GHL to John Blackwood, Wandsworth, [22 November 1859]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Wandsworth, [22 November 1859]
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, Wandsworth, [22 November 1859]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1859-11-22
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, Wandsworth, [22 November 1859]
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Holly Lodge | Tuesday.
My dear Blackwood
By this post I send the corrected copy of Seaside Studies -- the corrections are in pencil but I presume they will do as well as ink. On reflection I decide against "Only a Pond."
I was it appears under a mistake respecting Clerical Scenes. But the fact is that observing it to have for some weeks dropped out of the advertisements I concluded it was on its last legs, and on consulting the books Langford told me that the edition seemed to be gone. Your revised and precise statement of course banishes that pleasant fiction. 400 At the same time I do not understand why we should not be anxious to get the edition sold as quickly as possible, and a new one to follow it -- although Langford did some time ago say that he would rather the edition did not go off before Christmas -- why, I omitted to ask him. If the new one has to wait till after Maggie, the postponement is likely to be a long one. Surely it is better to produce it before the new one is the talk of the town, than soon afterwards? To push a book and sell it as fast as possible is the very purport of publishing. If the public won't buy they won't -- and one must content oneself with reflections on their taste. If they will, they should have every chance.
I consulted Mr. Sheard, 401 the attorney, yesterday about Newby and he, while advising no legal proceedings on account of the uncertainty, thought it desirable that you should issue a cautionary advertisement, which would to some extent check the rumour, very rife, that George Eliot is the author. You would be surprised if you knew the "intelligent people" who have no suspicion it is not George Eliot's.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Holly Lodge | Tuesday.
My dear Blackwood
By this post I send the corrected copy of Seaside Studies -- the corrections are in pencil but I presume they will do as well as ink. On reflection I decide against "Only a Pond."
I was it appears under a mistake respecting Clerical Scenes. But the fact is that observing it to have for some weeks dropped out of the advertisements I concluded it was on its last legs, and on consulting the books Langford told me that the edition seemed to be gone. Your revised and precise statement of course banishes that pleasant fiction. 400 At the same time I do not understand why we should not be anxious to get the edition sold as quickly as possible, and a new one to follow it -- although Langford did some time ago say that he would rather the edition did not go off before Christmas -- why, I omitted to ask him. If the new one has to wait till after Maggie, the postponement is likely to be a long one. Surely it is better to produce it before the new one is the talk of the town, than soon afterwards? To push a book and sell it as fast as possible is the very purport of publishing. If the public won't buy they won't -- and one must content oneself with reflections on their taste. If they will, they should have every chance.
I consulted Mr. Sheard, 401 the attorney, yesterday about Newby and he, while advising no legal proceedings on account of the uncertainty, thought it desirable that you should issue a cautionary advertisement, which would to some extent check the rumour, very rife, that George Eliot is the author. You would be surprised if you knew the "intelligent people" who have no suspicion it is not George Eliot's.
Ever faithfully yours
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, Wandsworth, [22 November 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/94790