, including 31 pesetas for photographs.
4000 pts is not traceable ×××× [crossed out] so we owe[RG] Gelat owes[RG] that much ×××× [crossed out] less. Paid him 2000 pts on account.
Carmen's boy born: gave her 5 pes. [pesetas] for a poco de fiesta3 as from one birthday to another.
Supper at Posada which Isabel got. Played 7 1/2 in chimney corner, improved now by the cushions (Catalina sewed) and the sun box. (Laura went over Poets with Honor) Afterwards we talked a lot to Julian, who stared.
L. wearing her white jacket with gold embroid., her gold skirt, pearls, Ibizan earrings (I my white silk shirt, trousers & waistcoat).
To bed at 12.

Editorial Notes

1one of the village carpenters. WG
2mulberry. KG
3a small celebration. KG

Hands Referenced

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

Places Mentioned

  • Posada, La

    Deyá, Majorca, Sp
    House on the Puig next to Deyá church. Originally part of the Es Molí property. It had been rented by the church for Sunday school. RG and LR bought it in February, 1935, to use as a guest house for their visitors. WG, eds.

  • Ibiza

    Balearic Islands, Sp
    One of the three larger islands in the Balearic Archipelago (with Majorca and Menorca). Popular tourist destination. eds

People Mentioned

  • Laura

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

  • 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.

  • Gelat

    Más, Juan Marroig
    Juan Marroig Mas, called Gelat: Landowner on Deyá and friend of Robert Graves and Laura Riding (L.R. & R.G.'s factotum. W.G.)

  • Honor

    Wyatt, Honor
    Journalist. Arrived in Deyá fortuitously. Married to Gordon Glover...Son Julian. W.G. First acquainted with R.G. and L.R. early in 1934; returned to visit in 1935; continued friendship in England. eds (RPG 211).

  • Gordon

    Glover, Gordon
    Married to Honor Wyatt. WG

  • Julian

    Glover, Julian
    Honor & Gordon's baby. WG

  • Mary

    Phillips, Mary
    Visitor. Typed most of I, Claudius. Later married James Reeves. WG

  • Catalina

    Catalina
    Domestic help. Called in for white-washing, etc. WG

  • Isabella

    Isabel
    Live-in maid from Murcia. Her mother (Carmen) then came over with Josefa who also came to work later. WG

  • Castor

    Castor
    Postman. WG

  • Carmen

    Carmen
    Murciana (a Murcian immigrant). Married to Antonio. Maid: called on for help around the house, white-washing, etc. Isabel & Josefa's mother. WG

Bibliography

    • Title: Poets [prose]
    • Author: Graves, Robert/ Riding Laura
    • Editor: Riding, Laura