GE to John Blackwood, London, 9 November 1867
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 9 November 1867
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 9 November 1867
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1867-11-09
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 9 November 1867
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published with significant omissions: Cross, III, 23-25.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
November 9. 67.
My dear Sir
About putting Fidalma in type. There would be advantages, but also disadvantages, and on these latter I wish to consult you. I have more than 3000 lines ready in the order I wish them to stand in, and it would be good for Mr. Lewes to have them before him in print when he sets to work to read them critically. Defects reveal themselves more fully in type, and emendations might be more conveniently made on proofs, since I have given up the idea of copying the M.S. as a whole.
On the other hand, could the thing be kept private when it had once been in the printing office? And I particularly wish not to have it set afloat, for various reasons. Among others -- I want to keep myself free from all inducements to premature publication; I mean, publication before I have given my work as much revision as I can hope to give it while my mind is still nursing it. Beyond this, delay would be useless. The theory of laying by poems for nine years may be a fine one, but it would not answer for me to apply it. I could no more live through one of my books a second time than I can live through last year again. But I like to keep checks on myself, and not to create external temptations to do what I should think foolish in another. If you thought it possible to secure us against the oozing out of proofs and gossip, the other objections would be less important. One difficulty is, that in my M.S. I have frequently two readings of the same passage, and being uncertain which of them is preferable, I wish them both to stand for future decision. But perhaps this might be managed in proof.
The length of the poem is at present uncertain, but I feel so strongly what Mr. Lewes insists on, namely, the evil of making it too long, that I shall set it before me as a duty not to make it more than 9000 lines, and shall be glad if it turns out a little shorter. (Imagine -- Browning has a poem by him which has reached 20,000 lines. 681 Who will read it all in these busy days?)
Will you think over the whole question? I am sure your mind will supply any prudential considerations that I may have omitted.
I am vexed by the non success of the serial. It is not, heaven knows, that I read my own books or am puffed up about them, but I have been of late quite astonished by the strengthening testimonies that have happened to come to me, of people who care about every one of my books and continue to read them -- especially young men, who are just the class I care most to influence. But what sort of data can one safely go upon with regard to the success of editions?
Felix Holt is immensely tempted by your suggestion, 682 but George Eliot is severely admonished by his domestic critic not to scatter his energies. Mr. Lewes has been having some country walks lately, which are equivalents for golf, and he is much better for them.
I think I have not had an opportunity yet of telling you that our boys in Natal go on gloriously -- have bought a farm and are thoroughly happy in their partnership. You will be a little glad to think that "Cub" is doing well. Mr. Lewes sends his best regards. He is in high spirits about the poem.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
J. Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published with significant omissions: Cross, III, 23-25.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
November 9. 67.
My dear Sir
About putting Fidalma in type. There would be advantages, but also disadvantages, and on these latter I wish to consult you. I have more than 3000 lines ready in the order I wish them to stand in, and it would be good for Mr. Lewes to have them before him in print when he sets to work to read them critically. Defects reveal themselves more fully in type, and emendations might be more conveniently made on proofs, since I have given up the idea of copying the M.S. as a whole.
On the other hand, could the thing be kept private when it had once been in the printing office? And I particularly wish not to have it set afloat, for various reasons. Among others -- I want to keep myself free from all inducements to premature publication; I mean, publication before I have given my work as much revision as I can hope to give it while my mind is still nursing it. Beyond this, delay would be useless. The theory of laying by poems for nine years may be a fine one, but it would not answer for me to apply it. I could no more live through one of my books a second time than I can live through last year again. But I like to keep checks on myself, and not to create external temptations to do what I should think foolish in another. If you thought it possible to secure us against the oozing out of proofs and gossip, the other objections would be less important. One difficulty is, that in my M.S. I have frequently two readings of the same passage, and being uncertain which of them is preferable, I wish them both to stand for future decision. But perhaps this might be managed in proof.
The length of the poem is at present uncertain, but I feel so strongly what Mr. Lewes insists on, namely, the evil of making it too long, that I shall set it before me as a duty not to make it more than 9000 lines, and shall be glad if it turns out a little shorter. (Imagine -- Browning has a poem by him which has reached 20,000 lines. 681 Who will read it all in these busy days?)
Will you think over the whole question? I am sure your mind will supply any prudential considerations that I may have omitted.
I am vexed by the non success of the serial. It is not, heaven knows, that I read my own books or am puffed up about them, but I have been of late quite astonished by the strengthening testimonies that have happened to come to me, of people who care about every one of my books and continue to read them -- especially young men, who are just the class I care most to influence. But what sort of data can one safely go upon with regard to the success of editions?
Felix Holt is immensely tempted by your suggestion, 682 but George Eliot is severely admonished by his domestic critic not to scatter his energies. Mr. Lewes has been having some country walks lately, which are equivalents for golf, and he is much better for them.
I think I have not had an opportunity yet of telling you that our boys in Natal go on gloriously -- have bought a farm and are thoroughly happy in their partnership. You will be a little glad to think that "Cub" is doing well. Mr. Lewes sends his best regards. He is in high spirits about the poem.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
J. Blackwood Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 9 November 1867, 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/92697