GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, East Sheen, 23 June 1855
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, East Sheen, 23 June 1855
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, East Sheen, 23 June 1855
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1855-06-23
Place
East Sheen
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, East Sheen, 23 June 1855
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Hennell. Extracts published: Cross, I, 382-383.
June 23. 55.
Dear Sara
It was a real delight to me to have a letter from you again, and to know a little of your thinkings and doings.
I have good hope that you will be deeply interested in the Life of Goethe. It is a book full of feeling as well as of thought and information, and I even think it will make you love Goethe as well as admire him. Eckermann's is a wonderful book, 601 but only represents Goethe at eighty. We were fortunate enough to be in time to see poor Eckermann before his total death. His mind was already half gone, but the fine brow and eyes harmonized entirely with the interest we had previously felt in him. We saw him in a small lodging surrounded by singing birds, and tended by his son, an intelligent youth of sixteen, who shews some talent in drawing.
There is to be a second article in Fraser 602 next month, containing some account of Wagner's operas, which perhaps you will like to know something about. I have written a castigation of Lord Brougham for the Leader, 603 and shall be glad if your sympathy goes along with it. Should you like to see Baden Powell's book? 604 We could send it you by Mr. Bray. In haste dear Sara
Ever your affectionate
Marian.
Varnhagen has written "Denkwurdigkeiten" and all sorts of literature and is or rather was the husband of Rahel, the greatest of German women. 605
MS: Yale. Address: Miss Hennell. Extracts published: Cross, I, 382-383.
June 23. 55.
Dear Sara
It was a real delight to me to have a letter from you again, and to know a little of your thinkings and doings.
I have good hope that you will be deeply interested in the Life of Goethe. It is a book full of feeling as well as of thought and information, and I even think it will make you love Goethe as well as admire him. Eckermann's is a wonderful book, 601 but only represents Goethe at eighty. We were fortunate enough to be in time to see poor Eckermann before his total death. His mind was already half gone, but the fine brow and eyes harmonized entirely with the interest we had previously felt in him. We saw him in a small lodging surrounded by singing birds, and tended by his son, an intelligent youth of sixteen, who shews some talent in drawing.
There is to be a second article in Fraser 602 next month, containing some account of Wagner's operas, which perhaps you will like to know something about. I have written a castigation of Lord Brougham for the Leader, 603 and shall be glad if your sympathy goes along with it. Should you like to see Baden Powell's book? 604 We could send it you by Mr. Bray. In haste dear Sara
Ever your affectionate
Marian.
Varnhagen has written "Denkwurdigkeiten" and all sorts of literature and is or rather was the husband of Rahel, the greatest of German women. 605
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, East Sheen, 23 June 1855, 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/93890