GE to John Blackwood, London, 24 February 1861
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 24 February 1861
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 24 February 1861
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1861-02-24
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 24 February 1861
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: Cross, II, 290-291.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
February 24. 61.
My dear Sir
It is not possible, I think, that Silas will make more than one volume; and I hope you will have the entire M.S. in your hands in ten days. Is it wise (you, of course, are the best judge) to charge more than 10/6? Though, certainly, the volume is likely to be rather larger than one volume of a three-volumed novel.
I don't wonder at your finding my story, as far as you have read it, rather sombre: indeed, I should not have believed that any one would have been interested in it but myself (since William Wordsworth is dead) if Mr. Lewes had not been strongly arrested by it. But I hope you will not find it at all a sad story, as a whole, since it sets -- or is intended to set -- in a strong light the remedial influences of pure, natural human relations. The Nemesis is a very mild one. I have felt all through as if the story would have lent itself best to metrical rather than prose fiction, especially in all that relates to the psychology of Silas; except that, under that treatment, there could not be an equal play of humour. It came to me first of all, quite suddenly, as a sort of legendary tale, suggested by my recollection of having once, in early childhood, seen a linen-weaver with a bag on his back; but, as my mind dwelt on the subject, I became inclined to a more realistic treatment.
My chief reason for wishing to publish the story now, is, that I like my writings to appear in the order in which they are written, because they belong to successive mental phases, and when they are a year behind me, I can no longer feel that thorough identification with them which gives zest to the sense of authorship. I generally like them better at that distance, but then, I feel as if they might just as well have been written by somebody else.
It would have been a great pleasure to me if Major Blackwood could have read my story. Have you advertised it in the next Maga?
Ever yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
J. Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: Cross, II, 290-291.
Blandford Square, | N.W.
February 24. 61.
My dear Sir
It is not possible, I think, that Silas will make more than one volume; and I hope you will have the entire M.S. in your hands in ten days. Is it wise (you, of course, are the best judge) to charge more than 10/6? Though, certainly, the volume is likely to be rather larger than one volume of a three-volumed novel.
I don't wonder at your finding my story, as far as you have read it, rather sombre: indeed, I should not have believed that any one would have been interested in it but myself (since William Wordsworth is dead) if Mr. Lewes had not been strongly arrested by it. But I hope you will not find it at all a sad story, as a whole, since it sets -- or is intended to set -- in a strong light the remedial influences of pure, natural human relations. The Nemesis is a very mild one. I have felt all through as if the story would have lent itself best to metrical rather than prose fiction, especially in all that relates to the psychology of Silas; except that, under that treatment, there could not be an equal play of humour. It came to me first of all, quite suddenly, as a sort of legendary tale, suggested by my recollection of having once, in early childhood, seen a linen-weaver with a bag on his back; but, as my mind dwelt on the subject, I became inclined to a more realistic treatment.
My chief reason for wishing to publish the story now, is, that I like my writings to appear in the order in which they are written, because they belong to successive mental phases, and when they are a year behind me, I can no longer feel that thorough identification with them which gives zest to the sense of authorship. I generally like them better at that distance, but then, I feel as if they might just as well have been written by somebody else.
It would have been a great pleasure to me if Major Blackwood could have read my story. Have you advertised it in the next Maga?
Ever yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
J. Blackwood Esq.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 24 February 1861, 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/92652