Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 18 January [1866]
Title
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 18 January [1866]
Title
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 18 January [1866]
Sender
Frederic Harrison
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1866-01-18
Place
London
Letter Content
Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 18 January [1866]
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
New Sq. | Linc: Inn | January 18.
My dear Mrs. Lewes,
I never more regretted my miserable stupidity in expressing what I feel than yesterday -- when I was so little able to tell you a tenth part of the delight and emotion your MS <gave> caused me. 405 I feel even at this moment as if I had been present and seen some great tragedy and cannot shake off the impression that I have lately witnessed something terrible. I should be so sorry you should think that my failure to read more of the MS was through want of desire to do so. It was simply that I cannot read your writing (and least of all this) without pondering and turning back and following out the suggested thoughts and trying to realise duly what seems to me so new a thing -- the highest art for the first time consciously devoted to the deepest moral problems. You will not think me presumptuous if I venture to say what I feel with confidence that men will see in this last the fullest and completest expression of this and the most memorable drama you have yet shown them. I am
Sincerely yours
Frederic Harrison.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
New Sq. | Linc: Inn | January 18.
My dear Mrs. Lewes,
I never more regretted my miserable stupidity in expressing what I feel than yesterday -- when I was so little able to tell you a tenth part of the delight and emotion your MS <gave> caused me. 405 I feel even at this moment as if I had been present and seen some great tragedy and cannot shake off the impression that I have lately witnessed something terrible. I should be so sorry you should think that my failure to read more of the MS was through want of desire to do so. It was simply that I cannot read your writing (and least of all this) without pondering and turning back and following out the suggested thoughts and trying to realise duly what seems to me so new a thing -- the highest art for the first time consciously devoted to the deepest moral problems. You will not think me presumptuous if I venture to say what I feel with confidence that men will see in this last the fullest and completest expression of this and the most memorable drama you have yet shown them. I am
Sincerely yours
Frederic Harrison.
Signature
Frederic Harrison.
Citation
Frederic Harrison, Frederic Harrison to GE, London, 18 January [1866], 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/91841