GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 18 February 1857
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 18 February 1857
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 18 February 1857
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1857-02-18
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 18 February 1857
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, I, 431-432.
February 18th 1857.
My dear Sir
First let me thank you very heartily for your letter of the 10th. Except your own cordial appreciation, which is so much beyond a mere official acceptance, that little fact about Albert Smith has gratified me more than anything else in connection with the effect of [Amos.] If you should happen to hear an opinion from Thackeray, good or bad, I should like to know it.
You will see that I have availed myself of your suggestions on points of language. I quite recognize the justice of your criticism on the French phrases. 800 They are not in keeping with my story.
But I am unable to alter anything in relation to the delineation or development of character, as my stories always grow out of my psychological conception of the dramatis personae. For example the behaviour of Caterina in the gallery is essential to my conception of her nature and to the development of that nature in the plot. My artistic bent is directed not at all to the presentation of eminently irreproachable characters, but to the presentation of mixed human beings in such a way as to call forth tolerant judgment, pity, and sympathy. And I cannot stir a step aside from what I feel to be true in character. If anything strikes you as untrue to human nature in my delineations, I shall be very glad if you will point it out to me, that I may reconsider the matter. But alas! inconsistencies and weaknesses are not untrue.
I hope that your doubts about the plot will be removed by the further development of the story. Meanwhile, with the warmest thanks for your encouraging letters, I remain
Yours very sincerely
George Eliot.
I hope to send the 3d Part in a few days.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, I, 431-432.
February 18th 1857.
My dear Sir
First let me thank you very heartily for your letter of the 10th. Except your own cordial appreciation, which is so much beyond a mere official acceptance, that little fact about Albert Smith has gratified me more than anything else in connection with the effect of [Amos.] If you should happen to hear an opinion from Thackeray, good or bad, I should like to know it.
You will see that I have availed myself of your suggestions on points of language. I quite recognize the justice of your criticism on the French phrases. 800 They are not in keeping with my story.
But I am unable to alter anything in relation to the delineation or development of character, as my stories always grow out of my psychological conception of the dramatis personae. For example the behaviour of Caterina in the gallery is essential to my conception of her nature and to the development of that nature in the plot. My artistic bent is directed not at all to the presentation of eminently irreproachable characters, but to the presentation of mixed human beings in such a way as to call forth tolerant judgment, pity, and sympathy. And I cannot stir a step aside from what I feel to be true in character. If anything strikes you as untrue to human nature in my delineations, I shall be very glad if you will point it out to me, that I may reconsider the matter. But alas! inconsistencies and weaknesses are not untrue.
I hope that your doubts about the plot will be removed by the further development of the story. Meanwhile, with the warmest thanks for your encouraging letters, I remain
Yours very sincerely
George Eliot.
I hope to send the 3d Part in a few days.
Signature
George Eliot.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 18 February 1857, 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/92709