GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [16 September 1865]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [16 September 1865]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [16 September 1865]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1865-09-16
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [16 September 1865]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Sep. 16. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Saturday.
My dear Sara
Just sitting down to my desk, I have read your letter. The second title expresses fully what you mean, and without, I think, any liability to be mistaken. It indicates a stand-punkt which, I feel sure, is shared by a good number of minds, who are likely to have their interest roused by your advertisement or title page. Still the title is cumbrous, and I should like if possible to compress it, or, as Carlyle says, to squeeze some water out.
I am going to walk with Mr. Lewes to Erasmus Wilson's before 12 o'clock and then I will discuss it with him and tell you the result. But I can say at once that you must cross out the "its" before "aid," and read "admission of aid from thought." How far would it be worth while to consider the substitution of -- "a Faith that is shaping itself in conscious subjection to Thought" --? But I am good-for-nothing at title pages, and will consult George, who is clever at them.
An account of | Present Religion | as | a Faith shaping itself in | conscious subjection to Thought. 374 o'clock. Mr. Lewes rather shudders at your second title -- begs you not to place an obstacle in the way of your book by anything so awkward and cumbrous -- thinks my suggestion as to the sub-title acceptable, but would utterly abolish the words "an account of" which are of no use. He does not approve of Present religion. He thinks Modern Religion or the Religion of the 19th century would be better -- but I confess I don't like these and hardly think they will satisfy you.
I believe I can say nothing else now, but if anything occurs to me worth mentioning I will write again. A title to works of this sort is always a difficulty.
Your affectionate
Pollian.
The Religion of Today is better than Modern Religion, I think.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: Sep. 16. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Saturday.
My dear Sara
Just sitting down to my desk, I have read your letter. The second title expresses fully what you mean, and without, I think, any liability to be mistaken. It indicates a stand-punkt which, I feel sure, is shared by a good number of minds, who are likely to have their interest roused by your advertisement or title page. Still the title is cumbrous, and I should like if possible to compress it, or, as Carlyle says, to squeeze some water out.
I am going to walk with Mr. Lewes to Erasmus Wilson's before 12 o'clock and then I will discuss it with him and tell you the result. But I can say at once that you must cross out the "its" before "aid," and read "admission of aid from thought." How far would it be worth while to consider the substitution of -- "a Faith that is shaping itself in conscious subjection to Thought" --? But I am good-for-nothing at title pages, and will consult George, who is clever at them.
An account of | Present Religion | as | a Faith shaping itself in | conscious subjection to Thought. 374 o'clock. Mr. Lewes rather shudders at your second title -- begs you not to place an obstacle in the way of your book by anything so awkward and cumbrous -- thinks my suggestion as to the sub-title acceptable, but would utterly abolish the words "an account of" which are of no use. He does not approve of Present religion. He thinks Modern Religion or the Religion of the 19th century would be better -- but I confess I don't like these and hardly think they will satisfy you.
I believe I can say nothing else now, but if anything occurs to me worth mentioning I will write again. A title to works of this sort is always a difficulty.
Your affectionate
Pollian.
The Religion of Today is better than Modern Religion, I think.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [16 September 1865], 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/93944