GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 October 1876
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 October 1876
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 October 1876
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon
Date(s)
- 1876-10-02
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 October 1876
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Envelope: Madame Bodichon | Scalands Gate | Roberts-bridge | Hawkhurst. Postmark: ST. JOHNS WOOD | C 5 | OC 2 | 76 | N.W; HAWKHURST | A | OC 3 | 76; ROBERTSBRIDGE | A | OC 3 | 76. Published: Cross, III, 290-291.
N.B. | October 2. 76.
My dear Barbara
My blessing on you for your sweet letter which I count among the blessings given to me. Yes. Women can do much for the other women (and men) to come. My impression of the good there is in all unselfish efforts is continually strengthened. Doubtless many a ship is drowned on expeditions of discovery or rescue, and precious freights lie buried. But there was the good of manning and furnishing the ship with a great purpose before it set out.
We are going into Cambridgeshire this week, and are watching the weather with private views.
I have had some very interesting letters both from Jews and from Christians about Deronda. Part of the scene at the club is translated into Hebrew in a German-Jewish newspaper. On the other hand a Christian (highly accomplished) thanks me for embodying the principles by which Christ wrought and will conquer. This is better than the laudation of readers who cut the book into scraps and talk of nothing in it but Gwendolen. 530 I meant everything in the book to be related to everything else there.
I quite enter into Miss Jekyll's 531 view of negative beauty. Life tends to accumulate [messes] about one, and it is hard to rid oneself of them because of the associations attached. I get impatient sometimes and long, as Andrew Fairservice would say, to "kaim off the fleas" 532 as one does in a cathedral spoiled by monuments out of keeping with the pillars and walls.
Your affectionate
Marian.
MS: Mr. Philip Leigh-Smith. Envelope: Madame Bodichon | Scalands Gate | Roberts-bridge | Hawkhurst. Postmark: ST. JOHNS WOOD | C 5 | OC 2 | 76 | N.W; HAWKHURST | A | OC 3 | 76; ROBERTSBRIDGE | A | OC 3 | 76. Published: Cross, III, 290-291.
N.B. | October 2. 76.
My dear Barbara
My blessing on you for your sweet letter which I count among the blessings given to me. Yes. Women can do much for the other women (and men) to come. My impression of the good there is in all unselfish efforts is continually strengthened. Doubtless many a ship is drowned on expeditions of discovery or rescue, and precious freights lie buried. But there was the good of manning and furnishing the ship with a great purpose before it set out.
We are going into Cambridgeshire this week, and are watching the weather with private views.
I have had some very interesting letters both from Jews and from Christians about Deronda. Part of the scene at the club is translated into Hebrew in a German-Jewish newspaper. On the other hand a Christian (highly accomplished) thanks me for embodying the principles by which Christ wrought and will conquer. This is better than the laudation of readers who cut the book into scraps and talk of nothing in it but Gwendolen. 530 I meant everything in the book to be related to everything else there.
I quite enter into Miss Jekyll's 531 view of negative beauty. Life tends to accumulate [messes] about one, and it is hard to rid oneself of them because of the associations attached. I get impatient sometimes and long, as Andrew Fairservice would say, to "kaim off the fleas" 532 as one does in a cathedral spoiled by monuments out of keeping with the pillars and walls.
Your affectionate
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, London, 2 October 1876, 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/93043