GE to William Blackwood, London, 22 November 1861
Title
GE to William Blackwood, London, 22 November 1861
Title
GE to William Blackwood, London, 22 November 1861
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
William Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1861-11-22
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to William Blackwood, London, 22 November 1861
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
November 22. 61.
My dear Sir
I think the advertisement and specimen pages are perfect. 870 The utmost simplicity is the only thing that is distingu'e9 in these days. There is only one thing that I shrink from on my own behalf more than from a puff -- namely, a preface in which the author informs the public either that they have not done justice to his work or else that they are very praiseworthy for admiring it.
I am glad to hear that Thornie's neglect of the date to your letter deprived him of a pleasant dinner. Such "natural punishments" are likely to be reformatory. We are not a little anxious about him, but he seems to be working resolutely.
I am afraid I have a bitterly envious feeling when I read of your uncle's golfing expeditions. People who can get such tonics ought to be trebly virtuous -- never out of humour, never sad, never languid, or else they will deserve, as Carlyle told the prisoners at Milbank, to go -- where there is no golfing. 871
Always yours truly
Marian E. Lewes.
William Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
November 22. 61.
My dear Sir
I think the advertisement and specimen pages are perfect. 870 The utmost simplicity is the only thing that is distingu'e9 in these days. There is only one thing that I shrink from on my own behalf more than from a puff -- namely, a preface in which the author informs the public either that they have not done justice to his work or else that they are very praiseworthy for admiring it.
I am glad to hear that Thornie's neglect of the date to your letter deprived him of a pleasant dinner. Such "natural punishments" are likely to be reformatory. We are not a little anxious about him, but he seems to be working resolutely.
I am afraid I have a bitterly envious feeling when I read of your uncle's golfing expeditions. People who can get such tonics ought to be trebly virtuous -- never out of humour, never sad, never languid, or else they will deserve, as Carlyle told the prisoners at Milbank, to go -- where there is no golfing. 871
Always yours truly
Marian E. Lewes.
William Blackwood Esq.
Signature
Marian E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to William Blackwood, London, 22 November 1861, 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/94198