GE to Mrs. William Smith, London, 10 May 1875
Title
GE to Mrs. William Smith, London, 10 May 1875
Title
GE to Mrs. William Smith, London, 10 May 1875
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. William Smith
Date(s)
- 1875-05-10
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. William Smith, London, 10 May 1875
Text: Cross, III, 256-257.
We cannot believe that there is reason to fear any painful observations on the publication of the memoir in one volume with [Gravenhurst] and the Essays. 243 The memoir is written with exquisite judgment and feeling; and without estimating too highly the taste and carefulness of journalists in their ordinary treatment of books, I think that we may count on their not being impressed otherwise than respectfully and sympathetically with the character of your dear husband's work, and with the sketch of his pure elevated life. I would also urge you to rely on the fact that Mr Blackwood thinks the publication desirable, as a guarantee that it will not prove injudicious in relation to the outer world -- I mean the world beyond the circle of your husband's especial friends and admirers. I am grieved to hear of your poor eyes having been condemned to an inaction which, I fear, may have sadly increased the vividness of that inward seeing, already painfully strong in you. There has been, I trust, always some sympathetic young companionship to help you -- some sweet voice to read aloud to you, or to talk of those better things in human lots which enable us to look at the good of life a little apart from our own particular sorrow.
Text: Cross, III, 256-257.
We cannot believe that there is reason to fear any painful observations on the publication of the memoir in one volume with [Gravenhurst] and the Essays. 243 The memoir is written with exquisite judgment and feeling; and without estimating too highly the taste and carefulness of journalists in their ordinary treatment of books, I think that we may count on their not being impressed otherwise than respectfully and sympathetically with the character of your dear husband's work, and with the sketch of his pure elevated life. I would also urge you to rely on the fact that Mr Blackwood thinks the publication desirable, as a guarantee that it will not prove injudicious in relation to the outer world -- I mean the world beyond the circle of your husband's especial friends and admirers. I am grieved to hear of your poor eyes having been condemned to an inaction which, I fear, may have sadly increased the vividness of that inward seeing, already painfully strong in you. There has been, I trust, always some sympathetic young companionship to help you -- some sweet voice to read aloud to you, or to talk of those better things in human lots which enable us to look at the good of life a little apart from our own particular sorrow.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. William Smith, London, 10 May 1875, 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/93738