GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 31 January 1859
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 31 January 1859
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 31 January 1859
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1859-01-31
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 31 January 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 80.
Richmond | January 31. 1859.
My dear Sir
Enclosed is the formal acknowledgment, bearing my signature, 5 and with it let me beg you to accept my thanks -- not formal but heartfelt -- for the generous way in which you have all along helped me with words and with deeds.
The impression '91Adam Bede'92 has made on you and Major Blackwood -- of whom I have always been pleased to think as concurring with your views -- is my best encouragement, and counterbalances, in some degree, the depressing influences to which I am peculiarly sensitive. I perceive that I have not the characteristics of the "popular author," and yet I am much in need of the warmly expressed sympathy which only popularity can win.
I have sent to Mr. Langford a list of seven persons 6 whom I wish to receive presentation copies. I have substituted Emile Mont'e9gut, 7 of the Revue des D[eux] M[ondes] for Emile Forgues. Mont'e9gut is the better writer of the two, but '91Adam'92 is not very likely to suit any Frenchman's palate.
Can you imagine why Mudie 8 has almost always left the C[lerical] S[cenes] out of his advertised list, although he puts in very trashy and obscure books? I hope it is nothing more than chance.
A good subscription would be cheering, but I can understand that it is not decisive of success or non-success. Thank you for promising to let me know about it as soon as possible.
With my best regards to Major Blackwood, I am
Yours very truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, II, 80.
Richmond | January 31. 1859.
My dear Sir
Enclosed is the formal acknowledgment, bearing my signature, 5 and with it let me beg you to accept my thanks -- not formal but heartfelt -- for the generous way in which you have all along helped me with words and with deeds.
The impression '91Adam Bede'92 has made on you and Major Blackwood -- of whom I have always been pleased to think as concurring with your views -- is my best encouragement, and counterbalances, in some degree, the depressing influences to which I am peculiarly sensitive. I perceive that I have not the characteristics of the "popular author," and yet I am much in need of the warmly expressed sympathy which only popularity can win.
I have sent to Mr. Langford a list of seven persons 6 whom I wish to receive presentation copies. I have substituted Emile Mont'e9gut, 7 of the Revue des D[eux] M[ondes] for Emile Forgues. Mont'e9gut is the better writer of the two, but '91Adam'92 is not very likely to suit any Frenchman's palate.
Can you imagine why Mudie 8 has almost always left the C[lerical] S[cenes] out of his advertised list, although he puts in very trashy and obscure books? I hope it is nothing more than chance.
A good subscription would be cheering, but I can understand that it is not decisive of success or non-success. Thank you for promising to let me know about it as soon as possible.
With my best regards to Major Blackwood, I am
Yours very truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
George Eliot.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 31 January 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/92717