Myths and Myth-Makers

Myths and Myth-Makers

Fiske, John

Boston: Osgood & Co., 1873

Internet Archive

1873

John Fiske to Mrs. John Fiske, 23 November 1873. “Well, what do I think of her? She is not a "fright" by any means. She is a plain-looking woman, but I think not especially homely. I see no reason why her photograph should not be circulated about. She is much better looking than George Sand. She isn't a blooming beauty, of course; you don't expect that at fifty-two; but her features are regular, her nose is very good, her eyes are a rich blue and very expressive, her mouth is very large, but it is pleasant in expression. Her hair is light and profuse, and she wears a lovely lace cap over it -- and looks simple, frank, cordial, and matronly, and seems ever so proud of Lewes, and ever so fond of him. I call her a good, honest, genuine, motherly woman with no nonsense about her. She seemed glad to see me. She said when my Myth-book came to her -- I sent her a copy last summer, as you know -- she was sitting on the floor fixing a rug, or something of the sort, and she got so absorbed in my book that she sat on the floor all the afternoon, till Lewes came in and routed her up! She thought it was "a beautiful book"; but she had known me ages ago, when I first wrote to Lewes and sent things to the "Fortnightly." But she disagreed with me as to the unity of the Homeric poems. I found she was a strong Wolfian! Well we had a hard battle over it -- she and I.” GEL 5: 464

Fiske, John, Myths and Myth-Makers, George Eliot's Reading, George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/57778

https://georgeeliotarchive.org/files/original/f7383f6ca0ccc93fe858751c1312c53a.pdf