Goodbye To All That

Although a familiar as a poet and already with several books to his name, in 1927 Robert gained public recognition for the biography of his friend Lawrence of Arabia. He followed this in 1929 at the age of 34 by his war memoir Good-bye to All That which was an instant success. He broke with his former life and moved to Mallorca.

Poet, Storyteller, Soldier, Mythographer, Novelist, Essayist

As a historical novelist his “I Claudius” novels were run-away best sellers. “Few incidents here given are wholly unsupported by historical authority or some sort” he says. Later, the historical interpretation when investigating the recovery of Golden Fleece led him deep into Mythology.

Myths and Ancient Religions

Robert’s interest in myths and ancient religions (including the Bible) led him to his seminal study: The White Goddess. This in turn led him to translating classics including Apuleius’s The Golden Ass , Suetonius’ The Twelve Caesars and Homer’s Iliad, and to his brilliant recompilation The Greek Myths.

A Poet at the Service of his Muse

Graves saw himself a Poet at the service of his Muse. Writing prose was an occupation which allowed him to continue in her service. Among many other international distinctions he was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford University, and he received the Queen’s Medal for Poetry.

Soldier-Poet of the World War I

Robert Graves fought in the First World War. His first book of poems Over the Brazier was published shortly before being severely wounded and left for dead on the Somme battlefield. He was not quite 21 years old and already a captain and company commander.

Goodbye To All That

Robert's Life

Life Statement

“Since the age of fifteen poetry has been my ruling passion and I have never intentionally undertaken any task or formed any relationship that seemed inconsistent with poetic principles: which has sometime won me the reputation of an eccentric.”

(The White Goddess)

Born in 1895; Anglo-Irish father, German mother. Soldier-poet in WWI with his friends Sassoon and Owen. After an unsuccessful first marriage and four children he wrote Good-bye to All That and retired to Majorca with poet Laura Riding (1929). There he wrote his best selling I, Claudius (1934). Rarely covering the same subject twice, his novel The Golden Fleece led him to his ground breaking thesis on ancient religions The White Goddess (1948) and on to his Greek Myths. He was a biblical scholar, biographer, translator, but above all a poet. He published over 1200 poems. He was elected Professor of Poetry at Oxford (1961), and was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Poetry (1968). He is buried in Deià, Majorca.

Image Galleries

Family and friends. Photos, paintings, etc. First Edition book Covers.

Video & Audio

Readings, Interviews, TV & Film.

Poem of the Week

Random poem from a selection of his best.

Letter of the Week

Random letter from O’Prey’s published Selected Letters

Robert Graves Society

Meetings, conferences, photos and more.

Foundation & Museum

Robert Graves’s House and Foundation in Mallorca.

Robert Graves Review

A publication for scholars and academics, now online.

Online Resources

Bibliography, diaries, Location of documents, Texts of letters.

Quotes, sayings and loose verses

A perfect poem is impossible. Once it had been written, the world would end.

Robert Graves-The Paris Review, "Writers at Work: 4th series," interview with Peter Buckman and William Fifield (1969)

Philosophy is antipoetic. Philosophize about mankind and you brush aside individual uniqueness, which a poet cannot do without self-damage. Unless, for a start, he has a strong personal rhythm to vary his metrics, he is nothing. Poets mistrust philosophy. They know that once the heads are counted, each owner of a head loses his personal identify and becomes a number in some government scheme: if not as a slave or serf, at least as a party to the device of majority voting, which smothers personal views.

Robert Graves-"The Case for Xanthippe" in The Crane Bag (1969)

Across two counties he can hear
And catch your words before you speak.
The woodlouse or the maggot's weak clamour
Rings in his sad ear,
And noise so slight it would surpass credence.

Robert Graves-Lost love

A perfect poem is impossible. Once it had been written, the world would end.

Robert Graves-The Paris Review, "Writers at Work: 4th series," interview with Peter Buckman and William Fifield (1969)

The Laureare tells of Robert Graves's early life which caused him to write Good-bye to All That and to move to Mallorca - Now available on DVD.

Books by Robert Graves and Biographies

Find novels and poems by Robert Graves or biographies from various publishing houses.