GE to Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, London, 18 March 1873
Title
GE to Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, London, 18 March 1873
Title
GE to Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, London, 18 March 1873
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
Date(s)
- 1873-03-18
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, London, 18 March 1873
MS: The late Mr. Gabriel Wells. Published: Century Magazine, 104 (September 1922), 644.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 18. 73.
My dear Madam
You were quite right in believing that words of sympathy from a fellow-worker would have a peculiar sweetness to me, and though I narrow my letter-writing as far as my conscience will allow, I cannot rest without thanking you heartily for your generous expression of feeling.
As to the "great novel" 751 which remains to be written, I must tell you that I never believe in future books of my own, and always after finishing any work I have a period of despair that I can ever produce anything else worth giving to the world. The responsibility of the writer becomes heavier and heavier -- does it not? -- as the world grows 752 older and the voices of the dead more numerous. It is difficult to believe, until the germ of some new work grows into imperious activity within one, that it is possible to make a really needed contribution to the poetry of the world -- I mean possible for oneself to do it.
But I do not write to you for the sake of telling my personal doubts. I write to thank you, and to assure you that your helpful friendliness will be borne in memory by
Yours very sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
MS: The late Mr. Gabriel Wells. Published: Century Magazine, 104 (September 1922), 644.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 18. 73.
My dear Madam
You were quite right in believing that words of sympathy from a fellow-worker would have a peculiar sweetness to me, and though I narrow my letter-writing as far as my conscience will allow, I cannot rest without thanking you heartily for your generous expression of feeling.
As to the "great novel" 751 which remains to be written, I must tell you that I never believe in future books of my own, and always after finishing any work I have a period of despair that I can ever produce anything else worth giving to the world. The responsibility of the writer becomes heavier and heavier -- does it not? -- as the world grows 752 older and the voices of the dead more numerous. It is difficult to believe, until the germ of some new work grows into imperious activity within one, that it is possible to make a really needed contribution to the poetry of the world -- I mean possible for oneself to do it.
But I do not write to you for the sake of telling my personal doubts. I write to thank you, and to assure you that your helpful friendliness will be borne in memory by
Yours very sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, London, 18 March 1873, 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/92295