GHL Journal, Richmond, 12 February 1859
Title
GHL Journal, Richmond, 12 February 1859
Title
GHL Journal, Richmond, 12 February 1859
Sender
Ghl Journal
Recipient
U
Date(s)
- 1859-02-12
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GHL Journal, Richmond, 12 February 1859
MS: Yale. Extracts published: George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 101-102.
Wrote to Blackwood's clerk 18 and to Dr. Chapman who again has annoyed us with his indelicate conduct about the authorship of Adam Bede, which, in very emphatic and distinct terms, I have denied on Marian's behalf. She was reluctant that I should do so; but the very existence and possibility of anonymity would be at an end if every impertinent fellow could force you either by confession or implication to admit the truth of his questions. Therefore I hold a man in no respect forfeits his truthfulness in denying questions put to him as to anonymous writing, unless those questions be in themselves warrantable, and not simply curiosity; and if the thing is to be denied at all I am for distinct, effective denial rather than equivocation. 19
Polly and I went into town about more shopping; on our return found the "Statesman" had a review of "Adam Bede" which much disgusted me, and somewhat disheartened me. It was laudatory throughout; but the kind of laudation was fatal. "One of the best novels we have read for a long time." The nincompoop couldn't see the distinction between Adam and the mass of novels he had been reading. This made me fear that Langford might be right, and that the public would not discriminate a work so truthful and artistic. However before dinner there came a letter from Blackwood full of real encouragement, speaking of the enthusiasm excited in his private circle; and sending also a little story by Dr. John Brown (who "raves" about Adam) called "Rab and his friends." This Polly read aloud after dinner -- a charming bit of sympathetic painting, the hero of which is an old mastiff, and the heroine an old Scotch woman with a cancer. -- She then read Scott's Life till 11.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: George Eliot and John Chapman, pp. 101-102.
Wrote to Blackwood's clerk 18 and to Dr. Chapman who again has annoyed us with his indelicate conduct about the authorship of Adam Bede, which, in very emphatic and distinct terms, I have denied on Marian's behalf. She was reluctant that I should do so; but the very existence and possibility of anonymity would be at an end if every impertinent fellow could force you either by confession or implication to admit the truth of his questions. Therefore I hold a man in no respect forfeits his truthfulness in denying questions put to him as to anonymous writing, unless those questions be in themselves warrantable, and not simply curiosity; and if the thing is to be denied at all I am for distinct, effective denial rather than equivocation. 19
Polly and I went into town about more shopping; on our return found the "Statesman" had a review of "Adam Bede" which much disgusted me, and somewhat disheartened me. It was laudatory throughout; but the kind of laudation was fatal. "One of the best novels we have read for a long time." The nincompoop couldn't see the distinction between Adam and the mass of novels he had been reading. This made me fear that Langford might be right, and that the public would not discriminate a work so truthful and artistic. However before dinner there came a letter from Blackwood full of real encouragement, speaking of the enthusiasm excited in his private circle; and sending also a little story by Dr. John Brown (who "raves" about Adam) called "Rab and his friends." This Polly read aloud after dinner -- a charming bit of sympathetic painting, the hero of which is an old mastiff, and the heroine an old Scotch woman with a cancer. -- She then read Scott's Life till 11.
Citation
Ghl Journal, GHL Journal, Richmond, 12 February 1859, 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/94334