GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [7 May 1854]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [7 May 1854]
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [7 May 1854]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1854-05-07
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [7 May 1854]
MS: Yale. Endorsed: May 8. Hitherto unpublished.
Cambridge St. | Sunday.
Dear Sara
I am obliged to apply to you again, for I have no one else whom I can ask to give me their impression. Until the last two days I had resolved to omit the 2d 3d and 4th sections in the appendix 463 because they are abstract and Germanized "to a degree" and might repel the reader from the appendix, which contains a great deal of important and accessible matter. But I shrink from omission, so I have determined to ask you for your opinion. You who come to the thing fresh with your brain unfatigued will be better able to judge of the effect on ordinary readers -- or rather extraordinary readers who will get so far as the appendix. I will not be affected and make apologies for asking you to read such fearful scribble etc. I know your Herz und Vernunft both will make the task endurable.
The printers will want the appendix soon, so of course I shall be glad to have these sheets again as soon as possible, but do not hurry so as not to satisfy yourself completely.
The laxity of Feuerbach's language is particularly tiresome in the 2d 'a7. I am obliged to translate sensation in one place and emotion in another. 464 Notice whatever is incomprehensible to you.
Your loving
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Endorsed: May 8. Hitherto unpublished.
Cambridge St. | Sunday.
Dear Sara
I am obliged to apply to you again, for I have no one else whom I can ask to give me their impression. Until the last two days I had resolved to omit the 2d 3d and 4th sections in the appendix 463 because they are abstract and Germanized "to a degree" and might repel the reader from the appendix, which contains a great deal of important and accessible matter. But I shrink from omission, so I have determined to ask you for your opinion. You who come to the thing fresh with your brain unfatigued will be better able to judge of the effect on ordinary readers -- or rather extraordinary readers who will get so far as the appendix. I will not be affected and make apologies for asking you to read such fearful scribble etc. I know your Herz und Vernunft both will make the task endurable.
The printers will want the appendix soon, so of course I shall be glad to have these sheets again as soon as possible, but do not hurry so as not to satisfy yourself completely.
The laxity of Feuerbach's language is particularly tiresome in the 2d 'a7. I am obliged to translate sensation in one place and emotion in another. 464 Notice whatever is incomprehensible to you.
Your loving
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, [7 May 1854], 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/93973