Physical Theory of Another Life

Physical Theory of Another Life

Taylor, Isaac

New York: Appleton & Co., 1836

Internet Archive

1836

George Eliot to Martha Jackson, 21 May 1841. "Leaving this fruitless subject, I will not omit to tell you that you have instrumentally furnished me with the best soother under a rather severe attack of influenza in ‘The physical theory of another life’ which I had lent to a friend without reading it myself until about a month ago, when I nestled in my father's armchair and forgot headache cough and all their et ceteras in the rapture this precious book caused me, as intense as that of any school girl over her first novel. My chief trouble here ought to be my uselessness for I seem to have nothing to do but seek gratification, but to the willing spirit there is in every situation "room to deny ourselves, a road to bring us daily nearer God." After all this positive egotism, I will pass to what is only comparative, and speak of a friend dear to us both -- of Jessie, who I fear is under a cloud. I wrote rather sillily to her the other week and have not since heard any tidings of her. My immediate spur to write then was a report of her having been indisposed since her departure from Coventry. She had much to try her health and spirits here. It is the prerogative of friendship to dignify the gift even of a few hairs and I question whether, from a bald friend, we should not cherish the paring of a nail as a relic -- hence I draw an inference favourable to the prospects of my worthless letter, which I venture to hope you will receive with pleasure as a proof of the remembrance and affection of your true..." GEL 1: 93-4

Taylor, Isaac, Physical Theory of Another Life, George Eliot's Reading, George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/57127

https://georgeeliotarchive.org/files/original/34e69dfd4919b1c68f45f09b0ce6e6c0.pdf