GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, [London, 10 January 1865]
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, [London, 10 January 1865]
Title
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, [London, 10 January 1865]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon
Date(s)
- 1865-01-10
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, [London, 10 January 1865]
MS: Berg Collection, New York Public Library.
Dearest Barbara
Your Christmas Day's letter was very welcome. On that day, perhaps while you were writing, Bessie called to utter her good wishes, and on my asking her if anything dreadful was going to happen to her soon, she expressed her concern that her marriage had been spoken of by any one as an event in any way decided on. She feels it necessary to have such 'e9gards for her aged parents, that she trembles at any positive report about herself, as long as their minds are not thoroughly settled and reconciled in relation to anything she meditates doing. She says she is exceedingly well in health.
We have had a very cheering Christmas, but [page torn off] that you have enjoye[d your r]eading. About your dear Vandals I fear there is nothing more impartial to be had than old Jordanes 636 and Procopius. 637 There are translations of Procopius both in English and French. I have lately been much interested in the observations about the Berbers in Dozy's Histoire des Arabes en Espagne, 638 and the elements their patriotic tendencies contributed to the Musulman movement. The worst of it is, his remarks are too brief. He cites a striking point or two from a book which I daresay you know, Daumas' La grande Kabylie 639 -- for example that the name of a marabout appealed to by a man when the sword is hanging over him will save his life, whereas the name of God is not strong enough to produce the same effect! [page torn off]
The season here is horrible: it is impossible for a sensitive person to be happy in this biting east wind, with tiny hard hailstones falling every other hour. The weather seems to get into the very core of me and to make itself felt more than all blessings. Strong people who can be busy clothing the naked and feeding the hungry may feel brave and hopeful, but self-conscious self-contemplative creatures like me must sit in shivering despondency.
I really felt that you were enjoying your life when I read your last letter [page torn off]
MS: Berg Collection, New York Public Library.
Dearest Barbara
Your Christmas Day's letter was very welcome. On that day, perhaps while you were writing, Bessie called to utter her good wishes, and on my asking her if anything dreadful was going to happen to her soon, she expressed her concern that her marriage had been spoken of by any one as an event in any way decided on. She feels it necessary to have such 'e9gards for her aged parents, that she trembles at any positive report about herself, as long as their minds are not thoroughly settled and reconciled in relation to anything she meditates doing. She says she is exceedingly well in health.
We have had a very cheering Christmas, but [page torn off] that you have enjoye[d your r]eading. About your dear Vandals I fear there is nothing more impartial to be had than old Jordanes 636 and Procopius. 637 There are translations of Procopius both in English and French. I have lately been much interested in the observations about the Berbers in Dozy's Histoire des Arabes en Espagne, 638 and the elements their patriotic tendencies contributed to the Musulman movement. The worst of it is, his remarks are too brief. He cites a striking point or two from a book which I daresay you know, Daumas' La grande Kabylie 639 -- for example that the name of a marabout appealed to by a man when the sword is hanging over him will save his life, whereas the name of God is not strong enough to produce the same effect! [page torn off]
The season here is horrible: it is impossible for a sensitive person to be happy in this biting east wind, with tiny hard hailstones falling every other hour. The weather seems to get into the very core of me and to make itself felt more than all blessings. Strong people who can be busy clothing the naked and feeding the hungry may feel brave and hopeful, but self-conscious self-contemplative creatures like me must sit in shivering despondency.
I really felt that you were enjoying your life when I read your last letter [page torn off]
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Barbara [Mme Eugene] Bodichon, [London, 10 January 1865], 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/92970