GHL to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [January? 1863]
Title
GHL to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [January? 1863]
Title
GHL to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [January? 1863]
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1863-01
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [January? 1863]
MS: Yale.
16, Blandford Square, | N.W.
My dear Mrs. Bray
Polly wishes me to answer your note because I can do so more explicitly.
From abundant general and from certain special experiences I should say that you could do nothing so misjudged as to let those, or any publishers, have your work 594 on half profits. When I tell you that publishers' accounts without any cheating, i.e. without any thing not allowed in the trade, have been known to show a loss of 40£ while in fact the profit has been 75£ -- when I add that I know of a schoolbook which has sold five editions of 5,000 copies each -- and yet these 25,000 copies have not yet returned one penny of "half profits" -- you will see at once the illusory nature of the arrangement. If you were a young author only anxious to get into print, and hoping to make a name which for subsequent work would secure money, the half profits might be very well. As it is I can only say keep your m.s. till you find someone willing either to pay you a sum of money for the copyright, or so much per copy sold after a specified number to cover first expences.
If you wish it there are three first rate publishers to whom I could take you and it will be very hard if I cannot get a sum of money from them for a work which in the Row has been thought worth "half profits." Should you think proper to commission me to act for you I should be glad if you would tell me whether you wish to sell the copyright (and for what sum) or only an edition (and for what sum).
I am scribbling this while Polly is waiting to go out. She begs me send her love. Believe me,
Yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
MS: Yale.
16, Blandford Square, | N.W.
My dear Mrs. Bray
Polly wishes me to answer your note because I can do so more explicitly.
From abundant general and from certain special experiences I should say that you could do nothing so misjudged as to let those, or any publishers, have your work 594 on half profits. When I tell you that publishers' accounts without any cheating, i.e. without any thing not allowed in the trade, have been known to show a loss of 40£ while in fact the profit has been 75£ -- when I add that I know of a schoolbook which has sold five editions of 5,000 copies each -- and yet these 25,000 copies have not yet returned one penny of "half profits" -- you will see at once the illusory nature of the arrangement. If you were a young author only anxious to get into print, and hoping to make a name which for subsequent work would secure money, the half profits might be very well. As it is I can only say keep your m.s. till you find someone willing either to pay you a sum of money for the copyright, or so much per copy sold after a specified number to cover first expences.
If you wish it there are three first rate publishers to whom I could take you and it will be very hard if I cannot get a sum of money from them for a work which in the Row has been thought worth "half profits." Should you think proper to commission me to act for you I should be glad if you would tell me whether you wish to sell the copyright (and for what sum) or only an edition (and for what sum).
I am scribbling this while Polly is waiting to go out. She begs me send her love. Believe me,
Yours faithfully
G. H. Lewes.
Signature
G. H. Lewes.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, [January? 1863], 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/94928