Biography of Robert Graves:
Robert Graves (1895–1985) was a British poet, novelist, critic, and classicist, best known for his poetry, historical fiction, and scholarly works.
Here’s a brief biography of Robert Graves:
Early Life:
Birth: Robert von Ranke Graves was born on July 24, 1895, in Wimbledon, London, England.
Family Background: Graves came from a literary and artistic family. His father, Alfred Perceval Graves, was a poet and his mother, Amalie von Ranke Graves, was of German descent.
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| Biography of Robert Graves |
Military Service:
World War I: Graves served as an officer in the Royal Welch Fusiliers during World War I. He experienced the horrors of trench warfare and was seriously wounded in 1916.
Friendship with Siegfried Sassoon: Graves developed a close friendship with fellow poet Siegfried Sassoon during the war. Sassoon’s anti-war stance had a significant influence on Graves.
Robert Graves’s Literary Career:
Post-War Poetry: Graves’s poetry often reflected his war experiences. His collection “Over the Brazier” (1916) was published during the war, and “Fairies and Fusiliers” (1917) followed.
Novels: Graves wrote historical novels, including “I, Claudius” (1934) and “Claudius the God” (1935), which fictionalized the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius. These novels gained wide acclaim and popularity.
Mythology and Greek Classics:
Graves also delved into classical studies and mythology. His work “The Greek Myths” (1955) is a comprehensive and influential retelling of Greek mythology.
Autobiography: Graves wrote an autobiography, “Goodbye to All That” (1929), which provides insights into his early life, war experiences, and literary pursuits.
Personal Life of Robert Graves:
Marriages: Graves was married twice. His first wife was Nancy Nicholson, with whom he had four children. After their divorce, he married Beryl Pritchard.
Residence in Majorca: In 1929, Graves moved to the island of Majorca, Spain, where he lived for much of his life. His home, known as Ca n’Alluny, became a center for literary and artistic gatherings.
Later Years:
Scholarly Work: Graves continued to write and publish poetry, novels, and scholarly works throughout his life. He was a prolific and versatile writer.
Death: Robert Graves passed away on December 7, 1985, in Deià, Majorca, Spain.
Legacy:
Robert Graves is remembered as a versatile and influential writer, known for his contributions to poetry, historical fiction, classical studies, and mythology.
His work on Greek mythology, in particular, has been widely used as a reference.
“I, Claudius” and “Claudius the God” were adapted into a successful television series, bringing Graves’s work to a broader audience.
Robert Graves’s literary legacy spans a wide range of genres and subjects, reflecting his intellectual curiosity and creative talent.