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Quote by Robert Graves

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Conversations with Robert Graves

This book features a series of conversations with Robert Graves, delving into his thoughts on poetry, literature, and life. The discussions provide insights into his creative process, personal experiences, and views on various literary topics. more

Author

Robert Graves
Robert Graves

Robert Graves was a British poet, novelist, and translator, born on July 24, 1895, and died on December 7, 1985. His poetry is diverse and spans various literary movements from classicism to modernism. Known for his profound insights into history and mythology, Graves's novels are also highly regarded. more

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“A novelist can shift view-point if it comes off. ... Indeed, this power to expand and contract perception (of which the shifting view-point is a symptom), this right to intermittent knowledge - I find one of the great advantages of the novel-form ... this intermittence lends in the long run variety and colour to the experiences we receive.”

“[T]he visibility of styles is itself a product of historical consciousness. ... The very notion of "style" needs to be approached historically. Awareness of style as a problematic and isolable element in a work of art has emerged in the audience for art only at certain historical moments - as a front behind which other issues, ultimately ethical and political, are being debated.”

“Tragedy is an imitation not only of a complete action, but of events inspiring fear and pity. Such an effect is best produced when the events come on us by surprise; and the effect is heightened when, at the same time, they follow as cause and effect. The tragic wonder will then be great than if they happened of themselves or by accident; for even coincidences are most striking when they have an air of design.”

“At the beginning of their careers many writers have a need to overwrite. They choose carefully turned-out phrases; they want to impress their readers with their large vocabularies. By the excesses of their language, these young men and women try to hide their sense of inexperience. With maturity the writer becomes more secure in his ideas. He finds his real tone and develops a simple and effective style.”