John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 24 February 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 24 February 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 24 February 1876
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1876-02-24
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 24 February 1876
MS: National Library of Scotland. Brief extract published: John Blackwood, p. 393.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
February 24/76.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
The revise of Book V was sent to you last night and the Printers will soon have proof of Book VI ready. Book fifth is very wonderful. There is a feeling of thunder in the air that inspires awe, and I do not think the boldest critic that ever dashed off daily and weekly reviews would go in at it lightly. Grandcourt is hateful and one reflects with grim satisfaction that the Furies have entered his house.
Poor Gwendolen, her penance has begun. One sees now why you brought out so strongly that element of nervous terror in her character.
The gravity of the Book is admirably relieved by the touches you throw in. Sir Hugo's little attempts at mild humour and the perfect description of the old abbey 401 tell famously. Then the little house at Chelsea is so true to itself when the mighty Klesmer appears to decide the destiny of Mirah. 402 Of Mordecai I feel that it would be presumptuous to speak until one has read more, and I daresay that puzzling and thinking over that phase of the Tale has been the cause of my not having written to you sooner.
I suspect we would need to get back a Titian to put him and Deronda on canvas as you have done them upon paper. 403 There is something excessively quaint in the conjunction of two such extremes of Jewish nature as that little Jacob and Mordecai. 404 I am determined to enjoy Book VI quietly at home, so did not look into the M.S. beyond a page or two before sending it into the printing office.
Mr. Langford writes that he is keeping Lewes informed of the subscription for Book Two and I think it is very satisfactory. Here the numbers are about equal to what the trade had taken at first of Book One and bought since, which is satisfactory. Willie would I daresay tell you that I had a pleasant letter from Mr. Alden, 405 the Editor of Harper's Magazine. You may probably have heard from him since he had read Book One. He seems to wish the Books earlier than the date Lewes named, which was to be in their hands a month sooner than the date of publication of their Magazine. There is no objection if they can keep them safe, but a month does seem plenty of time.
With many congratulations and good wishes, I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Brief extract published: John Blackwood, p. 393.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
February 24/76.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
The revise of Book V was sent to you last night and the Printers will soon have proof of Book VI ready. Book fifth is very wonderful. There is a feeling of thunder in the air that inspires awe, and I do not think the boldest critic that ever dashed off daily and weekly reviews would go in at it lightly. Grandcourt is hateful and one reflects with grim satisfaction that the Furies have entered his house.
Poor Gwendolen, her penance has begun. One sees now why you brought out so strongly that element of nervous terror in her character.
The gravity of the Book is admirably relieved by the touches you throw in. Sir Hugo's little attempts at mild humour and the perfect description of the old abbey 401 tell famously. Then the little house at Chelsea is so true to itself when the mighty Klesmer appears to decide the destiny of Mirah. 402 Of Mordecai I feel that it would be presumptuous to speak until one has read more, and I daresay that puzzling and thinking over that phase of the Tale has been the cause of my not having written to you sooner.
I suspect we would need to get back a Titian to put him and Deronda on canvas as you have done them upon paper. 403 There is something excessively quaint in the conjunction of two such extremes of Jewish nature as that little Jacob and Mordecai. 404 I am determined to enjoy Book VI quietly at home, so did not look into the M.S. beyond a page or two before sending it into the printing office.
Mr. Langford writes that he is keeping Lewes informed of the subscription for Book Two and I think it is very satisfactory. Here the numbers are about equal to what the trade had taken at first of Book One and bought since, which is satisfactory. Willie would I daresay tell you that I had a pleasant letter from Mr. Alden, 405 the Editor of Harper's Magazine. You may probably have heard from him since he had read Book One. He seems to wish the Books earlier than the date Lewes named, which was to be in their hands a month sooner than the date of publication of their Magazine. There is no objection if they can keep them safe, but a month does seem plenty of time.
With many congratulations and good wishes, I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 24 February 1876, 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/95233