Sept 27 Monday.

Funny day. Hot & dull.
1) I had a letter from A.G. to whom Charles & Peggy had accused me of starving Jenny. I wrote to Jenny, ordering her to break with Charles unless he apologised & retracted, and to A.G. informing her of this.
2) Laura after a long break, looking very pale started work, but didn't get far.
3). Karl has been told by Marie that she doesn't like us enough for her to want to marry him: & given notice.
4) Alix had customs troubles over cheese.
5) Harry's tutored pupil flunked again.
6). Sweet letters from Lucie1 – Tom now Commissar of Culture for Time.
7) Solace was away 20 hours.
8) I twice hit the target, once with an Indian arrow.
9) Mr. Burt gave us heather wine.
10) Harry, Karl & I to Dorking: where by a ruse I got the Highcroft advt [advertisement] from Cubitt & West the agent2 which said 2 ¼ guineas not the 3 ¼ we have paid: & then to Down Scott & Down for legal advice. They said no action lay; but there was a further fraud about paying Mr. Burt in which we had right on our side.
11.) I did 14 pp [pages] of Belisarius ch [chapter] 11.
12) Talked to Laura (who has been busy straightening Karl out) about Seizin Company.

Editorial Notes

1 Julie KG
2estate agents eds.

Hands Referenced

Places Mentioned

  • Dorking

    Dorking, Surrey, England

  • Highcroft

    Ewhurst, Surrey, England
    Rental house that RG and LR shared with Harry and Alix Kemp in Ewhurst for July-November, 1937 RPG

People Mentioned

  • Laura

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

  • Harry Kemp

    Kemp, Harry
    Poet. Met Graves and Riding through James Reeves in August 1936, just after their arrival in England. In their previous correspondence, Riding had been intrigued by his falling-out with Communism. He became associated with their circle, collaborating on various projects. (RPG 248-49)

  • 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.

  • Marie

    Goldschmidt, Marie
    Karl Goldschmidt's first wife. RPG 280-81. The couple met when Marie was employed as domestic help at Ewhurst (summer 1937). eds.

  • Alix Kemp

    Kemp, Alix
    Married to poet Harry Kemp. The couple shared a house with Graves and Riding in Ewhurst, Surrey (1937). eds (RPG 277); also referred to as Frau Eierman by RG eds. see Diary August 30, 1936

  • A.G. (A.E.S.G)

    Graves, Amy
    Amy Graves, RG's Mother. WG

  • Charles

    Graves, Charles Patrick Ranke
    RG's brother with whom he did not get on. WG Estranged from RG in 1937 over Jenny Nicholson's crisis. See RPG p.281 CP

  • Peggy Graves

    Graves, Peggy
    Married to Charles Graves, R.G.'s brother. Both provided support to Robert's daughter Jenny while she was performing in London. (RPG 249, 265) eds.

  • Jenny

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

  • Lucie

    Brown, Lucie
    Married artist John Aldridge. eds.

  • Julie

    Matthews, Julie
    Tom Matthews' wife. WG

  • Tom

    Matthews, T.S.(Tom)
    American journalist. Took sabbatical from TIME and arrived in Deyá in 1930. Involved from then on with L.R. and R.G. WG

  • Mr. Burt

    Burt, Mr.
    gardener at Ewhurst, 1937. eds.

Organizations Mentioned

  • Seizin Press

    Founded when Robert Graves and Laura Riding began their partnership in London. R.G. and L.R. continued to operate their own press in Deyá, but stopped printing in 1935. Seizin Press published a number of literary works in conjunction with Constable in London, including the Epilogue series, and other works by Laura Riding and their literary associates. eds

Bibliography

    • Title: Count Belisarius [1938]
    • Author: Graves, Robert
    • PubPlace: London
    • Publisher: Cassell
    • Idno: A47
    • Date: 1937-07-21
    • Title: Time [Magazine]
    • PubPlace: New York