GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 9 January 1858
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 9 January 1858
Title
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 9 January 1858
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1858-01-09
Place
Richmond
Letter Content
GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 9 January 1858
MS: The National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Richmond | January 9. 1858.
My dear Sir
Thanks for your letter, and not less for the satisfaction I feel in the handsome getting up of the [Scenes.] The two volumes are entirely agreeable to my eyes. 1051 The subscription far exceeds my highest hopes, and certainly hitherto everything has been auspicious. But we have of course still to wait for the proof of a real success.
As a matter of business I think it will be wise to send a copy to M. Emile Forgues, 1052 Bureau de la Revue des deux Mondes. I should also like a copy addressed to "The Author of Companions of my Solitude" (NOT to Arthur Helps Esq.), to be sent to Messrs. J. W. Parker and Son, and one to Professor Faraday. Besides these, I do not at present think of any one to whom I desire a copy to be sent on literary grounds, and I send none on private grounds. When I wish to drop my incognito, I will take a few intimate friends into my confidence, but not till then; and I shall not feel that wish for a long time to come.
Mr. Langford sent word that a copy had been addressed to Alfred Smith, Esq. It was Albert Smith whom I intended, and I mention the matter to you lest you should not be aware that a copy has been sent to Albert Smith. Lewes has rectified the mistake for me with Mr. Langford.
My new story goes on with a pleasant andante movement. I have read the early chapters 1053 to Lewes, who is a safer test than Moli'e8re could find in his housekeeper, I imagine, and he pronounces them to be better than anything I had done before. That is the best thing I have to tell you about it, and the next best is, that my heart is in the story. But I fear this last has been the case with very poor writers and very poor stories.
Always yours truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: The National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Richmond | January 9. 1858.
My dear Sir
Thanks for your letter, and not less for the satisfaction I feel in the handsome getting up of the [Scenes.] The two volumes are entirely agreeable to my eyes. 1051 The subscription far exceeds my highest hopes, and certainly hitherto everything has been auspicious. But we have of course still to wait for the proof of a real success.
As a matter of business I think it will be wise to send a copy to M. Emile Forgues, 1052 Bureau de la Revue des deux Mondes. I should also like a copy addressed to "The Author of Companions of my Solitude" (NOT to Arthur Helps Esq.), to be sent to Messrs. J. W. Parker and Son, and one to Professor Faraday. Besides these, I do not at present think of any one to whom I desire a copy to be sent on literary grounds, and I send none on private grounds. When I wish to drop my incognito, I will take a few intimate friends into my confidence, but not till then; and I shall not feel that wish for a long time to come.
Mr. Langford sent word that a copy had been addressed to Alfred Smith, Esq. It was Albert Smith whom I intended, and I mention the matter to you lest you should not be aware that a copy has been sent to Albert Smith. Lewes has rectified the mistake for me with Mr. Langford.
My new story goes on with a pleasant andante movement. I have read the early chapters 1053 to Lewes, who is a safer test than Moli'e8re could find in his housekeeper, I imagine, and he pronounces them to be better than anything I had done before. That is the best thing I have to tell you about it, and the next best is, that my heart is in the story. But I fear this last has been the case with very poor writers and very poor stories.
Always yours truly
George Eliot.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
George Eliot.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Blackwood, Richmond, 9 January 1858, 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/92722