GHL to John Blackwood, Schwalbach, 30 June 1866
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Schwalbach, 30 June 1866
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Schwalbach, 30 June 1866
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1866-06-30
Place
Schwalbach
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Schwalbach, 30 June 1866
MS: Berg Collection, New York Public Library.
Schwalbach 30th June 1866.
My dear Blackwood
I have asked Mrs. Lewes to let me answer your pleasant letter 712 because I wished to give you a [bit] I overheard as we crossed to Calais. Seated beside me on the deck was a nice elderly lady (English) before whom stood a superb crinoline (also British) imparting her views on things in general and at last sliding into literature. The following is verbatim:
Crinoline: Have you read [Armadale] yet?
E. L. Not yet.
C. It's very clever! Such well drawn characters! I like Wilkie Collins.
E. L. I see we are to have a book by Adam Bede soon.
Crinoline, impressively, Yes, but I'm sorry she's gone into that!
E. L. gently, What, the radical?
C. Yes, I don't think politics good in novels.
E. L. Nor I. But she has such a beautiful mind I feel quite confident of her whatever she may take up.
Crinoline apparently not sharing this sentiment or by a specific levity of mind wafted to other subjects, I lost my interest in the conversation.
It was with great difficulty I got sight of the Times review, 713 for although the paper is taken in at the hotel, the particular half sheet had been taken away. However I went to a salon de lecture and read it &unknown;feeling&unknown; and am entirely of your way of thinking respecting it -- a poor performance but a good puff. The stupid allusion to the trial scene he ought to have been warned off by the very fact that the similarity, if similarity there be, exists between F. H. and Reade's last novel 714 -- now it would be too impudent for an author to borrow an incident from a work so very recent. As you surmised she had never seen the work she is supposed to have taken her suggestion from. Reading the Times once more convinced me of the wisdom of her practice not to read criticisms favorable or unfavorable. This she has -- with very rare exceptions -- steadily adhered to since Adam Bede. I read them, when they fall in my way and tell her about them; and that is enough. The best testimony is the sale. If there is a large body of readers there is certain to be among them readers to whom the book speaks, and the influence of what she writes is secured.
The weather here continues magnificent -- hot, but not too hot, with an occasional shower to relieve the air and brighten the green. Our daily explorations of the country round about only increase our delight in the place, and if climate, idleness, good living, and the waters can help us to flesh we shall come back obese. We leave this on the 5 or 6th for Schlangenbad, where it is possible that we may stay ten days or a fortnight and then take a flying look at the gaieties of Wiesbaden. I dare say you will not have occasion to write again just at present, but a letter addressed to Bonn by the 21st or Aix la Chapelle by the 23rd (I mean reaching those towns on those dates) would perhaps convey some agreeable intelligence and certainly be very welcome because it is in your hand.
Mrs. Lewes in giving me the post of secretary on this occasion begs me to thank your particularly for the interesting details of your letter. She values Bulwer's expression of opinion all the more as she happens to know that he is sincere in his expression about other writers.
I know Oliphant and once hoped to have him as a colleague in the Fortnightly. Morley also I know slightly and like what I have seen of him.
Our routine here is this: we rise at 6 or a little before and after tub and apology for toilet step out on to the promenade (at the foot of the hotel) drink the sparkling and delightful water, listen to the band, and walk about till 8. Breakfast, book and cigar, occupies till 9'bd. Then we go out into one of the several woods or to some point de vue -- sometimes taking a book with us -- but oftener not -- and walk, and sit, and muse and talk while "Idlesse in her dreaming mood" 715 lets the hours roll noiselessly by till 1. Then another glass of water and siesta till dinner. We always dine alone in our apartment having a strong disinclination for table d'h'f4tes and the people met thereat. After dinner at 3, coffee, cigar, and a nap prepares me for the promenade (and more music and more water) at 6-8. Here we observe the swells and crinolines -- not a word have we spoken to one of them as yet, a charming deprivation we owe to dining alone. When the music ceases we ramble in the evening sunlight till tea and bed beckon us home. [Thus runs the round of life from hour to hour.] 716
Every yours faithfully
G. H. L.
MS: Berg Collection, New York Public Library.
Schwalbach 30th June 1866.
My dear Blackwood
I have asked Mrs. Lewes to let me answer your pleasant letter 712 because I wished to give you a [bit] I overheard as we crossed to Calais. Seated beside me on the deck was a nice elderly lady (English) before whom stood a superb crinoline (also British) imparting her views on things in general and at last sliding into literature. The following is verbatim:
Crinoline: Have you read [Armadale] yet?
E. L. Not yet.
C. It's very clever! Such well drawn characters! I like Wilkie Collins.
E. L. I see we are to have a book by Adam Bede soon.
Crinoline, impressively, Yes, but I'm sorry she's gone into that!
E. L. gently, What, the radical?
C. Yes, I don't think politics good in novels.
E. L. Nor I. But she has such a beautiful mind I feel quite confident of her whatever she may take up.
Crinoline apparently not sharing this sentiment or by a specific levity of mind wafted to other subjects, I lost my interest in the conversation.
It was with great difficulty I got sight of the Times review, 713 for although the paper is taken in at the hotel, the particular half sheet had been taken away. However I went to a salon de lecture and read it &unknown;feeling&unknown; and am entirely of your way of thinking respecting it -- a poor performance but a good puff. The stupid allusion to the trial scene he ought to have been warned off by the very fact that the similarity, if similarity there be, exists between F. H. and Reade's last novel 714 -- now it would be too impudent for an author to borrow an incident from a work so very recent. As you surmised she had never seen the work she is supposed to have taken her suggestion from. Reading the Times once more convinced me of the wisdom of her practice not to read criticisms favorable or unfavorable. This she has -- with very rare exceptions -- steadily adhered to since Adam Bede. I read them, when they fall in my way and tell her about them; and that is enough. The best testimony is the sale. If there is a large body of readers there is certain to be among them readers to whom the book speaks, and the influence of what she writes is secured.
The weather here continues magnificent -- hot, but not too hot, with an occasional shower to relieve the air and brighten the green. Our daily explorations of the country round about only increase our delight in the place, and if climate, idleness, good living, and the waters can help us to flesh we shall come back obese. We leave this on the 5 or 6th for Schlangenbad, where it is possible that we may stay ten days or a fortnight and then take a flying look at the gaieties of Wiesbaden. I dare say you will not have occasion to write again just at present, but a letter addressed to Bonn by the 21st or Aix la Chapelle by the 23rd (I mean reaching those towns on those dates) would perhaps convey some agreeable intelligence and certainly be very welcome because it is in your hand.
Mrs. Lewes in giving me the post of secretary on this occasion begs me to thank your particularly for the interesting details of your letter. She values Bulwer's expression of opinion all the more as she happens to know that he is sincere in his expression about other writers.
I know Oliphant and once hoped to have him as a colleague in the Fortnightly. Morley also I know slightly and like what I have seen of him.
Our routine here is this: we rise at 6 or a little before and after tub and apology for toilet step out on to the promenade (at the foot of the hotel) drink the sparkling and delightful water, listen to the band, and walk about till 8. Breakfast, book and cigar, occupies till 9'bd. Then we go out into one of the several woods or to some point de vue -- sometimes taking a book with us -- but oftener not -- and walk, and sit, and muse and talk while "Idlesse in her dreaming mood" 715 lets the hours roll noiselessly by till 1. Then another glass of water and siesta till dinner. We always dine alone in our apartment having a strong disinclination for table d'h'f4tes and the people met thereat. After dinner at 3, coffee, cigar, and a nap prepares me for the promenade (and more music and more water) at 6-8. Here we observe the swells and crinolines -- not a word have we spoken to one of them as yet, a charming deprivation we owe to dining alone. When the music ceases we ramble in the evening sunlight till tea and bed beckon us home. [Thus runs the round of life from hour to hour.] 716
Every yours faithfully
G. H. L.
Signature
G. H. L.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Schwalbach, 30 June 1866, 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/94763