GE to John Blackwood, London, 29 October 1871
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 29 October 1871
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 29 October 1871
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1871-10-29
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 29 October 1871
MS: National Library of Scotland. Mostly published: Cross, III, 142-144.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
October 29. 71.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
Yesterday we returned from Weybridge, where for a few days I have been petted by kind friends (delightful Scotch people) and have had delicious drives in the pure autumn air. That must be my farewell to invalidism and holiday making. I am really better -- not robust or fat, but perhaps as well as I am likely to be till death mends me.
Your account of Mr. Main sets my mind at ease about him, for in this case I would rather have your judgment than any opportunity of forming my own. He had told us that he was only 31, but I was without even a conjecture as to his bring-up and occupation. The one thing that gave me confidence was his power of putting his finger on the right passages, and giving emphasis to the right idea (in relation to the author's feeling and purpose). Apart from that, enthusiasm would have been of little value.
Mr. Lewes will see Mr. Langford about the registration at Stationers' Hall. Also, we think of sending the M.S. of Parts II and III 389 to Edinburgh this week, that they may be got into type, to test their proportionate quantities. I am quite ashamed of giving so much trouble by irregularity of writing, but I hope in future to keep my pages tolerably equal, so as not to be in doubt about the size of my two-monthly Parts.
One feels rather ashamed of authoresses this week after the correspondence in the Times between Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Wood. 390 One hardly knows which letter is in the worse taste. However if we are to begin with marvelling at the little wisdom with which the world is governed, we can hardly expect that much wisdom will go to the making of novels.
I should think it quite a compliment if the General got through Miss
Brooke. Mr. Lewes amused himself with the immeasurable contempt that Mr. Casaubon would be the object of in the General's mind.
I hardly dare hope that the 2d Part will take quite so well as the first -- the effects being more subtle and dispersed, but Mr. Lewes seems to like the 3d Part better than anything that has gone before it. But can anything be more uncertain than the reception of a book by the public? -- I am glad to see that the Coming Race 391 has got into a fourth edition. Let us hope that the Koom-Posh may be at least mitigated by the sale of a good book or two.
Mr. Simpson says he thinks well of the German plan, and I conclude that your opinion concurs. As for me I get more and more unable to be anything more than a feeble sceptic about all publishing plans, and am thankful to have so many good heads at work for me. Allah illah Allah! 392
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Mostly published: Cross, III, 142-144.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
October 29. 71.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
Yesterday we returned from Weybridge, where for a few days I have been petted by kind friends (delightful Scotch people) and have had delicious drives in the pure autumn air. That must be my farewell to invalidism and holiday making. I am really better -- not robust or fat, but perhaps as well as I am likely to be till death mends me.
Your account of Mr. Main sets my mind at ease about him, for in this case I would rather have your judgment than any opportunity of forming my own. He had told us that he was only 31, but I was without even a conjecture as to his bring-up and occupation. The one thing that gave me confidence was his power of putting his finger on the right passages, and giving emphasis to the right idea (in relation to the author's feeling and purpose). Apart from that, enthusiasm would have been of little value.
Mr. Lewes will see Mr. Langford about the registration at Stationers' Hall. Also, we think of sending the M.S. of Parts II and III 389 to Edinburgh this week, that they may be got into type, to test their proportionate quantities. I am quite ashamed of giving so much trouble by irregularity of writing, but I hope in future to keep my pages tolerably equal, so as not to be in doubt about the size of my two-monthly Parts.
One feels rather ashamed of authoresses this week after the correspondence in the Times between Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Wood. 390 One hardly knows which letter is in the worse taste. However if we are to begin with marvelling at the little wisdom with which the world is governed, we can hardly expect that much wisdom will go to the making of novels.
I should think it quite a compliment if the General got through Miss
Brooke. Mr. Lewes amused himself with the immeasurable contempt that Mr. Casaubon would be the object of in the General's mind.
I hardly dare hope that the 2d Part will take quite so well as the first -- the effects being more subtle and dispersed, but Mr. Lewes seems to like the 3d Part better than anything that has gone before it. But can anything be more uncertain than the reception of a book by the public? -- I am glad to see that the Coming Race 391 has got into a fourth edition. Let us hope that the Koom-Posh may be at least mitigated by the sale of a good book or two.
Mr. Simpson says he thinks well of the German plan, and I conclude that your opinion concurs. As for me I get more and more unable to be anything more than a feeble sceptic about all publishing plans, and am thankful to have so many good heads at work for me. Allah illah Allah! 392
Always yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 29 October 1871, 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/92670