GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 13 December 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 13 December 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 13 December 1857
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1857-12-13
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 13 December 1857
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 477-478.
Richmond | December 13. 57.
Dear Sara
I hope you are looking forward to a placidly happy Christmas -- for I suppose you would prefer that to a merry one. I have an impulse to send you that wish, though I have not yet got any news to tell you as an excuse for writing. You know all public affairs better than I do, and I know no private affairs except our own. These are very prosperous just now, making a sunshine in a shady, or rather a foggy place. 1032 It is a great happiness to me that Mr. Lewes gets more and more of the recognition he deserves; pleasant letters and speeches have been very numerous lately, especially about his Sea-Side Studies which have appeared in Blackwood and are soon to appear -- very much improved and enlarged -- in a separate volume. His head is nearly well now, and he works vigorously.
Herbert Spencer, you see, has made his new avatar. His volume of Essays came to us by post this morning, looking very handsome. 1033
Dear Carlyle writes, 'e0propos of his "Frederic" -- "I have had such a 14 months as was never appointed me before in this world, -- sorrow, darkness and disgust, my daily companions; and no outlook visible except getting a detestable business turned off, or else being driven mad by it." 1034 That is his exaggerated way of speaking, and writing is always painful to him; but he has been specially tormented by the short-comings of German commentators and book-makers, on whom he has depended as authorities. Do you know he is 62! I fear this will be his last book.
Tell Mr. Bray I am reading a book of Riehl's -- "The Family" -- forming the sequel to his other volumes. 1035 He will be pleased to hear that so good a writer agrees with him in several points about the occupations of women. The book is a good one, and if I were in the way of writing articles, I should write one on it.
There is so much to read and the days are so short! I get more hungry for knowledge every day, and less able to satisfy my hunger. Time is like the Sibylline leaves getting more precious the less there remains of it -- that, I believe, is the correct allusion for a fine writer to make on the occasion.
Write me some Christmas news of you all when you have nothing better to do. Mr. Lewes who is "a-squinting through his glass," 1036 as the girl at Scilly said of him, sends you his kind regards and anticipatory Christmas wishes. Love to all in Ivy Cottage.
Ever yours
Marian.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, I, 477-478.
Richmond | December 13. 57.
Dear Sara
I hope you are looking forward to a placidly happy Christmas -- for I suppose you would prefer that to a merry one. I have an impulse to send you that wish, though I have not yet got any news to tell you as an excuse for writing. You know all public affairs better than I do, and I know no private affairs except our own. These are very prosperous just now, making a sunshine in a shady, or rather a foggy place. 1032 It is a great happiness to me that Mr. Lewes gets more and more of the recognition he deserves; pleasant letters and speeches have been very numerous lately, especially about his Sea-Side Studies which have appeared in Blackwood and are soon to appear -- very much improved and enlarged -- in a separate volume. His head is nearly well now, and he works vigorously.
Herbert Spencer, you see, has made his new avatar. His volume of Essays came to us by post this morning, looking very handsome. 1033
Dear Carlyle writes, 'e0propos of his "Frederic" -- "I have had such a 14 months as was never appointed me before in this world, -- sorrow, darkness and disgust, my daily companions; and no outlook visible except getting a detestable business turned off, or else being driven mad by it." 1034 That is his exaggerated way of speaking, and writing is always painful to him; but he has been specially tormented by the short-comings of German commentators and book-makers, on whom he has depended as authorities. Do you know he is 62! I fear this will be his last book.
Tell Mr. Bray I am reading a book of Riehl's -- "The Family" -- forming the sequel to his other volumes. 1035 He will be pleased to hear that so good a writer agrees with him in several points about the occupations of women. The book is a good one, and if I were in the way of writing articles, I should write one on it.
There is so much to read and the days are so short! I get more hungry for knowledge every day, and less able to satisfy my hunger. Time is like the Sibylline leaves getting more precious the less there remains of it -- that, I believe, is the correct allusion for a fine writer to make on the occasion.
Write me some Christmas news of you all when you have nothing better to do. Mr. Lewes who is "a-squinting through his glass," 1036 as the girl at Scilly said of him, sends you his kind regards and anticipatory Christmas wishes. Love to all in Ivy Cottage.
Ever yours
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 13 December 1857, 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/94086