Bessie Rayner Parkes to GE, Lowestoft, 17 August 1859
Title
Bessie Rayner Parkes to GE, Lowestoft, 17 August 1859
Title
Bessie Rayner Parkes to GE, Lowestoft, 17 August 1859
Sender
Bessie Rayner Parkes
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1859-08-17
Place
Lowestoft
Letter Content
Bessie Rayner Parkes to GE, Lowestoft, 17 August 1859
MS: Yale. Extracts published: III, 134.
Lowestoft. August 17. 1859.
My very dear Friend
How many days since Barbara told me that the Famous Unknown was my Marian have I been intending to write to her; and how often have I been been so overwhelmed with each days correspondence as to feel the writing of a letter to my Friend next to an impossibility.
This is the true reason why everything like private correspondence drops more and more out of my hand, and must do so until my work is so far organised that I can retreat from the incessant labor it imposes in this particular direction. I am doubly anxious that you should understand this, since our personal opportunities of intercourse are at present so few and far between.
Dearest Marian, remembering as I do, day after day, in which you used to say with a sort of dispair, "I have no creative power" it is with an amused delight that I see you take all England by storm as you have done.
On me, much as I like Adam Bede, the other stories made a profounder impression. In particular Janets Repentance but all the three seemed to me masterpieces when I read them a year ago; full of a quaint touching beauty that I have never seen surpassed.
I am up here for 3 or 4 days with Lady Monson, 469 more on business than pleasure, as she is closely concerned in the Princes St. work. 470 She begs I will give her thanks to the Authoress of Adam Bede. I daresay you know who Lady M. is; a very clear-headed stronghearted woman, whom I hope you will some day know personally.
I am going on to Norwich, on business; then to my parents at Deal. By the bye Mama was so intensely delighted at Mrs. Poysers tongue; laughed till she cried; you know my Mothers hearty nature, and how keenly she relishes wit and humour.
I think I have given you our new address since we left Savile Row; 17 Wimpole St. Cavendish Sq. Office letters are opened, unless you put "private" outside; then they are forwarded.
Give my kind regard to Mr. Lewes. I find Lady M. enjoying his seaside book immensely, she reads bits out to me with great gusto. Ever dear,
Your loving
Bessie.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: III, 134.
Lowestoft. August 17. 1859.
My very dear Friend
How many days since Barbara told me that the Famous Unknown was my Marian have I been intending to write to her; and how often have I been been so overwhelmed with each days correspondence as to feel the writing of a letter to my Friend next to an impossibility.
This is the true reason why everything like private correspondence drops more and more out of my hand, and must do so until my work is so far organised that I can retreat from the incessant labor it imposes in this particular direction. I am doubly anxious that you should understand this, since our personal opportunities of intercourse are at present so few and far between.
Dearest Marian, remembering as I do, day after day, in which you used to say with a sort of dispair, "I have no creative power" it is with an amused delight that I see you take all England by storm as you have done.
On me, much as I like Adam Bede, the other stories made a profounder impression. In particular Janets Repentance but all the three seemed to me masterpieces when I read them a year ago; full of a quaint touching beauty that I have never seen surpassed.
I am up here for 3 or 4 days with Lady Monson, 469 more on business than pleasure, as she is closely concerned in the Princes St. work. 470 She begs I will give her thanks to the Authoress of Adam Bede. I daresay you know who Lady M. is; a very clear-headed stronghearted woman, whom I hope you will some day know personally.
I am going on to Norwich, on business; then to my parents at Deal. By the bye Mama was so intensely delighted at Mrs. Poysers tongue; laughed till she cried; you know my Mothers hearty nature, and how keenly she relishes wit and humour.
I think I have given you our new address since we left Savile Row; 17 Wimpole St. Cavendish Sq. Office letters are opened, unless you put "private" outside; then they are forwarded.
Give my kind regard to Mr. Lewes. I find Lady M. enjoying his seaside book immensely, she reads bits out to me with great gusto. Ever dear,
Your loving
Bessie.
Signature
Bessie.
Citation
Bessie Rayner Parkes, Bessie Rayner Parkes to GE, Lowestoft, 17 August 1859, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91726