John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 29 April 1868
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 29 April 1868
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 29 April 1868
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1868-04-29
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 29 April 1868
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | April 29/68.
My Dear Madam
I send along with this proof of Book IV. It is truly grand. I do not know when I have been so struck with anything as when "Awful Night" 747 closes in upon Silva driving his misery and remorse in and in upon the wretched man.
The Gypsies wild chant 748 comes in well, and perhaps this night scene is even more impressive than the more exciting one of the death of Zarca, although nothing can be more effective than Silva walking away unharmed but hopeless on every side. 749 Zarca keeping in life to say what he wished to say is wonderfully drawn.
After such a climax of misery I am puzzled to think how you intended to be more tragic and what soothing element you can throw into Book v. I hope you are pretty well through with it.
Perhaps we should advertise with the name of the Poem now and
Lewes should get the Pall Mall or any friends in the Press to put in paragraphs as to the approaching event. The Poem bears reading and rereading bit by bit and is greater I think in that way than as a story.
By the way, does not the word Baron come in awkwardly in one of the beautiful arias. 750 It seems prosaic in the wild melody.
Willie is going up to London in the beginning of next week and will see you soon. I hope to hear from him that you are well and not suffering from your poetical fatigues. It must be most exciting work.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | April 29/68.
My Dear Madam
I send along with this proof of Book IV. It is truly grand. I do not know when I have been so struck with anything as when "Awful Night" 747 closes in upon Silva driving his misery and remorse in and in upon the wretched man.
The Gypsies wild chant 748 comes in well, and perhaps this night scene is even more impressive than the more exciting one of the death of Zarca, although nothing can be more effective than Silva walking away unharmed but hopeless on every side. 749 Zarca keeping in life to say what he wished to say is wonderfully drawn.
After such a climax of misery I am puzzled to think how you intended to be more tragic and what soothing element you can throw into Book v. I hope you are pretty well through with it.
Perhaps we should advertise with the name of the Poem now and
Lewes should get the Pall Mall or any friends in the Press to put in paragraphs as to the approaching event. The Poem bears reading and rereading bit by bit and is greater I think in that way than as a story.
By the way, does not the word Baron come in awkwardly in one of the beautiful arias. 750 It seems prosaic in the wild melody.
Willie is going up to London in the beginning of next week and will see you soon. I hope to hear from him that you are well and not suffering from your poetical fatigues. It must be most exciting work.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. Lewes
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 29 April 1868, 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/95256