2110-7-2-5

LAURA RIDING ROBERT GRAVES

THE SEIZIN PRESS DEYA - MALLORCA- SPAIN

March 27 1935

Dear John

This evening I got a contract from Eliot for my Claudius film: he mentioned that you have approved it and I was on the point of writing to thank you when I found in the local Spanish paper a telegram saying that you would probably be made the next Governor-General of Canada, so that it is a great pleasure (if the telegram is true) to be able to combine thanks and congratulations. I think that it is a very good thing for Canada. I have been following the Canadian situation in the American press, and I think that Susie and yourself between you will be able to deal successfully with 'Mitch' Hepburn who seems to be the chief trouble there. Really, I feel very happy about

it.

Claudius has been a very good friend to me ('manus manum lavat') and has got me free of a crushing debt that I expected to be on my neck for years. By the same mail I got a notification that the books have jointly been awarded the James Tait Black Memorial prize. My first prize since my preparatory school days; and the late good widow Janet Coats, who gave it, lets her prize-winners off the ordeal of a prize-giving; which makes me feel most grateful to her memory.

I forbid you to answer this letter: you have many too many to answer. But this is just to say thank you once more for your help over Claudius, and how very glad I am that you are getting this most suitable job. With love to Susie

Yours ever

Robert Graves.