GE to William Blackwood, Witley, 12 June 1879
Title
GE to William Blackwood, Witley, 12 June 1879
Title
GE to William Blackwood, Witley, 12 June 1879
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
William Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1879-06-12
Place
Witley
Letter Content
GE to William Blackwood, Witley, 12 June 1879
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, III, 365-367.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
June 12. 79.
My dear Mr. William
I was beginning, with my usual apprehensiveness, to fear that you had no good news to tell me, since I did not hear from you. And I should have gone on fearing till tomorrow morning if I had not happened to drive to Godalming and ask for the second post. We only get one post a day at the benighted Witley, so that if you want me to get a letter quickly it must be posted early at Edinburgh.
I am heartily glad to know that the invalid is going on well and I trust that the softer air we are having now will help him forward.
Theophrastus seems to be really welcomed by the public though not by the Athenaeum, 270 the only paper I see besides the Times. But I think I have known other books succeed in impressing the public without the sanction of that "literary organ."
Mr. Blackwood will be amused to hear that one gentleman told Charles, or implied, that Theophrastus was a higher order of book and more difficult to write than a novel. Wait long enough, and every form of opinion will turn up. However poor Theophrastus is certainly not composed of [chips] any more than my other books.
Another amusing bit of news is that the other day Mrs. Pattison sent me an extract from the Livret of the Paris Salon, describing a picture painted by a French artist from [the Lifted Veil] and representing the moment when the resuscitated woman, fixing her eyes on her mistress, accuses her of having poisoned her husband. I call this amusing -- I ought rather to have said typical of the relation my books generally have with the French mind.
Thank you for sending me the list of orders. It does interest me to see the various country demands. I hope the movement will continue to cheer us all, and you are sure to let me know everything that is pleasant, so I do not need to ask for that kindness.
The weather is decidedly warmer and Tuesday was a perfectly glorious day. But rain and storm have never let us rest long together. I am not very bright and am ready to interpret everything in the saddest sense, but I have no definite ailment.
My best regards to the convalescent who I have no doubt will write to me when he is able to do so. But I am only one of many who will be glad to hear from him. Believe me
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, III, 365-367.
The Heights, Witley, | Nr. Godalming.
June 12. 79.
My dear Mr. William
I was beginning, with my usual apprehensiveness, to fear that you had no good news to tell me, since I did not hear from you. And I should have gone on fearing till tomorrow morning if I had not happened to drive to Godalming and ask for the second post. We only get one post a day at the benighted Witley, so that if you want me to get a letter quickly it must be posted early at Edinburgh.
I am heartily glad to know that the invalid is going on well and I trust that the softer air we are having now will help him forward.
Theophrastus seems to be really welcomed by the public though not by the Athenaeum, 270 the only paper I see besides the Times. But I think I have known other books succeed in impressing the public without the sanction of that "literary organ."
Mr. Blackwood will be amused to hear that one gentleman told Charles, or implied, that Theophrastus was a higher order of book and more difficult to write than a novel. Wait long enough, and every form of opinion will turn up. However poor Theophrastus is certainly not composed of [chips] any more than my other books.
Another amusing bit of news is that the other day Mrs. Pattison sent me an extract from the Livret of the Paris Salon, describing a picture painted by a French artist from [the Lifted Veil] and representing the moment when the resuscitated woman, fixing her eyes on her mistress, accuses her of having poisoned her husband. I call this amusing -- I ought rather to have said typical of the relation my books generally have with the French mind.
Thank you for sending me the list of orders. It does interest me to see the various country demands. I hope the movement will continue to cheer us all, and you are sure to let me know everything that is pleasant, so I do not need to ask for that kindness.
The weather is decidedly warmer and Tuesday was a perfectly glorious day. But rain and storm have never let us rest long together. I am not very bright and am ready to interpret everything in the saddest sense, but I have no definite ailment.
My best regards to the convalescent who I have no doubt will write to me when he is able to do so. But I am only one of many who will be glad to hear from him. Believe me
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to William Blackwood, Witley, 12 June 1879, 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/94213