Anthony Trollope to GE, Waltham Cross, 18 October 1863
Title
Anthony Trollope to GE, Waltham Cross, 18 October 1863
Title
Anthony Trollope to GE, Waltham Cross, 18 October 1863
Sender
Anthony Trollope
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1863-10-18
Place
Waltham Cross
Letter Content
Anthony Trollope to GE, Waltham Cross, 18 October 1863
MS: University of Virginia. Published: The Letters of Anthony Trollope, ed. B. A. Booth, 1951, pp. 138-139.
Waltham House, | Waltham Cross.
October 18. 1863.
My dear Mrs Lewes.
Will you accept a copy of Rachel Ray, a little story which I have just published in two volumes. I have desired Chapman to send it you.
You know that my novels are not sensational. In Rachel Ray I have attempted to confine myself absolutely to the commonest details of commonplace life among the most ordinary people, allowing myself no incident that would be even remarkable in every day life. I have shorn my fiction of all romance.
I do not know what you who have dared to handle great names and historic times will think of this. But you must not suppose that I think the little people are equal as subjects to the great names. Do you, who can do it, go on. I know you will not be deterred by the criticisms of people who cannot understand. Neither should you be deterred by internal criticism. That which you have in your flask you are bound to pour forth.
Yours always most truly
Anthony Trollope.
MS: University of Virginia. Published: The Letters of Anthony Trollope, ed. B. A. Booth, 1951, pp. 138-139.
Waltham House, | Waltham Cross.
October 18. 1863.
My dear Mrs Lewes.
Will you accept a copy of Rachel Ray, a little story which I have just published in two volumes. I have desired Chapman to send it you.
You know that my novels are not sensational. In Rachel Ray I have attempted to confine myself absolutely to the commonest details of commonplace life among the most ordinary people, allowing myself no incident that would be even remarkable in every day life. I have shorn my fiction of all romance.
I do not know what you who have dared to handle great names and historic times will think of this. But you must not suppose that I think the little people are equal as subjects to the great names. Do you, who can do it, go on. I know you will not be deterred by the criticisms of people who cannot understand. Neither should you be deterred by internal criticism. That which you have in your flask you are bound to pour forth.
Yours always most truly
Anthony Trollope.
Signature
Anthony Trollope.
Citation
Anthony Trollope, Anthony Trollope to GE, Waltham Cross, 18 October 1863, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91702