ABOUT THIS WEBSITE
The RobertGravesLetters.org site hosts transcriptions of extant letters written by British poet and novelist, Robert Graves (1895-1985). Some 4500 letters so far transcribed to date represent some 45% of those extant in some one hundred institutions worldwide. Only some five hundred and of these letters have been previously published in Prof. Paul O'Prey’s two volumes of Selected letters of Robert Graves 1914-1946, and by others in different publications.
Read on ….
Graves’s letters on the site aim to cover his life from his secondary schooldays in 1910 to the onset of his dementia in the early 1970’s. The greater part of his letters was written from his home in Spain. Although he had a secretary to type the manuscripts of his books and poems for much of his life, (and occasional letters to the press for publication), virtually all his letters are hand written in pen and ink. The handling of the original letters in library collections is an issue. More so with Graves, since a great many are written on thin fragile onionskin paper to remain within the minimum postage weight and costs from his island retreat in Mallorca. The letters on the present site have virtually all been transcribed from images of the originals.
Ink and the use of a ‘relief’ nibs tend to make any letter hand written on both sides on onionskin paper difficult to read, even though on the verso Graves tended to write on the blank areas left on the recto side, including in the upper and lower margins.
Many of Graves’s letters are undated several methods of dating are used. Some dating is supported by content found in other dated letters. Passport entries and exits can occasionally tie down dates. Even letterheads can help. In Mallorca, Robert had his address printed locally on the onionskin paper: print was reset for each batch and these can be differentiated and used in for dating. In the periods Graves lived in England he used an embossing stamp. When dates and locations are estimated in the transcriptions a colour code is used to show ‘editorial’ dates or locations.
The texts of the Robert Graves letters are presented as a research resource for those interested in Graves's life and work. The present geographical location of the original letters in libraries (and occasionally in private hands) makes most of these impractical to access.
Please note that transcriptions may contain errors, and that for critical research the original manuscript should always be checked. Images are generally available for a fee from the holding libraries.
Those interested may log-on to this site, free of charge, simply by registering their details online. They will then be able to browse an ever-growing collection of letter transcriptions. All letters (except a certain collection at the University of Victoria) are under the copyright of the Trustees of the Robert Graves Copyright Trust.
The publication in any form of the texts of the letters written by Robert Graves should be requested from United Agents LLP. This will be granted free of charge on behalf of the Trustees provided the copyright is acknowledged, and the publication is non-commercial and of limited extent. This is defined as: three letters or series of extracts not exceeding 400 words, and not exceeding a total of 1500 words.
Any extensive use of the letters for publication in book form, as correspondences, etc. will incur a fee. In any publication of the text the following acknowledgement should be included: 'This text is from robertgravesletters.org and is the copyright (©) of The Trustees of the Robert Graves Copyright Trust. The original letter/letters is/are at the [institution mentioned in the heading metadata]' Please make any omissions of letters or errors in those presented known to members@robertgravesletters.org.