GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, May 1845]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, May 1845]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, May 1845]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1845-05
Place
[FOLESHILL]
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, May 1845]
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 130-131.
My dear Sara,
I am alarmed to hear that you are all going to the coast 554 without my having any intimation that Mr. Parkes has fulfilled his promise. I begin utterly to despair that Strauss will ever be published unless I can imitate the Revd Mr. Davis 555 and print it myself. I have no confidence in Mr. Parkes and shall not be surprized if he fail in his engagement altogether -- at the very best, if we go on according to the rate of procedure hitherto, the book will not be published within the next two years. This seems dolorous enough to me, whose only real satisfaction just now is some hope that I am not sowing the wind. 556 It is very laughable that I should be irritated about a thing in itself so trifling as a translation, but it is this very triviality of the thing that makes delays provoking. The difficulties that attend a really grand undertaking are to be borne, but things should run smoothly and fast when they are not important enough to demand the sacrifice of one's whole soul. I have not time to write another word. In great haste
Thy loving
Mary Ann.
Mrs. Hennell once told me that Dr. Brabant had translated the Conclusion 557 and that I might possibly have a sight of his translation. Will you inquire about this for me? I should be unpardonable if I neglected any help.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 130-131.
My dear Sara,
I am alarmed to hear that you are all going to the coast 554 without my having any intimation that Mr. Parkes has fulfilled his promise. I begin utterly to despair that Strauss will ever be published unless I can imitate the Revd Mr. Davis 555 and print it myself. I have no confidence in Mr. Parkes and shall not be surprized if he fail in his engagement altogether -- at the very best, if we go on according to the rate of procedure hitherto, the book will not be published within the next two years. This seems dolorous enough to me, whose only real satisfaction just now is some hope that I am not sowing the wind. 556 It is very laughable that I should be irritated about a thing in itself so trifling as a translation, but it is this very triviality of the thing that makes delays provoking. The difficulties that attend a really grand undertaking are to be borne, but things should run smoothly and fast when they are not important enough to demand the sacrifice of one's whole soul. I have not time to write another word. In great haste
Thy loving
Mary Ann.
Mrs. Hennell once told me that Dr. Brabant had translated the Conclusion 557 and that I might possibly have a sight of his translation. Will you inquire about this for me? I should be unpardonable if I neglected any help.
Signature
Mary Ann.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, May 1845], 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/93844