GE to John Blackwood, [Wandsworth], 10 April 1859
Title
GE to John Blackwood, [Wandsworth], 10 April 1859
Title
GE to John Blackwood, [Wandsworth], 10 April 1859
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1859-04-10
Place
[Wandsworth]
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, [Wandsworth], 10 April 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 97-98.
April 10th 59.
My dear Sir
The unopened letter you sent me was from Mr. Lucas of the "Times," and contained an elaborate account of a new weekly periodical projected by Bradbury and Evans, of which Mr. Lucas is to be the editor. 89 The project, he says, is "conceived or supported" by some of my "most eminent contemporaries." I presume I may tell you this in confidence, though the letter is marked "private," for its substance must be known too widely to have the nature of a secret.
The letter demands an answer, and as I was uncertain whether you knew Mr. Lucas or would like to write to him, embodying a message from me in your letter, I have written an answer which I shall be obliged to you if you will allow one of your clerks to copy for me and forward.
The other day I received a letter from an old friend in Warwickshire 90 containing some striking information about the author of "Adam Bede." I extract the passage for your amusement.
"I want to ask you if you have read '91Adam Bede'92 or the '91Scenes of Clerical Life,'92 and whether you know that the author is Mr. Liggins. . . . A deputation of dissenting parsons went over to ask him to write for the Eclectic, and they found him washing his slop-basin at a pump. He has no servant and does everything for himself, but Mr. Rosevear" 91 (one of said parsons) "said that he inspired them with a reverence that would have made any impertinent question impossible. The son of a baker, of no mark at all in his town, so that it is possible you may not have heard of him. You know he calls himself '91George Eliot.'92 It sounds strange to hear the Westminster doubting whether he is a woman, 92 when here he is so well known. But I am glad it has mentioned him. They say he gets no profit out of '91Adam Bede,'92 and gives it freely to Blackwood, which is a shame. We have not read him yet, but the extracts are irresistible."
Conceive the real George Eliot's feelings, conscious of being a base worldling -- not washing his own slop-basin, and not giving away his M.S.! Nor even intending to do so, in spite of the reverence such a course might inspire. I hope you and Major Blackwood will enjoy the myth.
The story will be ready in a few days -- would have been ready now, but for illness of my own and of others, sadly interrupting all work.
Mr. Langford sent me a letter the other day from Miss Winkworth, 93 a grave lady who says she never reads novels -- except a few of the most famous -- but that she has read '91Adam'92 three times running. One likes to know such things -- they show that the book tells on peoples' hearts and may be a real instrument of culture. I sing my '91Magnificat'92 in a quiet way, and have a great deal of deep, silent joy, but few authors, I suppose, who have had a real success, have known less of the flush and the sensations of triumph that are talked of as the accompaniments of success. I think I should soon begin to believe that "Liggins" wrote my books -- it is so difficult to believe what the world does not believe, so easy to believe what the world keeps repeating.
Ever yours truly
George Eliot.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 97-98.
April 10th 59.
My dear Sir
The unopened letter you sent me was from Mr. Lucas of the "Times," and contained an elaborate account of a new weekly periodical projected by Bradbury and Evans, of which Mr. Lucas is to be the editor. 89 The project, he says, is "conceived or supported" by some of my "most eminent contemporaries." I presume I may tell you this in confidence, though the letter is marked "private," for its substance must be known too widely to have the nature of a secret.
The letter demands an answer, and as I was uncertain whether you knew Mr. Lucas or would like to write to him, embodying a message from me in your letter, I have written an answer which I shall be obliged to you if you will allow one of your clerks to copy for me and forward.
The other day I received a letter from an old friend in Warwickshire 90 containing some striking information about the author of "Adam Bede." I extract the passage for your amusement.
"I want to ask you if you have read '91Adam Bede'92 or the '91Scenes of Clerical Life,'92 and whether you know that the author is Mr. Liggins. . . . A deputation of dissenting parsons went over to ask him to write for the Eclectic, and they found him washing his slop-basin at a pump. He has no servant and does everything for himself, but Mr. Rosevear" 91 (one of said parsons) "said that he inspired them with a reverence that would have made any impertinent question impossible. The son of a baker, of no mark at all in his town, so that it is possible you may not have heard of him. You know he calls himself '91George Eliot.'92 It sounds strange to hear the Westminster doubting whether he is a woman, 92 when here he is so well known. But I am glad it has mentioned him. They say he gets no profit out of '91Adam Bede,'92 and gives it freely to Blackwood, which is a shame. We have not read him yet, but the extracts are irresistible."
Conceive the real George Eliot's feelings, conscious of being a base worldling -- not washing his own slop-basin, and not giving away his M.S.! Nor even intending to do so, in spite of the reverence such a course might inspire. I hope you and Major Blackwood will enjoy the myth.
The story will be ready in a few days -- would have been ready now, but for illness of my own and of others, sadly interrupting all work.
Mr. Langford sent me a letter the other day from Miss Winkworth, 93 a grave lady who says she never reads novels -- except a few of the most famous -- but that she has read '91Adam'92 three times running. One likes to know such things -- they show that the book tells on peoples' hearts and may be a real instrument of culture. I sing my '91Magnificat'92 in a quiet way, and have a great deal of deep, silent joy, but few authors, I suppose, who have had a real success, have known less of the flush and the sensations of triumph that are talked of as the accompaniments of success. I think I should soon begin to believe that "Liggins" wrote my books -- it is so difficult to believe what the world does not believe, so easy to believe what the world keeps repeating.
Ever yours truly
George Eliot.
Signature
George Eliot.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, [Wandsworth], 10 April 1859, 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/92565