Read The Richard Burton Diaries Online
Authors: Richard Burton,Chris Williams
Tags: #Non-Fiction, #Biography
17 Monday
I was supposed to do all kinds of things today – like buy dresses (and things and stuff) Things I would ordinarily have loved and indulged in – buying clothes and jewels. I still have over 5 thou’ to spend on my allowance and 45 thous of insurance money for jewelery – but we did something else – Something more beautiful than anything in the world. My God it was lovely! Then we had a late dinner at ‘Mediterannée’ and talked about all the things
we are going to do on our honeymoon – It's almost 5 years long now.
35
Better every day! [Elizabeth Taylor's hand.]
18 Tuesday
First night of honeymoon (?) by leaving Paris driving ourselves in R.R.
36
Followed, for a time by two press. E. has bangs.
37
Can't make up mind whether like or not. E called Baron E. Rothschild to make intro to J. Heyman.
38
Lunched (pizza) at Bas Bréau Barbizon.
39
Lovely. Then went on to Avallon and are staying at ‘La Poste’.
40
E. behaving as if it really were the first time for us both to be married to each other. Have to be careful. I might become idolatrous. Wish I knew her well enough to tell her how exciting life is with her about.
19 Wednesday
Visited chateau ‘Roche Pot’ seen from the road.
41
Chilled to the bone.
Left about 1.0 pm. Talked Glenville re
Man to be King
and
Golden Eye
.
42
Curious Ray Stark.
43
Napoleon stayed at ‘Poste’ from Elba before he met Ney.
44
‘Girl’ enjoys everything including ugliness. Very worth-while woman. Lunched at Cote d'Or at Saulieu.
45
Splendid. She spoiled by everyone. Enjoy it, donkey, while it lasts says he enviously. Love her. What a Lune de miel.
46
Staying here at hotel called ‘de France’ which makes Copper House look like Savoy.
47
But with usual perversity E thinks it romantic. The sheets are clean. Manager inarticulate with excitement. Press came to restaurant de Bressanne.
48
Two photographers. One's flash refused to work. (Memo write about reaction to fame or lack of it).
20 Thursday
Last night the room became beautiful! When we woke up it looked ugly but had already become a ‘lovely experience’. The manager was so touching that it made us both feel all kind of funny. The way he kept smiling and nodding over the heads of the two locals photographers it was like he'd given birth to
us. Drove 40 kms to Nantua for lunch, sweet woman told the route to avoid long line of customs – it worked!
49
Saw Geneva for first time – beautiful! Saw R.’s house, met André – felt very funny – as I knew I would – So did R. got
over
it soon – Thank God. Stopped at Chateau De C. and and the ‘Other Place’ – Home! Kids! Home!!
50
[Elizabeth Taylor's hand.]
21 Friday
Got up late midday! Went tramping with Michael, Christopher, Liza after having watched them at the Riding School.
51
Liza and Mike splendid but Christoph started to show panic and with my usual hatred of watching others humiliated I left with Maria for a stroll to the river. E, feeling the same, came out shortly afterwards. Chris obviously upset at the end of the ride. Asked me if I would ride for pleasure. I said no I'd rather read a good book. I think he agrees heartily but he mustn't be stopped. The shame of it. Dined at home. Fried chicken.
22 Saturday
Bad day. Woke in foul temper. Read
Woolf
in the sun then went for walk with boys and Liza to neighbouring village.
52
Leg-weary. Went to Olden with E.
53
Started picking on her – dined at home on turkey – then went on to a rip and tear quarrel with no holds barred. Slept alone! Fools!
23 Sunday
Woke up in wrong bed! Took E to Alte Post at Weissenburg for lunch.
54
Drove back with top down. For a time. Played Liar Poker Dice with E in Olden with many variations.
55
Maria fell backwards off dining chair. Waiting invitation for Wednesday to go CÔte d'Azur arranged P. Glenville.
56
Splendid etc!
24 Monday
Still sleeping too much – must be altitude – woke at 10.30.
57
Got word that house in St Tropez OK but wait for invitation which should arrive tomorrow.
58
Had lunch at Olden where we were taught a dice game called ‘Yatsee’ – most interesting.
59
Taught it at 1pm (approximately) and were still
playing it 6.45pm (approximately). Children joined us at about 4.30. Dined at home on pork etc. Ate with enjoyment for the first time. Will probably leave for South of France on Wednesday if all goes well. Can't think what stages to do the journey in. Eli Roths. calling E.
60
What for? What a funny fellow. And so to bed.
25 Tuesday
Received invitation to South of France. Packed for California and S. of Fr. And the boat – Pooped! Went to ‘Olden’ played ‘Yahtesee’ (?) for hours just the two of us then Paul and his girl – it was great fun.
61
The kids are even better than any of us – Cheeky bags!
What a funny night = starting a honeymoon! It's so soppy! We don't really know
where
we're going! (Keep fingers crossed about House – that it really happened!!) [Elizabeth Taylor's hand.]
26 Wednesday
‘You write,’ She said, ‘because you must tell how lovely this day has been and how it's so honeymooney.’ What,’ I said, ‘What if I write that I am bitterly angry because so sharply lovely a day could come to me only in my 39th year?’ Anyway, we're in a place called Talloires in the High Savoy in an old monastery called L'Abbeye, and we arrived at 9.00, and we loved the room, and we had the two beds put together, and we saw Liston knocked out by Clay in slow motion, and [...] we walked along the lapping shore, and we came back to our cell and we loved being here and we talked about a stood-up lonely boy and so to bed.
62
27 Thursday
Went to lunch at ‘Père Bise.
63
Very good but all the menus are so similar. Had poularde de bresse.
64
A family at next table gave E a bunch of ‘Lily of the Valley.’ Love in the afternoon. Then dozed and read K. Allott's anthology of modern poetry.
65
What a little pussycat he is in his comments. Wrote PCs to the children in Gstaad.
66
Read some more. Had drinks and dinner and so to bed and reading. I am drinking too steadily – lunch time and dinner time. Will stop when we get to La Reine Jeanne for a few days.
67
Am still a bundle of nerves. Wish I didn't have to work so soon.
28 Friday
‘What's your name?’
‘Elizabeth Taylor’
‘Prove it.’
‘My father's name was Taylor.’
‘Prove it.’
‘I love him that's all’
‘Prove it.’
‘Where were you born?’
‘Hampstead, England’
‘Prove it’
‘I have a birth thing’
‘Show it.’
‘I don't have it with me’
‘Find it.’
‘I am alone and defenceless’
‘Why?’
‘I argue.’
‘Whom with?’
‘You’
‘Why’
‘Because we love each other.’
‘Prove it!’
Just because that's all! [Elizabeth Taylor's hand.]
29 Saturday
Woke up feeling very contrite – both of us – what a stupid waste of energy and time! Quietly and gently we became us again – had lunch at Les Baux, Baumaniére, almost ran out of Gas – had a hell of a time finding our way here.
68
I tried to be R's navigator – but the map and the roads are so poorly marked that we both became screaming ‘things’. Anyway, we are finally Home. Already the strings of nerves are loosening. It's a really lovely place and the dearest people are taking care of us. ‘Honeymoon’ is back with us. God, I love him so! Make me a better wife (Please) [Elizabeth Taylor's hand.]
30 Sunday
This establishment we stay at is like a hotel but is not. Its owner Cmdr. Weiller lets us use it and his servants and his food and wine for nothing.
69
Yet there are signs as in a hotel. ‘Put out lights.’ ‘Please use this bag for sanitary towels. Do not flush down toilet.’ We must find out more. Downstairs
in the Salon Burt has found scrapbooks of guests in past years.
70
The Chaplins. D. Fairbanks Jr. Merle Oberon, Margot Fonteyn etc.
71
We shopped in Lavandou today and drove around a bit.
72
Cold pork for dinner and ‘William’ to finish.
73
I played piano, read Sundays. Burt beat me at Yahtsee. Teach her! Weather unfriendly. Hope to bathe soon. Burt looking very pretty today.
31 Monday
Rose late. Can't understand this continual late sleeping. [...] Day is gone before one looks around. Took first dip in sea. Cold. Went for walk with Burt to local which is a bar on the sand a mile and a bit from the house. Burt walked there and back. What next? Paced the return. Fish and omelette ‘porquerolle’ for dessert.
74
Read Orwell's
Clergyman's Daughter
.
75
Uneven.
JUNE
1 Tuesday
Got up 9.50 went to Lavandou. Bought cigs, books, sandals (lots of tar on beach) b. costume.
76
Woke Burt up at 12.00. Meantime workmen were mending gate so couldn't get in. Had coffee in local. Nice people. Swam? sun bathed, lunched, bed read, ate, slept. Whew! Burt a bit sarky today.
He
should frigging talk! [Elizabeth Taylor's hand.]
2 Wednesday
Rose 10 o'clock but weather dull. Went downstairs and began Grenier's M.S. ‘Yes and back again’.
77
Very flatly written, ridden with clichés and so far difficult to get through. But it has been accepted so there. I wouldn't have accepted it either as commercial or artistic possibility but there's no knowing. We then visited Bormez which is enchanting and were photographed.
78
Then we sought ‘pizza’ and found it in a rather drab little place on the main road. With it we drank Pernod and later vin blanc. We called at our local on way home. Deserted. Apparently the estate is 70 hectares and the price after the war was 2 sous sq. metre! Had good row with Burt and accused her, among other things, of lousy taste. She accused me among other things of snobbery. I said the only thing we had in common was Yahtsee. I forgot some other things.
3 Thursday
[...] For the first time today the phone rang! Twice! Gaston being officious. R. Hanley calling at our request from Greece.
79
He goes to London tomorrow. We did nothing all day. I read papers from cover to cover. Endlessly. Weather good but windy and therefore impossible to do anything except crosswords and eat endless cherries (delicious) and irritate Burt. I drank nothing and pilled nothing. But still I'm lethargic. Where went my energy? Read delightful ‘tec novel by ?. Very good anyway.
4 Friday
Sat and sunbathed most of the day but wind still a little cold for swimming. Went into Lavandou to replenish book supply. We stopped at local on way home and drank beer (me) pernod (Burt). Learned to our horror that Dick Merriman's adopted baby girl died. We don't know the cause. This means he will work with Burt on the boat instead of here. We had sole for supper. [...] Poor Merriman. There's nowt one can do. More adoption is the answer I suppose.
5 Saturday
Lingering Day! R. went to town after washing the car (with the top down, which caused all kinds of wolf calls) to buy me a present – a bikini – It turned out to be small for my boobs – so he went back (stores were closed). I was washing my hair so could not go with him Then he went back after lunch to get it. I think he enjoyed the rides in the Rolls with the top down. I must say they do look dishy together! We got all dressed up for dinner, went to Le Lavendou and had our first dinner out – marvelous! [
sic
] Strange people around the village most of them are young but weird looking R. got more whistles than I did. Stopped at Pizza Place for desert [
sic
]. R. lost beautifully at Yahtzee! Oi givalt!
80
[Elizabeth Taylor's hand.]
6 Sunday
Stayed at home and ate lunch – salad and roquefort dressing. Stayed in the sun almost all the time. We are both getting quite brown but prefer the mornings on the balcony to the beach in the noon. It's so boring sunbathing on sand. We drank little and ate a lot for dinner. [...]
7 Monday
Whitsun Monday and pouring tropically with rain. We went to lunch [...] place called Les Roches Fleuries.
81
Very nicely situated. Food OK. Talked nonsense pleasantly with some people at the next table and so to the bar. A little shopping for Kleenex and so home.
82
Dinner at home and sleep.
8 Tuesday
Woke fitfully at 10. Sat on balcony until lunch reading newspapers. Learned to our relief that the ‘Gemini Twins’ were back from the Cosmos safely.
83
For some reason we both felt oddly nervous about them. It is odd, too, that I almost always think – no condescension intended – of Americans as being gifted and brave but almost always child-like. White, the man who walked for 20 minutes in space, when asked how it was replied ‘It was really something.’ How deep was Columbus’ mind? Wasn't Churchill a boy with a gift for man's words? What was Alexander?
84
Who Caesar? Not Rex Harrison.
85
Idiot. Strange love affair this afternoon. Tolerable agony. Agonizing Love. Lovely pain.
9 Wednesday
Lunch at home and then we packed a week-end bag and left for Roches Fleuries, a Hotel at place called Aiguebelle four kms on from Lavandou. We obtained a room overlooking the sea. Nice enough. [...] Went to dinner at Lavandou and both had moules maranieres.
86
Had a quarrel again. Nasty habit we have. Home and to Yahtsee and bed in sullen silence. It's always (nearly) alright in the morning.