Julia Simon
Robert Graves' last muse
Julia Simon (London, 1949) is a brilliant woman. So much so that at the age of 12, she made her debut as a ballerina in the Royal Opera House. But for us, as Mallorcans, her life is first and foremost linked to two names: Deià, and Robert Graves (Wimbledon, 1895 – Deià, 1985). Julia was the last muse of the English poet, who lived in Deià for half a century. “It was a special love, not sexual or anything like that. I was looking for a ballet partner and I ended up finding a poet”, recounts Julia from the house she still has in the village.
When they met, Julia Simon was 17 and Robert Graves was 71. “We were the two extremes of life itself, that was the start of it all”, says Julia from her lovely home in Deià, the walls of which contain so many memories.
Julia’s parents met Robert Graves in 1942, during a party organised by Graves’ editor. Beryl, the poet’s second wife, invited them to spend the summer in Deià. But it wasn’t until much later, in 1966, that the couple and their children, including Julia, visited Mallorca for the first time.
“I remember that when we arrived on the island for the first time my sister and I stayed in a very basic little fishermen’s hut, without any electricity or plumbing. After a short while I became very ill. Beryl and Robert were very kind and took me to their house to take care of me. While I was convalescing, Robert would bring me cups of jasmine tea and the latest poems he was writing for his muse at the time (Aemilia Laracuen, with whom Graves had a stormy relationship). I was immediately impressed by his intensity, the exact manner in which he used every single word”, says Julia.
By the time that first holiday on Mallorca ended, Julia had become Robert Graves’ confidante in his relationship with the capricious Aemilia.
“Two months later, Robert travelled to London to [...]
--------
Read this article in full in IN PALMA 79. And if you like, subscribe to IN PALMA for 1 year and get the next 4 issues of the magazine delivered to your home.
