Main, Alexander (1841-1918)

Alexander Main was a reader and disciple of George Eliot’s novels. He introduced himself to Eliot in a letter in 1871, praising her novels extravagantly. Eliot responded that his appreciation made her cry for joy. Main proposed to compile an anthology of Wise, Witty, and Tender Sayings in Prose and Verse, Selected from the Work of George Eliot, which was published by Blackwood in time for Christmas, 1871. In his preface, Main compares Eliot with Shakespeare and maintains that 'she had forever sanctified the novel by making it the vehicle of the grandest and most uncompromising moral truth.' Main also assembled a series of quotations for the George Eliot Birthday Book, a diary decorated with inspirational aphorism from the author for each day of the year. Eliot and George Henry Lewes worried the diary was vulgar and were critical of the book’s binding. Nevertheless, Lewes encouraged Main’s devotion.

George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org

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GE to Alexander Main, Shottermill, 3 August 1871
GE to Alexander Main, [Shottermill], 9 August 1871
GE to Alexander Main, London, 4 [September] 1871
GE to Alexander Main, London, 11 September 1871
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 26 September 1871
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [29 September 1871]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [12 October 1871]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 21 October 1871
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [31 October 1871]
GHL to Alexander Main, [London, 31 October 1871]
GE to Alexander Main, London, 9 November 1871
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [11 November 1871]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 29 November 1871
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 20 December 1871
GE to Alexander Main, London, 28 December 1871
GE to Alexander Main, London, 26 January 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 21 February 1872
GE to Alexander Main, London, 29 March 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 16 April 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, Redhill, 31 May 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, Redhill, 25 June 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, Redhill, 19 July 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, Redhill, [6 August 1872]
GHL to Alexander Main, [Redhill], 17 August 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, Redhill, 28 August 1872
GE to Alexander Main, London, 13 September 1872
GE to Alexander Main, London, 4 November 1872
GE to Alexander Main, London, 14 November 1872
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 5 December 1872
GE to Alexander Main, London, 1 January 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 2 January 1873
GE to Alexander Main, London, 9 January 1873
GE to Alexander Main, London, 5 March 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 26 March 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, [London, 29 March 1873]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [4 April 1873]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [10 April 1873]
GE to Alexander Main, London, 22 April 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [26 May 1873]
GE to Alexander Main, London, 1 June 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 31 August 1873
GE to Alexander Main, Blackbrook, 18 September 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, Blackbrook, [4 October 1873]
GHL to Alexander Main, Blackbrook, [13? October 1873]
GHL to Alexander Main, Blackbrook, 27 October 1873
John Blackwood to Alexander Main, Edinburgh, 13 November 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [25 November 1873]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [19 December 1873]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [22 December 1873]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [8 January 1874]
GE to Alexander Main, London, 14 January 1874
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [20 January 1874]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [19 February 1874]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 13 March [1874]
GE to Alexander Main, London, 13 May 1874
GHL to Alexander Main, Earlswood Common, [2 August 1874]
GHL to Alexander Main, Earlswood Common, 8 September 1874
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [30 November 1874]
GE to Alexander Main, London, 2 January 1875
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [12 February 1875]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [7 March 1875]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [22 March 1875]
GE to Alexander Main, London, 26 May 1875
GHL to Alexander Main, Rickmansworth, 22 July 1875
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 13 October 1875
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 2 January 1876
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [31 January 1876]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 1 March 1876
GE to Alexander Main, London, 2 May 1876
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 17 April 1877
GE to Alexander Main, London, 4 December 1877
GE to Alexander Main, London, 17 December 1877
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [4 January 1872]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [19 January 1872]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [16 April 1872]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 19 March 1873
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [28 January 1874]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 31 January [1874]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 1 June [1874]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 4 September [1876]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, 29 December [1876]
GHL to Alexander Main, London, [23 November 1877]

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Alexander Main (1841-1918), Main, Alexander (1841-1918), Social Network Gallery, George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed November 11, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/97175