Robert Graves, Poet and Novelist

The exhibition ‘Forging a Magical Landscape: The Works of Robert Graves, Poet’ is based on the holdings in Special Collections, University of Otago. Over a busy professional writing career of 59 years, the English poet and novelist wrote some 140 books.

A selection is on display; first and second editions, signed limited publications, reprints, illustrative editions, translations, children’s books, and works by friends and influences such as Siegfried Sassoon, T. E. Lawrence, and Edward Marsh. Notable items include his war book Goodbye To All That (1929), historical novels such as I Claudius (1934) and Claudius the God (1934), the influential The White Goddess (1948), The Golden Fleece (1944), Seven Days in New Crete (1949), The Greek Myths (1955), and Oxford Addresses on Poetry (1964).

On the headstone that marks his grave at Deyá, Marjorca, there is the simple: ‘Robert Graves Poeta 1895-1985’. And it was this aspect that attracted Charles Brasch, editor, patron and poet, to the works of Graves, calling him ‘among the finest English poets of our time, one of the few who is likely to be remembered as a poet.’

Poetry was Graves’s driving passion, and he was certainly prolific, producing in his lifetime some 48 poetry titles. While war poems began his poetic career, he is now better known for his love poetry, fuelled by the loves of his life, Nancy Nicholson, and Beryl Pritchard, and his inspirational Muses, including Laura Riding, the American poet.

Some might consider Robert Graves out of fashion. Given film adaptations and continuous reprints, this is not so. His works will always reflect an independent, unorthodox romantic spirit that makes for stimulating reading. It is hoped that this exhibition rejuvenates interest in him and promotes further study on his works, especially here at the University of Otago.

Download the Hand list for Forging a Magical Landscape (in PDF format)

Special Thanks to: William Graves, Carl Hahn, the St John's College Robert Graves Trust, Oxford, Tina Broderick, Teresa Smith, Amanda Hunter, Merrin Brewster, Elliot O'Sullivan, the University Library Reprographics Unit, and the University bindery.