GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 28 March 1880
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 28 March 1880
Title
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 28 March 1880
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Francois D'Albert-Durade
Date(s)
- 1880-03-28
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 28 March 1880
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade at Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory | 21 North Bank | Regent's Park | March 28. 80
Dear Friend
Your kind letter with the photograph of your well remembered self reached me last night, and I thank you very much for bearing me affectionately in mind. I was not aware that I owed you a letter, and I beseech you not to attach any grave meaning to my abstinence from letter-writing, for the reasonable conclusion will be merely that I am a little oppressed with correspondents and visitors and find my time too much used up by these minor motives. I have escaped any severe consequences from the late trying winter and, though not robust, am not ailing otherwise than with an occasional headache.
It is a comfort to know that dear Madame D'Albert does not feel any positive suffering under the weight of years and that you have that treasure, a sympathetic servant to care for her in your absence.
I cannot answer your question about "Felix Holt". I know nothing of any translation, and if I have known, I have forgotten. I remember there used to be an unscrupulous adaptation of English novels in the "Revue des deux Mondes," 'abchiefly, I imagine, by Emile Forgues'bb. But whether "Felix Holt" was stolen in this way I am not aware. 378 Some time ago "Silas Marner" was printed in an Italian journal as an original Italian novel under another title. 379 Such is the standard of honour in literary matters!
I wish you could have had Mr. Alphonse and his family in Geneva with you for the remainder of your life. But you retain many warm friends, such as both you and Madame D'Albert used to make in the old days.
Your acquaintance "the youth Charles Lewes" celebrated the other day [the] fifteenth anniversary of his wedding. He is as happy as possible with his good wife and three nice little girls.
Assure the venerate[d] "Maman" of my continued grateful remembrance and believe me, dear friend
Yours always most truly
M. E. Lewes.
Text: Copy by D'Albert-Durade at Yale. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory | 21 North Bank | Regent's Park | March 28. 80
Dear Friend
Your kind letter with the photograph of your well remembered self reached me last night, and I thank you very much for bearing me affectionately in mind. I was not aware that I owed you a letter, and I beseech you not to attach any grave meaning to my abstinence from letter-writing, for the reasonable conclusion will be merely that I am a little oppressed with correspondents and visitors and find my time too much used up by these minor motives. I have escaped any severe consequences from the late trying winter and, though not robust, am not ailing otherwise than with an occasional headache.
It is a comfort to know that dear Madame D'Albert does not feel any positive suffering under the weight of years and that you have that treasure, a sympathetic servant to care for her in your absence.
I cannot answer your question about "Felix Holt". I know nothing of any translation, and if I have known, I have forgotten. I remember there used to be an unscrupulous adaptation of English novels in the "Revue des deux Mondes," 'abchiefly, I imagine, by Emile Forgues'bb. But whether "Felix Holt" was stolen in this way I am not aware. 378 Some time ago "Silas Marner" was printed in an Italian journal as an original Italian novel under another title. 379 Such is the standard of honour in literary matters!
I wish you could have had Mr. Alphonse and his family in Geneva with you for the remainder of your life. But you retain many warm friends, such as both you and Madame D'Albert used to make in the old days.
Your acquaintance "the youth Charles Lewes" celebrated the other day [the] fifteenth anniversary of his wedding. He is as happy as possible with his good wife and three nice little girls.
Assure the venerate[d] "Maman" of my continued grateful remembrance and believe me, dear friend
Yours always most truly
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Francois D'Albert-Durade, London, 28 March 1880, 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/92361