John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 November 1875
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 November 1875
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 November 1875
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1875-11-17
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 November 1875
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
November 17/75.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
In regard to the division of the parts you are by far the best judge and I lean to what you now propose which would make the first volume end with the close of Mirah's story and the explanation of Deronda being at Leubrunn which draws this whole tale and dramatis personae together. 338 As it stands the first part ends very well with the introduction of Grandcourt to Gwendolen but is of course more complete after the Archery Ball 339 and as a windup to the second part Mirah's most touching narrative to dear old Mrs. Meyrick is necessary to waken up the full interest in the little wanderer.
Practically if there is to be a difference in the thickness of the volumes it is well that the two first should have the preponderance, and in this case unless I am utterly mistaken by the time the public have reached the third volume they will be too happy to take and pay for whatever you give. Divide as you think best without regard to the outward aspect of the volumes. I enclose 180 pages more and I think I need only say that my admiration has gone on at a fastly crescendo rate. The interest goes on and on mounting and then it is a series of perfect little dramas. Every touch makes a picture.
I do not like to remark upon particular beauties, as when I turn back over the leaves I see that I would be omitting to comment upon something equally good in the next page. The only plan would be to mark with a pencil as one read but that would interrupt the pleasure and after all it would only be a running bene bene BENISSIME. The point to which I have read you will see is the wondrous scene where Gwendolen accepts Grandcourt. 340 You kept me uncertain up to the last moment as to whether it was to be Yes or No. I had not the heart to tell her to say No and send the bright creature to be "looked over" by Mrs. Mompert and all the hopeless gloom she foresees so clearly. This feeling in my mind proves I think the surpassing skill of your workmanship.
My wife and daughter have not yet had an opportunity of reading this part and I am very curious to see how it strikes the ladies but I think I can guess.
To return to business details we think here that the first part should be published about the 15th of January so as to give the Newspapers time to speak out before the meeting of Parliament.
On another point there is a difference of opinion among us. Mr. Simpson holds strongly, and my nephew inclines, for an interval of two months between the four first parts at any rate, as it takes the public a long time to digest and fully appreciate the value of such food and talk to their neighbours about it as we found with Middlemarch. I on the contrary am in favour of only one month's interval as our audience is much more ready than it was for Middlemarch and I am afraid of the two months giving the Librarians a better opportunity of starving their supplies.
There can be no better judge of such a point than Lewes. Will you ask him also to write to me with form of advertisements which should begin to appear now. Should we let loose any gossiping paragraph? I am not fond of such things but it will be done in spite of us and as the name Daniel Deronda does not give the idea of such a thorough picture of English life we had better put them on the right and most popular scent.
We left Strathtyrum on Monday with weeping and wail in spite of the weather which had been most eccentric. On Saturday to make the most of her last day my daughter skated in the morning and in the afternoon rode on nice soft roads. We had a fortnight of hurricane and rain, then a week of bright clear frost and afterwards a hurricane which only lasted 24 hours. The tides were exceptionally high and the sacred links were invaded. On the Sunday afternoon we walked down to look at the sea which was coming in grandly. Of course all the dogs accompanied us on this farewell walk and one of the little terriers barking and splashing gallantly through the shallow water surrounding the (usually) small burn which crosses the links went headlong into the burn itself. The scene would have amused you. I have heard many a golfer swear at his ball getting into this burn but I am sure [no] direr oath than Tory's (the pet's name) when he found himself suddenly heels over head in four feet of water. However he struggled gallantly up the walled side of the burn and saved me from walking in to the rescue.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
November 17/75.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
In regard to the division of the parts you are by far the best judge and I lean to what you now propose which would make the first volume end with the close of Mirah's story and the explanation of Deronda being at Leubrunn which draws this whole tale and dramatis personae together. 338 As it stands the first part ends very well with the introduction of Grandcourt to Gwendolen but is of course more complete after the Archery Ball 339 and as a windup to the second part Mirah's most touching narrative to dear old Mrs. Meyrick is necessary to waken up the full interest in the little wanderer.
Practically if there is to be a difference in the thickness of the volumes it is well that the two first should have the preponderance, and in this case unless I am utterly mistaken by the time the public have reached the third volume they will be too happy to take and pay for whatever you give. Divide as you think best without regard to the outward aspect of the volumes. I enclose 180 pages more and I think I need only say that my admiration has gone on at a fastly crescendo rate. The interest goes on and on mounting and then it is a series of perfect little dramas. Every touch makes a picture.
I do not like to remark upon particular beauties, as when I turn back over the leaves I see that I would be omitting to comment upon something equally good in the next page. The only plan would be to mark with a pencil as one read but that would interrupt the pleasure and after all it would only be a running bene bene BENISSIME. The point to which I have read you will see is the wondrous scene where Gwendolen accepts Grandcourt. 340 You kept me uncertain up to the last moment as to whether it was to be Yes or No. I had not the heart to tell her to say No and send the bright creature to be "looked over" by Mrs. Mompert and all the hopeless gloom she foresees so clearly. This feeling in my mind proves I think the surpassing skill of your workmanship.
My wife and daughter have not yet had an opportunity of reading this part and I am very curious to see how it strikes the ladies but I think I can guess.
To return to business details we think here that the first part should be published about the 15th of January so as to give the Newspapers time to speak out before the meeting of Parliament.
On another point there is a difference of opinion among us. Mr. Simpson holds strongly, and my nephew inclines, for an interval of two months between the four first parts at any rate, as it takes the public a long time to digest and fully appreciate the value of such food and talk to their neighbours about it as we found with Middlemarch. I on the contrary am in favour of only one month's interval as our audience is much more ready than it was for Middlemarch and I am afraid of the two months giving the Librarians a better opportunity of starving their supplies.
There can be no better judge of such a point than Lewes. Will you ask him also to write to me with form of advertisements which should begin to appear now. Should we let loose any gossiping paragraph? I am not fond of such things but it will be done in spite of us and as the name Daniel Deronda does not give the idea of such a thorough picture of English life we had better put them on the right and most popular scent.
We left Strathtyrum on Monday with weeping and wail in spite of the weather which had been most eccentric. On Saturday to make the most of her last day my daughter skated in the morning and in the afternoon rode on nice soft roads. We had a fortnight of hurricane and rain, then a week of bright clear frost and afterwards a hurricane which only lasted 24 hours. The tides were exceptionally high and the sacred links were invaded. On the Sunday afternoon we walked down to look at the sea which was coming in grandly. Of course all the dogs accompanied us on this farewell walk and one of the little terriers barking and splashing gallantly through the shallow water surrounding the (usually) small burn which crosses the links went headlong into the burn itself. The scene would have amused you. I have heard many a golfer swear at his ball getting into this burn but I am sure [no] direr oath than Tory's (the pet's name) when he found himself suddenly heels over head in four feet of water. However he struggled gallantly up the walled side of the burn and saved me from walking in to the rescue.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 November 1875, 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/95202