John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 20 July 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 20 July 1871
Title
John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 20 July 1871
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1871-07-20
Place
St. Andrews
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 20 July 1871
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | N.B.
July 20/71.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
I have read the second portion of Middlemarch with the greatest admiration. It is a most wonderful study of human life and nature. You are like a great giant walking about among us and fixing every one you meet upon your canvas. In all this life like gallery that you put before us every trait in every character finds an echo or recollection in the reader's mind that tells him how true it is to Nature.
It was a disappointment at first not to find any of my old friends of the former part, 327 all except Lydgate apparently entirely strangers, but as you beautifully express it we never know who are to influence our lives while "Destiny stands by sarcastic with our dramatis personae folded in her hand." 328 The elaborate picture of the formation of Lydgate's character is powerfully relieved by the tremendous French adventure into which the wise young Doctor fell. 329 It would be endless to try to refer to all the happy hits and turns. That sylph caught young and made perfect by Mrs. Lemon is a great success, and I like poor Ned. 330 Where did you hear those horsey men talking? 331 Willie's room at George St. opens from my room and I often hear the mysterious words of wisdom flowing between him and his horsey yeomany friends. You have caught the very tone.
The Farebrother family are delights, a perfect picture. Reading of all the various characters in this second volume -- for it is really almost a volume -- I had quite forgotten Mr. Brooke, but I knew his voice the moment he came into the room 332 at the meeting for the election of Chaplain. There is something uncommonly good about Mary Garth who has her "peculiar temptations" not to accept "good sense and good principle" "ready mixed" and does feel it hard to think that she must be called "an ugly thing" alongside of fair Rosamond. 333
I think our plan of publication is the right one as the two parts are almost distinct, each complete in itself. Indeed there will be complaints of the want of the continuous interest of a story, but this does not matter where all is so fresh and true to life. Each group that you introduce is a complete little book or study in itself. I return the precious M.S. registered. Have you observed how much closer and smaller you are writing? When you can spare the M.S. I should like to have the quantity calculated. I am pretty sure there is equivalent to a volume of an ordinary novel in what I now return.
I got your kind pleasant letter and am very sorry you are not coming to the Scott Centenary but at those sort of gatherings there are always forward vulgar monsters to jar upon one's feelings, so perhaps you escape something. Simpson is quite well again and greatly gratified by your kind message, which I told him to take home to read to his mother. With best remembrances to Lewes I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Strathtyrum | St. Andrews | N.B.
July 20/71.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
I have read the second portion of Middlemarch with the greatest admiration. It is a most wonderful study of human life and nature. You are like a great giant walking about among us and fixing every one you meet upon your canvas. In all this life like gallery that you put before us every trait in every character finds an echo or recollection in the reader's mind that tells him how true it is to Nature.
It was a disappointment at first not to find any of my old friends of the former part, 327 all except Lydgate apparently entirely strangers, but as you beautifully express it we never know who are to influence our lives while "Destiny stands by sarcastic with our dramatis personae folded in her hand." 328 The elaborate picture of the formation of Lydgate's character is powerfully relieved by the tremendous French adventure into which the wise young Doctor fell. 329 It would be endless to try to refer to all the happy hits and turns. That sylph caught young and made perfect by Mrs. Lemon is a great success, and I like poor Ned. 330 Where did you hear those horsey men talking? 331 Willie's room at George St. opens from my room and I often hear the mysterious words of wisdom flowing between him and his horsey yeomany friends. You have caught the very tone.
The Farebrother family are delights, a perfect picture. Reading of all the various characters in this second volume -- for it is really almost a volume -- I had quite forgotten Mr. Brooke, but I knew his voice the moment he came into the room 332 at the meeting for the election of Chaplain. There is something uncommonly good about Mary Garth who has her "peculiar temptations" not to accept "good sense and good principle" "ready mixed" and does feel it hard to think that she must be called "an ugly thing" alongside of fair Rosamond. 333
I think our plan of publication is the right one as the two parts are almost distinct, each complete in itself. Indeed there will be complaints of the want of the continuous interest of a story, but this does not matter where all is so fresh and true to life. Each group that you introduce is a complete little book or study in itself. I return the precious M.S. registered. Have you observed how much closer and smaller you are writing? When you can spare the M.S. I should like to have the quantity calculated. I am pretty sure there is equivalent to a volume of an ordinary novel in what I now return.
I got your kind pleasant letter and am very sorry you are not coming to the Scott Centenary but at those sort of gatherings there are always forward vulgar monsters to jar upon one's feelings, so perhaps you escape something. Simpson is quite well again and greatly gratified by your kind message, which I told him to take home to read to his mother. With best remembrances to Lewes I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, St. Andrews, 20 July 1871, 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/95329