John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 28 October 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 28 October 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 28 October 1857
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1857-10-28
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 28 October 1857
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | October 28/57.
My Dear Lewes
I inclose proof of the first 48 pages of your book. It is very difficult to form any estimate of the probable demand and we hesitate a good deal as to the number we should print. We incline to try an edition of 1250 as it will require some such sale to give anything like a good return. What do you think?
Until this is fixed and I know the exact cost and appearance of the engravings I have no data to guide me in making you an offer for the edition but in the meantime I understand that we take the whole risk of the publication and divide profits with you when any such arise.
I shall miss the Clerical Scenes much. I shall be curious to see how they tell as a separate book.
I daresay it would have been no use, but I wish I had pressed George Eliot more to curtail or to indicate more delicately the Delirium Tremens scene. 996 It is too naked and the shudder with which one turns from the picture is too much akin to disgust. He does push his Theory of qualifying any description by its truth too far. This scene would be more effective if more were left to the imagination. I intended to send you a copy of Smith's book 997 and he also put you on his list. What do you think of it?
Let me know if you have any subject for an article in view.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | October 28/57.
My Dear Lewes
I inclose proof of the first 48 pages of your book. It is very difficult to form any estimate of the probable demand and we hesitate a good deal as to the number we should print. We incline to try an edition of 1250 as it will require some such sale to give anything like a good return. What do you think?
Until this is fixed and I know the exact cost and appearance of the engravings I have no data to guide me in making you an offer for the edition but in the meantime I understand that we take the whole risk of the publication and divide profits with you when any such arise.
I shall miss the Clerical Scenes much. I shall be curious to see how they tell as a separate book.
I daresay it would have been no use, but I wish I had pressed George Eliot more to curtail or to indicate more delicately the Delirium Tremens scene. 996 It is too naked and the shudder with which one turns from the picture is too much akin to disgust. He does push his Theory of qualifying any description by its truth too far. This scene would be more effective if more were left to the imagination. I intended to send you a copy of Smith's book 997 and he also put you on his list. What do you think of it?
Let me know if you have any subject for an article in view.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 28 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/95408