Monday Dec 5[RG] 7

Refugee scenario again.
Rang up Denham: they will send contract for ref. film & we shall have it ready within a week. Claudius scenario in transition owing to Von Sternberg taking over from Menzies and Biro's illness. Claudius film mss [manuscript] arrived from Hillgarth.[RG]
Wrote to Jenny. Sent cheque for £18 to Sherrick following telephone conversation about dresses. She wrote nicely to Laura and me.
Dreadful depression all over country about King & Mrs Simpson. O.K.'s offer of seat in Members' gallery, refused.[RG] Loyal toasts proposed in cafés
David turned up suddenly and healthily on way to Cambridge to sit for Jesus1 exam.
Honor brought Heathen typed. Alan started a novel at Laura's instance2, Maisie after supper. Eden finally admits to Italians at Majorca.

Editorial Notes

1Jesus College? eds.

Hands Referenced

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

Places Mentioned

  • Denham

    England
    usually associated with Denham Studios and Alexander Korda eds.

  • Cambridge [University]

    Cambridge, England
    University attended by RG's son David. eds.

  • Majorca/ Mallorca

    Majorca, Sp
    Largest of the Balearic Islands, located in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of Spain. R.G. and L.R. lived there, in Deyá, from 1929-1936. eds

People Mentioned

  • Jenny

    Nicholson, Jenny
    Jenny Nicholson: oldest daughter of Robert by Nancy Nicholson.

  • Laura

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

  • Maisie

    Sommerville, Maisie
    Head of BBC Education broadcasting department. Friend of R.G. and L.R. Arranged accomodation for them when they returned to London as exiles. W.G., eds.

  • Mrs Simpson

    Simpson, Wallis
    an American divorcee who was scandalously involved with the King. eds.

  • King

    King Edward VIII
    Became the Duke of Windsor after he abdicated the throne in 1936 in order to marry Wallis Simpson. eds.

  • Sherrick

    Sherrick
    R.G.'s daughter Jenny's manager (RPG 263); same as Shellick? associated with Dorchester Hotel eds.

  • Alan

    Hodge, Alan
    Oxford history graduate. Became close friends with LR & RG. First husband of Beryl Graves. CP & WG

  • Hillgarth

    Hillgarth
    Consul? Ambasador? Foreign Office. W.G.; Palma Consul KG
  • von Sternberg, Josef
    Austrian filmmaker (1894-1969); involved in the unfinsihed I, Claudius film eds.

  • Menzies

    Menzies, William Cameron
    (1896-1957) American set designer and producer, worked on the unfinished I, Claudius eds.

  • Biro

    Biró, Lajos
    (1883-1948) a journalist and political secretary in Budapest, Biró wrote screenplays for Alexander Korda, including the ill-fated Claudius script eds.

  • Kyllmann

    Kyllmann, O.K.
    of Constable's RG; also referred to as O.K. eds

  • David

    Graves, David
    R.G.'s second child [by Nancy Nicholson]. W.G. In RAF; killed in the war. The only one of Graves' children who might have become a poet had he lived. K.G., eds.

  • 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).

  • Eden

    Eden, Anthony
    (1897-1977) Foreign secretary for Winston Churchill eds.

Bibliography

    • Title: Refugee Scenario [working title of a screenplay for Korda]
    • Author: Graves Robert/ Riding, Laura
    • Date: 1936-11
    • Title: Claudius [the film: based on I, Claudius, directed by Alexander Korda, starring Charles Laughton. It was never completed.]
    • Title: Claudius Film Version [The Fool of Rome] [a condensed novel based on I, Claudius]
    • Author: Graves, Robert
    • Title: The Heathen
    • Author: Wyatt, Honor
    • Editor: Riding, Laura
    • PubPlace: New York
    • Publisher: Random House
    • Date: 1937
    • Title: Year of Damage [novel]
    • Author: Hodge, Alan
    • Date: 1936-12