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The exhibition dedicated to writer and poet Robert Graves now being held in the Círculo de Bellas Artes in Madrid is “the most extensive and valuable of those organised to date,” according to his son William Graves. Exhibits include photographs related to his family and professional life, many of them by photographers of international prestige such as Bill Brandt, Daniel Farson and Tom Blau, manuscripts, first editions, letters reflecting his correspondence with other writers, diaries and personal objects which introduce the visitor to the life and work of one of the most important authors of the 20th century. It ilustrates the magnitude of his poetic work and the aesthetics which marked his life. Graves was born in Wimbledon in 1895 and died in Deya, where he is buried, in 1985. He was a versatile and prolific writer, publishing around 150 works in various genres, “but it was in poetry where he found the means to express his true literary identity,” according to exhibition's curator, Aurorra Sotelo. One of the chief objectives of the exhibition, Robert Graves: A Poet's Life, is to show his facet as a poet, and it includes original manuscripts of his poems “which are being presented all together for the first time,” Sotelo said, adding that it had been difficult to assemble the material on show as it was dispersed around the world. She went on to say that all his work, including his prose,“was related in some way to poetry.” He never wanted to belong to literary or artistic movements, she said, and always showed great individuality, but despite this “he was capable of maintaining interesting relationships with persons who provided spiritual company and professional stimulus. The exhibition, which will be open until the 29th, has been organised in collaboration with the Balearic government, the Grup Serra, the Robert Graves Society and the writer's family. Robert Graves settled in Deya in 1929, after travelling in various countries in search of a paradise where he could write poetry. He remained on the island until the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936. He returned in 1946 and lived here until his death. Speakers at the exhibition included Grup Serra president Pere A Serra and Damia Pons, the Balearic minister of culture, who said that it had been a great honour for Majorcans to have Robert Graves living on the island. William Graves, representing the family, said that the exhibition was unique and contained a lot of material which had not been exhibited before.