GE to Frederic Harrison, London, [25 May 1868]
Title
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, [25 May 1868]
Title
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, [25 May 1868]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Frederic Harrison
Date(s)
- 1868-05-25
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Frederic Harrison, London, [25 May 1868]
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Extract published: Cross, III, 51.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Monday.
Dear Mr. Harrison
Yes, indeed, I not only remember your letter, but have always kept it at hand, and have read it many times. Within these latter months, I have seemed to see in the distance a possible poem shaped on your idea. But it would be better for you to encourage the growth towards realization in your own mind rather than trust to transplantation.
My own faint conception is that of a frankly Utopian construction, freeing the poet from all local embarrassments. Great epics have always been more or less of this character -- only the construction has been of the past, not of the future.
Write to me Poste Restante Baden-Baden, within the next fortnight. My head will have got clearer then.
Ever yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
By the way, if you see Mr. Deutsch, as you are almost sure to do, will you kindly mention to him this address of Baden-Baden, in case he should have occasion to write to us. I have told our friends to write to this house, but our usual secretary (Charles) will be absent on his holiday, and there may be a difficulty in getting our letters sent on.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale. Extract published: Cross, III, 51.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Monday.
Dear Mr. Harrison
Yes, indeed, I not only remember your letter, but have always kept it at hand, and have read it many times. Within these latter months, I have seemed to see in the distance a possible poem shaped on your idea. But it would be better for you to encourage the growth towards realization in your own mind rather than trust to transplantation.
My own faint conception is that of a frankly Utopian construction, freeing the poet from all local embarrassments. Great epics have always been more or less of this character -- only the construction has been of the past, not of the future.
Write to me Poste Restante Baden-Baden, within the next fortnight. My head will have got clearer then.
Ever yours sincerely
M. E. Lewes.
By the way, if you see Mr. Deutsch, as you are almost sure to do, will you kindly mention to him this address of Baden-Baden, in case he should have occasion to write to us. I have told our friends to write to this house, but our usual secretary (Charles) will be absent on his holiday, and there may be a difficulty in getting our letters sent on.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Frederic Harrison, London, [25 May 1868], 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/92390