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- 24.01.2024, 10:30
- ☀️ 16 °C
- Höhe über NN: 187 m
- SpanienBalearische InselnDeià39°45’11” N 2°38’51” E
Robert Graves’ House in Deia
24. Januar in Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Robert Graves is one of the great literary figures of the 20th Century. In 1929, he came to Mallorca, built a house in Deia and lived there until his death in 1985. He is buried under a great cypress tree in the lovely churchyard next to the church.
He is the author of close to 100 books: novels, history, mythology, religion, short stories and essays. “ But above all, he is a love poet, with over 1200 poems.” In 1961, he was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford. In 1968, he received the Queen’s Medal for Poetry. He is best known for two of his works; the novel, I Claudius and The White Goddess, a tribute to his poetic testament.
His house was right on the main road into Deia and it was open for tours, so we stopped in to have a look. There was only 1 other couple there at the same time.
We got our seniors’ tickets and were sent to a small auditorium with an excellent, short video introduction of the life of Robert Graves. It was told in the first person, using BBC interviews, and local footage. His life seemed to be very full especially of loves, found and lost.
On one wall of the auditorium is a spectacular “time-line” which covers the poet’s life, and is illustrated with personal photographs, book covers, and international events. On the other walls were several large photographs taken in 1953.
Going outside we walked through the garden to get to the house. The main paths remain essentially as they were when the house was built. The olive, carob, and almond trees growing on the land were left in place. Graves added an orange grove, a tangerine grove, and some lemon trees, local varieties of fruit trees, and bitter orange trees for his marmalade. The sunny end of the garden he kept for a kitchen garden that is still being planted. On the side of the house is a large covered water reservoir filled from the village spring but it also takes the overflow from the rain water cistern in the house. It was used for watering in the hot summer months.
Robert Graves, and his then companion Laura Riding, built the house in 1932, and called it Ca n’Alluny, which in Catalan means “The Far House” It is a five minute walk from the picturesque village of Deià. The mountains rise up behind it and it looks out to the Mediterranean.
We enjoyed reading the English posters explaining what was in the rooms and any changes that had to be made for public viewing.
It had three writing rooms - one for him, one for his wife and one for any visiting guest. Books, paper, pens were on the writing desks ready to be used.
All the furniture, wall hangings, and even the light fittings are original. When we were in the house it felt like the Graves’ family still lived in it.
Where possible, the house has been restored to how Graves found it when he returned to Mallorca in 1946 with his new family. It was lovingly cared for and we enjoyed the visit.Weiterlesen
Reisender So interesting! - Franki
Ladyandtramp He had quite the life! Check Google.
Reisender Très bel endroit!
Ladyandtramp Really lovely!