GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 26 January 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 26 January 1857
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 26 January 1857
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1857-01-26
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 26 January 1857
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Shot | January 26. 57.
Dear Sara
We have both been wretches with disordered livers and work standing still in consequence, for the last week. 782 That is the reason I have not written to you before.
We shall not leave here before your book is out, I dare say, so that you need not send us the sheets, especially as we are now so busy that we could not attend to them. Should you like me to review it for the Leader or Mr. Lewes? He forbids me to do any reviewing now, so I never write for the Leader, and have given up for the future the Cont[emporary] Lit[erature] in the W[estminster] R[eview]. 783 But your book is exceptional, and I should like to do what you wish. We are glad to hear that you have decided on the lower price. Even Trench's books, which are about the same size, are sold for 3/6. -- and he is the greatest of great guns among rich book-buying people. 784
I agree with you that Mrs. Phillipson's pamphlet 785 was beneath the dignity of the W[estminster] R[eview]. But I was annoyed at her attributing the criticism to Mr. Lewes and wished to deny for the Westminister reading public in general that he has anything to do with the Contemp[orary] Lit[erature].
Herbert Spencer is settled in London again 786 and beginning to work a little -- with benefit to his health, so far. He was interested to hear that you had gained the prize. I'm sure we know no one that will be tempted by Mr. Baillie's advertisement, so I return it at once.
I was going to write more, but George is equipped to walk out in the rain and carry this to the post. So Goodbye and God bless you dear Sara.
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
Park Shot | January 26. 57.
Dear Sara
We have both been wretches with disordered livers and work standing still in consequence, for the last week. 782 That is the reason I have not written to you before.
We shall not leave here before your book is out, I dare say, so that you need not send us the sheets, especially as we are now so busy that we could not attend to them. Should you like me to review it for the Leader or Mr. Lewes? He forbids me to do any reviewing now, so I never write for the Leader, and have given up for the future the Cont[emporary] Lit[erature] in the W[estminster] R[eview]. 783 But your book is exceptional, and I should like to do what you wish. We are glad to hear that you have decided on the lower price. Even Trench's books, which are about the same size, are sold for 3/6. -- and he is the greatest of great guns among rich book-buying people. 784
I agree with you that Mrs. Phillipson's pamphlet 785 was beneath the dignity of the W[estminster] R[eview]. But I was annoyed at her attributing the criticism to Mr. Lewes and wished to deny for the Westminister reading public in general that he has anything to do with the Contemp[orary] Lit[erature].
Herbert Spencer is settled in London again 786 and beginning to work a little -- with benefit to his health, so far. He was interested to hear that you had gained the prize. I'm sure we know no one that will be tempted by Mr. Baillie's advertisement, so I return it at once.
I was going to write more, but George is equipped to walk out in the rain and carry this to the post. So Goodbye and God bless you dear Sara.
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, Richmond, 26 January 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/94101