July 31 Friday

Going over Troy, with Laura. Checked first section.
Bombs in Palma: five planes. The bombs are 'cannisters' like the sort the Germans used at Fricourt filled with scrap metal; great moral effect, kill many, do little harm to property. After nine o'clock all shops shut except chemists shops.[RG]
F [Fascist]'s guarding the coast at night: from Soller.
We have thought of leaving the island because of interrupted communications; decided to wait a week & get Troy & Epilogue done. Palma is a dangerous gauntlet to run.
British radio has a F. [Fascist] tinge. Govt [Government] threat to bombard Palma from sea and air until it yields.
Bartolome finishing the path: will conclude tomorrow, tidying up and all.
Village very quiet.
Grapes nearly ripe.
Another class called up: 5 boys from the village must go.
Pancho is the life and soul of his barracks, where Francisca1 visits him daily.

Editorial Notes

1Francisca the cook from Pollensa? Or could be a Francisca from Palma. Certainly not Francisca Messiana or Francisquita. WG

Hands Referenced

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

Places Mentioned

  • Palma

    Palma, Majorca, Sp
    Capital and largest centre of Majorca.

  • Pollensa

    Pollensa, Majorca, Sp
    Town at the north end of Majorca. WG R.G. sometimes spells it "Pollenza." eds.

  • Soller

    Soller, Majorca, Sp
    Town of some 10,000 inhabitants ten kilometers from Deyá. WG

  • Fricourt

    the Somme, France
    RG's battalion passed through Fricourt during the battle of the Somme in July 1916, a short time before he was wounded by a bursting shell in High Wood. (MS 52) eds.

People Mentioned

  • Bartolomé

    Bartolomé
    The mason. WG

  • Laura

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

  • Pancho

    Colom, Pancho
    Don Bernardo's son. A black sheep. WG

  • 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.

  • Francisquita

    Francisquita (Gelat's daughter-in-law)
    "Anita's little sister" (Anita Gelat's daughter-in-law). See diary May 1st and June 24th, 1936. eds.

Bibliography

    • Title: Trojan Ending, A [novel]
    • Author: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: Deyá & London
    • Publisher: Seizin & Constable
    • Date: 1937
    • Title: Epilogue III
    • Editor: Riding, Laura/ Graves, Robert
    • PubPlace: Deyá & London
    • Publisher: Seizin & Constable
    • Date: 1937