GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, 23 June 1848]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, 23 June 1848]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, 23 June 1848]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1848-06-23
Place
[FOLESHILL]
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, 23 June 1848]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: June 23, 1848. Mostly published: Cross, I, 190-191.
Dear Sara
All creatures about to moult or to cast off an old skin, or enter on any new metamorphosis have sickly feelings. It was so with me, but now I am set free from the irritating worn-out integument. I am entering on a new period of my life which makes me look back on the past as something incredibly poor and contemptible. I am enjoying repose strength and ardour in a greater degree than I have ever known and yet I never felt my own insignificance and imperfection so completely.
My heart bleeds for dear Father's pains, but it is blessed to be at hand to give the soothing word and act needed. I should not have written this description of myself but that I felt your affectionate letter demanded some I-ism, which after all is often humility rather than pride.
You are ever with me as Spiridion was with Alexis and Angel. 754
Pollian.
Paris, poor Paris alas alas. 755
MS: Yale. Endorsed: June 23, 1848. Mostly published: Cross, I, 190-191.
Dear Sara
All creatures about to moult or to cast off an old skin, or enter on any new metamorphosis have sickly feelings. It was so with me, but now I am set free from the irritating worn-out integument. I am entering on a new period of my life which makes me look back on the past as something incredibly poor and contemptible. I am enjoying repose strength and ardour in a greater degree than I have ever known and yet I never felt my own insignificance and imperfection so completely.
My heart bleeds for dear Father's pains, but it is blessed to be at hand to give the soothing word and act needed. I should not have written this description of myself but that I felt your affectionate letter demanded some I-ism, which after all is often humility rather than pride.
You are ever with me as Spiridion was with Alexis and Angel. 754
Pollian.
Paris, poor Paris alas alas. 755
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, [Foleshill, 23 June 1848], 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/93814