GHL to John Blackwood, Shottermill, 7 May 1871
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Shottermill, 7 May 1871
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Shottermill, 7 May 1871
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1871-05-07
Place
Shottermill
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Shottermill, 7 May 1871
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Shotter Mill | nr Petersfield | 7 May 1871.
My dear Blackwood
Here we are quietly settled for the summer and I hope you will be able to run down and see us (station Haslemere) some day and get out of the vortex of London.
Meanwhile here is something for you to turn over in your mind, and come prepared to discuss. Mrs. Lewes finds that she will require volumes for her story, not 3. I winced at the idea at first, but the story must not be spoiled for want of space, and as you have more than once spoken of the desirability of inventing some mode of circumventing the Libraries and making the public buy instead of borrowing I have devised the following scheme, suggested by the plan Victor Hugo followed with his long Mis'e9rables -- namely to publish it in half-volume parts either at intervals of one, or as I think better, two months. The eight parts at 5/- could yield the 2 £ for the four volumes, and at two month intervals would not be dearer than Maga. Each part would have a certain unity and completeness in itself with separate title. Thus the work is called Middlemarch. Part I will be Miss Brooke.
If in a stiff paper cover -- attractive but not bookstallish -- (I have one in my eye) this part ought to seduce purchasers, especially if Mudie were scant in supplies. It would be enough to furnish the town with talk for some time, and each part thus keep up and swell the general interest. Tristram Shandy you may remember was published at irregular intervals; and great was the desire for the continuation. Considering how slowly the public mind is brought into motion, this spreading of the publication over 16 months would be a decided advantage to the sale -- especially as each part would contain as much as one ought to read at a time.
Ponder this; or suggest a better plan!
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
Thanks for Ferrier. 282
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Shotter Mill | nr Petersfield | 7 May 1871.
My dear Blackwood
Here we are quietly settled for the summer and I hope you will be able to run down and see us (station Haslemere) some day and get out of the vortex of London.
Meanwhile here is something for you to turn over in your mind, and come prepared to discuss. Mrs. Lewes finds that she will require volumes for her story, not 3. I winced at the idea at first, but the story must not be spoiled for want of space, and as you have more than once spoken of the desirability of inventing some mode of circumventing the Libraries and making the public buy instead of borrowing I have devised the following scheme, suggested by the plan Victor Hugo followed with his long Mis'e9rables -- namely to publish it in half-volume parts either at intervals of one, or as I think better, two months. The eight parts at 5/- could yield the 2 £ for the four volumes, and at two month intervals would not be dearer than Maga. Each part would have a certain unity and completeness in itself with separate title. Thus the work is called Middlemarch. Part I will be Miss Brooke.
If in a stiff paper cover -- attractive but not bookstallish -- (I have one in my eye) this part ought to seduce purchasers, especially if Mudie were scant in supplies. It would be enough to furnish the town with talk for some time, and each part thus keep up and swell the general interest. Tristram Shandy you may remember was published at irregular intervals; and great was the desire for the continuation. Considering how slowly the public mind is brought into motion, this spreading of the publication over 16 months would be a decided advantage to the sale -- especially as each part would contain as much as one ought to read at a time.
Ponder this; or suggest a better plan!
Ever yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
Thanks for Ferrier. 282
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Shottermill, 7 May 1871, 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/94767