GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 March 1879
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 March 1879
Title
GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 March 1879
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1879-03-05
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 March 1879
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, III, 351-352.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 5. 79.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
I send the corrected sheets of [Theophrastus], and shall be much obliged if you will order a complete Revise to be sent me before they are struck off.
Is it intended that the paper should be of the same size as in these proofs? The margin seems perilously and unbeautifully narrow, especially at the back. I observe that the line is longer than that of the original edition of Silas Marner, and the length of the printed page equally long, while even in Silas Marner the margin is not too wide. My husband was desirous that the book should be nicely got up, and I should plead that the paper should not be an absolute white. I have sent an altered title-page. Tell me whether you approve of this simplification, or whether you would still vote for a double title, thus: "Characters and Characteristics or Impressions of Theoph[rastu]s Such." The first two words are truthfully descriptive, but they have been much used, and the book is sure to be called [Theophrastus Such.] 187
Dr. Andrew Clarke the other day drew out of his pocket a copy of the Birthday Book, which a lady had that morning given to him. It had a plain black cover, plainly lettered. Has there been a reduction in the price? Or are there two prices for the two kinds of cover? 188
The printers seem to have been unusually at a loss with my handwriting in Theophrastus, and the numerous awkward mistakes make it important that I should see a revise. Whenever the book is published (I cannot contemplate its appearing before June, and if that is a bad time, it must stand over till the autumn season) I beg you kindly to write for me a notice, to be printed on the flyleaf, that the M.S. was placed in your hands last November, or simply [last year.]
Ever since my husband's death, the time in which I have been able to work at all has been occupied with his MSS. and I think you will enter into my feeling when I say that to create a notion on the part of the public of my having been occupied in writing Theophrastus would be repugnant to me, and I shrink from putting myself forward in any way.
I hope you are benefiting by the milder weather. I drive out a little now, but you must be prepared to see me a much changed creature. I think I should hardly know myself.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extracts published: Cross, III, 351-352.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 5. 79.
My dear Mr. Blackwood
I send the corrected sheets of [Theophrastus], and shall be much obliged if you will order a complete Revise to be sent me before they are struck off.
Is it intended that the paper should be of the same size as in these proofs? The margin seems perilously and unbeautifully narrow, especially at the back. I observe that the line is longer than that of the original edition of Silas Marner, and the length of the printed page equally long, while even in Silas Marner the margin is not too wide. My husband was desirous that the book should be nicely got up, and I should plead that the paper should not be an absolute white. I have sent an altered title-page. Tell me whether you approve of this simplification, or whether you would still vote for a double title, thus: "Characters and Characteristics or Impressions of Theoph[rastu]s Such." The first two words are truthfully descriptive, but they have been much used, and the book is sure to be called [Theophrastus Such.] 187
Dr. Andrew Clarke the other day drew out of his pocket a copy of the Birthday Book, which a lady had that morning given to him. It had a plain black cover, plainly lettered. Has there been a reduction in the price? Or are there two prices for the two kinds of cover? 188
The printers seem to have been unusually at a loss with my handwriting in Theophrastus, and the numerous awkward mistakes make it important that I should see a revise. Whenever the book is published (I cannot contemplate its appearing before June, and if that is a bad time, it must stand over till the autumn season) I beg you kindly to write for me a notice, to be printed on the flyleaf, that the M.S. was placed in your hands last November, or simply [last year.]
Ever since my husband's death, the time in which I have been able to work at all has been occupied with his MSS. and I think you will enter into my feeling when I say that to create a notion on the part of the public of my having been occupied in writing Theophrastus would be repugnant to me, and I shrink from putting myself forward in any way.
I hope you are benefiting by the milder weather. I drive out a little now, but you must be prepared to see me a much changed creature. I think I should hardly know myself.
Always yours truly
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, London, 5 March 1879, 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/92686