Product Description

As a five-year-old child, William Graves is taken in 1944 from England to a mountain village in Majorca, where his father, the poet Robert Graves, had returned with his new family to the place where he had lived before the war with Laura Riding. Young William grows up in the writer's shadow, while experiencing the way of life of the Majorcans which have hardly changed for hundreds of years, and participating in the day-to-day activities of the village. William Graves conveys the texture of life in Majorca - the food, the pattern of the seasons, the camaraderie and rivalries within the village, and the growing sense, from the 1960s onwards, that his fragile paradise was under threat. The book is also a portrait of Robert Graves, his "Muses" and his entourage, and a study of how the son of a famous father finds his own identity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #66990 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

Customer Reviews

Bittersweet Paradise
This is not an idyllic portrayal of life in Deia as the son of literary master writer, Robert Graves. It is a warts and all account of the wonders of growing up in Deia, Mallorca, at a fascinating time in its history-one of turbulence and yet innocence through the 40s-70s. Somewhat bravely, some might say unwisely, William Graves is totally honest in his feelings and thoughts on many expat writers and artists who arrived in Deia by the shoal load in the heady flower power era. Many of them still remain-some a little older and wiser-and I imagine view some of his comments with a certain froideur, especially when he exposes the names of certain individuals still living there today!I liked the book and felt it was honest and from the heart. He has a nice straight forward, robust style and yet can be very lyrical and endearingly at times, full of self criticism. It is one of the most interesting and important works on Mallorca's past as well as the psyche of the maverick, Robert Graves. William and his siblings deserve an award for having survived early life with so mighty and trying a presence in their midst.

Absolutely excellent
William talks beautifully about his child hood and it makes you want to be there in the cool waters im mallorca. I recommend reading the book to share the experience of such a good life Mr Graves lived. I also recommend visiting Dae if you ever go to Mallorca,