www.robertgraves.org

[kate]

what does robert graves say about the upper middle/middle classes and class conflict in 'goodbye to all that'?

[ian]

kate, I think you need to narrow your question down a little.

If you want to read Graves' opinions on class you should probably have a look at his and Alan Hodge's "The Long Weekend"

[gibbite]

I'm reading The Long Weekend right now. It is an odd sort of a book. It has the feel of (self appointed) expert testimony rather than a history book.

The main feeling I come away with is detachment from society, a total lack of agape. Such elequent writing devoid of empathy has given me nightmares!

None the less it remains a book of worthwhile trivia - every few pages you get the pleasure of going 'hmm!' as a small piece of linguistic or cultural heritage is explained in context.

I haven't been very positive about it, that's not fair, 410 pages in I don't regret reading it. It is this lack of charity, lack of agape which fascinates me. It is something which I did not take away from the fiction, nor even from Good Bye to All That.

Is it something which is evident in the poetry or other work? Is it something dealt with in his biographies?

Cheers,
Andrew.
_________________
"France has acted as the interpreter between England and mankind."
Lord Macaulay