1. Robert Graves Diary Project Feb.1935 – May 1939 held by UVic Special Collections Dr. Elizabeth Grove-White & Chris Petter, editors mark-up by Linda Roberts Technical support by Spencer Rose, HCMC

2. Robert Graves Diary Project University of Victoria Research Scope and Objectives Graves is a multi-faceted writer whose canon is being republished by Carcanet press: poet, novelist, essayist, biographer, mythographer The diary copyright belongs to The Robert Graves Trust who are keen on it being made available in print and online The diary is of continuing interest to literary historians and biographers of Graves and his circle The projects’ objective is to produce the first scholarly edition, in print and electronic form of this unpublished diary Diary includes 1546 pages including 117 enclosures: letters, clippings, photographs post cards, notes, games etc. etc.

3. Project’s long term goals for the online edition of the diary produce a reliable text which reflects the textual flavours of Graves’ diary while correcting errors in the transcription. present a digital facsimile of the manuscript which is available to the reader simultaneously with the transcript so the reader can check the accuracy of the text present explanatory material in way which does not distract the reader. incorporate changes suggested from contemporary and modern sources ie. Karl Goldschmidt’s and William Graves’ notes and annotations. hyperlink references in the text to other primary sources that will help to elucidate and provide context

4. UVic (Libraries’) goals in the diary project learn to mark-up a text and to present it in xml TEI (Text Encoding Initiative) – be able to advise faculty on TEI research open source databases to chose an appropriate database to deliver the diary and allow for textual analysis and querying strengthen links between UVic Libraries and other repositories with Graves Collection in order to work together towards a world wide Union list of Graves with hyperlinks to Graves texts host an international conference in Victoria in 2006 to discuss the possibilities and methodologies of collaboration towards a virtual Robert Graves archives of manuscripts and correspondence from around the world.

5. Diary Project Development Phase 2003: prepared a diary website containing the complete diary. Part of 1935 was marked up and annotated, but has not been updated. LinkLink 2004- : mark up 1935-36 and present in prototype Exist database. The diary is searchable for marked up text, but not yet fully functional: i.e. won’t produce browsable lists of names, places and titles. Complete mark-up of monthly abstracts by Patrick Quinn for 1935-36, and add abstracts for remaining months. Digitize Focus and look into copyright. http://lingo.dcf.uvic.ca:8080/exist/graves/ http://lingo.dcf.uvic.ca:8080/exist/graves/ 2005: mark up 1937-39 and present in Exist database. Research for critical introduction, abstracts and notes (E.G-W.). Design and develop diary web page. Find a publisher for the printed edition. 2006: host an international conference in Victoria to discuss the possibilities and methodologies of collaboration towards a virtual Robert Graves archives of manuscripts and correspondence from around the world.

6. Exist Database http://lingo.dcf.uvic.ca:8080/exist/graves/

7. Results of search screen http://lingo.dcf.uvic.ca:8080/exist/graves/

8. Search http://lingo.dcf.uvic.ca:8080/exist/graves/

9. Text of the Diary http://lingo.dcf.uvic.ca:8080/exist/graves/

10. Bibliographical Chronology: 1935-36, Deyá 1.Royalties from the historical novels I, Claudius and Claudius the God made it possible for Graves and Riding to purchase the Posada, hire domestic help, and to undertake various improvements to their house and garden, which are regularly recorded in his diary. Graves begins the novel Antigua, Penny, Puce, writes a condensed version of I Claudius to accompany the anticipated film, edits (rewrites) Frank Richard’s Old Soldier Sahib, translates (with Laura Riding) Almost Forgotten Germany by Georg Schwarz. He is also writing poetry, and successive versions are documented in the diary, with references to Riding’s significant role in the critique of his work. News of T.E. Lawrence’s death comes in May, 1935. Graves describes his preparation of an obituary, and later begins a collaboration with Basil Liddell-Hart on T.E. Lawrence to His Biographer. Graves assists Riding in the editing of Epilogue: A Critical Summary Vol.I, and makes several contributions, along with other members of their “inner circle.” He also regularly contributes to her Focus newsletter, works on the Poets volume for her Subjects of Knowledge series, and reviews her works-in-progress, including Progress of Stories and A Trojan Ending.

11. Deya 1935 Gelat (with Robert’s dog Solomon), Gordon Glover, Laura Riding, Honor Wyatt, Mary Phillips, Karl Goldschmidt, Robert Graves

14. Bibliographical Chronology: 1936-37, England Aug. 1936 On August 2 nd, 1936, threatened by the escalation of the Spanish Civil War, Graves and Riding, with Karl Goldschmidt and Alan Hodge, leave Majorca aboard the HMS Grenville. After an exhausting journey, they arrive safely in England. Graves renews contact with his children, whom he hasn’t seen since he went to Spain in 1929. He begins writing in his diary again. Aug.-Nov. 1936: Marlborough House, London Graves finishes Antigua, Penny, Puce and a rewrites the screen-play for the I,,Claudius film. Graves and Riding meet Rebecca West, and discuss feminist issues. Nov.‘36-Feb. 1937: Dorset Street, London Graves has an interview with Winston Churchill, and emphasizes that public opinion would support English intervention in the Spanish Civil War. There is much concern surrounding his daughter Jenny’s personal and health crisis. Riding completes A Trojan Ending, and writes her “Letter on International Affairs,” amid considerable anxiety about the Spanish Civil War and the state of the world in general. Epilogue III is prepared for publication Feb.-June 1937: The Villa Gaudi, Switzerland A temporary stay due to English tax regulations. Graves’ reply to Riding’s “International Affairs” letter: condemns patriarchy as a root cause of the world’s current problems, and rejects political activism in favor of disseminating ideas through discussion and “’personal example.’” (RPG 269) News of events in Italy and Spain is followed closely. Graves is writing poetry, including “The Fallen Tower of Siloam” and “Or to Perish Before Day.” Riding writes “To Juan Marroig in Prison.” Graves and Riding collaborate on a novel,: The Swiss Ghost. Graves receives disappointing news that the I, Claudius film is not going ahead. July-Nov. 1937: Ewhurst, Surrey Graves and Riding share a house (Highcroft) with the poet Harry Kemp and his wife Alix. Graves begins research for a new historical novel: Count Belisarius, and prepares his Collected Poems [1938] for publication. Riding works on her “Letter Book,” which will become The World and Ourselves, and her Collected Poems [1938]. She contributes to Harry Kemp’s The Left Heresy in Literature and Life. Graves is nominated for, but does not win, the Nobel Prize.

15. 1936-37 some clippings

17. Bibliographical Chronology: 1937-1939, London and France Nov. 1937 - June 1938: Alma Square, St. John’s Wood, London Graves works on Count Belisarius, T.E. Lawrence to His Biographer, and a dramatic version of Riding’s A Trojan Ending. Riding completes The World and Ourselves and begins Lives of Wives. Graves and Riding gather their “insider” friends together to discuss Riding’s 26 articles for The First Protocol, which was to be part of their Covenant of Literal Morality. July 1938 – April 1939: Le Chateau de la Chevrie, Brittany Graves and Riding, with Alan Hodge and Beryl, rent a house in the French countryside, where they are joined by Dorothy Simmons, the sculptor, her husband, and David Reeves. Graves and Riding continue their literary partnership, but Graves begins to spend more time with Beryl, and indicates that he enjoys her company. Graves writes several poems, including “Assumption Day,” “The Love Beast,” “Dawn Bombardment,” and “A Love Story.” Riding’s projects include “Protocol Two,” Lives of Wives, the dictionary, and a book about furniture (with David Reeves).

18. 17/02/38 1938

19. Assumption Day 15/08/38

24. Bibliographical Chronology: 1939, America April 20 th, 1939: Graves and Riding embark for America. April – June 1939: Princeton, New Jersey Graves and Riding meet Schuyler Jackson and his wife Kit; they stay with Tom and Julie Matthews, but see the Jacksons frequently. Discussions are held on Riding’s Second Protocol. May 6, 1939: Graves writes “the diary seems graveyard,” and stops it. June – August 1939: Brownsburg, Pennsylvania (the Jackson’s farm) Graves writes “The Moon Ends in Nightmare.” A copy of this poem was enclosed in his diary. Jackson’s wife has a mental breakdown, Riding and Jackson become lovers, and Graves leaves for England.

25. “The Moon Ends in Nightmare”

26. Credits Diary transcription :- Beryl Graves Diary Annotation: Karl Gay and William Graves Graphics:- William Graves Abstracts for Feb.1935 – Aug. 1936: Patrick Quinn TEI support:- University of New Brunswick, Oxford Text Centre Programming support:- Humanities Research Centre, University of Victoria Copyright permission:- The Robert Graves Trust Research funding: University of Victoria, British Council, Social Sciences and Humanities research Council of Canada