John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 15 October 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 15 October 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 15 October 1857
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1857-10-15
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 15 October 1857
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | October 15/57.
My Dear Sir
I inclose proof of Janet. I have read this last part both in M.S. and Type with the deepest interest. The pathetic interest is very great and gathers strongly round Janet in spite of the unpoetic nature of her weakness and temptation. It was a bold choice of a plot and some will object to such a feature in a heroine, but there is no more common agent of human misery and trial than drunkenness, and consequently there can be no more legitimate material for the writer of Fiction. There is an air of reality about the whole story and that is in itself about the greatest of all merits.
I was a little puzzled when I came to the climax about the bottle of brandy but you have rearranged it beautifully and it contributes to the air of truth. 984 Should there be so much of Dempster's delirium? 985 I daresay the effect would be lessened if it was shortened. Tryan's death is finely painted and I think few can fail to be affected by the closing scenes of the good man's life. 986
Along with this I send you a copy of all the parts of the Clerical Scenes in order that you may make any corrections you wish for the reprint. We should begin it soon.
I rejoice to think that you are going to devote your powers to a Tale on a great scale. With a larger canvass your exquisite little sketches of character will all come into full life and take their legitimate share in the story.
It will give me much pleasure to hear anything about this new story and to know how soon there is any chance of it being transferred from your head to paper.
Return the proof of Janet as soon as you can. Very probably I shall begin the number with her this month.
With compliments to Lewes I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | October 15/57.
My Dear Sir
I inclose proof of Janet. I have read this last part both in M.S. and Type with the deepest interest. The pathetic interest is very great and gathers strongly round Janet in spite of the unpoetic nature of her weakness and temptation. It was a bold choice of a plot and some will object to such a feature in a heroine, but there is no more common agent of human misery and trial than drunkenness, and consequently there can be no more legitimate material for the writer of Fiction. There is an air of reality about the whole story and that is in itself about the greatest of all merits.
I was a little puzzled when I came to the climax about the bottle of brandy but you have rearranged it beautifully and it contributes to the air of truth. 984 Should there be so much of Dempster's delirium? 985 I daresay the effect would be lessened if it was shortened. Tryan's death is finely painted and I think few can fail to be affected by the closing scenes of the good man's life. 986
Along with this I send you a copy of all the parts of the Clerical Scenes in order that you may make any corrections you wish for the reprint. We should begin it soon.
I rejoice to think that you are going to devote your powers to a Tale on a great scale. With a larger canvass your exquisite little sketches of character will all come into full life and take their legitimate share in the story.
It will give me much pleasure to hear anything about this new story and to know how soon there is any chance of it being transferred from your head to paper.
Return the proof of Janet as soon as you can. Very probably I shall begin the number with her this month.
With compliments to Lewes I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 15 October 1857, 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/95193