GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 19 November 1871
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 19 November 1871
Title
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 19 November 1871
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Sara Sophia Hennell
Date(s)
- 1871-11-19
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 19 November 1871
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 177-178, dated 1872.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
November 19. 71.
My dear Sara
I will impute your total silence towards me for many, many months, to your preoccupation with the work now announced, 399 and will not believe that a greeting from me at this time of the year will be less welcome than of old.
I remember that last year one of your prettily expressed wishes was that I should write another book and -- I think you added -- send it to you to read. On the strength of this remembrance, you will be one of the three exceptional people to whom we order "Middlem[arc]h" to be sent. But do not write to me about it, because until a book has quite gone away from me and become entirely of the non-ego -- gone thoroughly from the wine-press into the casks -- I would rather not hear or see anything that is said about it.
Cara sent me word that you were looking, as usual, very pretty and showing great energy on interesting occasions. But this was two months ago, and some detailed news from yourself would be a delightful gift.
I am getting stronger and showing some meagre benefit from being indulged in all possible ways. Mr. Lewes makes a martyr of himself in writing all my notes and business letters. Is not that being a sublime husband? For all the while there are studies of his own being put aside -- studies which are a seventh heaven to him.
Mr. Spencer lunched with us yesterday, 400 looking all the younger for the past year or so since you met him. He is going to answer Huxley's polemic against him in the Fortnightly 401 -- rather an undesirable bit of work, which yet he cannot rest without doing. Huxley you know is his favourite man of science, and his intimate friend.
We have not lately seen any one else in whom you are interested. Mrs. Geddes (Miss Bury) is, I grieve to say, in too delicate a state to accompany her husband to India, and can only hope to follow him. Is there any one who does not need patience? For when one's outward lot is perfect, the sense of inward imperfection is the more pressing.
Goodby, dear Sara. You are never long without entering into my thoughts, though you may send nothing fresh to feed them. But I am ashamed of expressing regard for my friends, since I do no earthly thing for them. Still I am really, though unfruitfully
Your loving
Pollian.
MS: Yale. Extracts published: Cross, III, 177-178, dated 1872.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
November 19. 71.
My dear Sara
I will impute your total silence towards me for many, many months, to your preoccupation with the work now announced, 399 and will not believe that a greeting from me at this time of the year will be less welcome than of old.
I remember that last year one of your prettily expressed wishes was that I should write another book and -- I think you added -- send it to you to read. On the strength of this remembrance, you will be one of the three exceptional people to whom we order "Middlem[arc]h" to be sent. But do not write to me about it, because until a book has quite gone away from me and become entirely of the non-ego -- gone thoroughly from the wine-press into the casks -- I would rather not hear or see anything that is said about it.
Cara sent me word that you were looking, as usual, very pretty and showing great energy on interesting occasions. But this was two months ago, and some detailed news from yourself would be a delightful gift.
I am getting stronger and showing some meagre benefit from being indulged in all possible ways. Mr. Lewes makes a martyr of himself in writing all my notes and business letters. Is not that being a sublime husband? For all the while there are studies of his own being put aside -- studies which are a seventh heaven to him.
Mr. Spencer lunched with us yesterday, 400 looking all the younger for the past year or so since you met him. He is going to answer Huxley's polemic against him in the Fortnightly 401 -- rather an undesirable bit of work, which yet he cannot rest without doing. Huxley you know is his favourite man of science, and his intimate friend.
We have not lately seen any one else in whom you are interested. Mrs. Geddes (Miss Bury) is, I grieve to say, in too delicate a state to accompany her husband to India, and can only hope to follow him. Is there any one who does not need patience? For when one's outward lot is perfect, the sense of inward imperfection is the more pressing.
Goodby, dear Sara. You are never long without entering into my thoughts, though you may send nothing fresh to feed them. But I am ashamed of expressing regard for my friends, since I do no earthly thing for them. Still I am really, though unfruitfully
Your loving
Pollian.
Signature
Pollian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Sara Sophia Hennell, London, 19 November 1871, 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/94007