How did locals in Deià respond to Robert Graves' literary works while he lived there?

Robert Graves settled in Deià in the 1920s, drawn by the rugged beauty of the Tramuntana mountains and the tranquil Mediterranean coast. His writing, often steeped in myth and the landscape surrounding him, resonated with some locals who appreciated his deep attachment to the island’s culture and history. The village would sometimes gather to discuss his ideas, intrigued by how he wove Mallorcan traditions and natural beauty into his prose and poetry, fostering a quiet pride in the place many called home.

Yet, not all voices in Deià embraced Graves without reservation. A few residents looked upon his status as a foreigner warily, concerned he romanticized island life without fully grasping its hardships. This led to spirited conversations in the cafés and town squares, balancing admiration for his literary prowess with skepticism about his outsider perspective. Despite these differing viewpoints, Graves’ presence undeniably left an imprint on Deià’s cultural life, bridging the community’s history with a wider literary world and enriching the artistic fabric of the Tramuntana coast.