GHL to John Blackwood, London, 8 January 1873
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, London, 8 January 1873
Title
GHL to John Blackwood, London, 8 January 1873
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1873-01-08
Place
London
Letter Content
GHL to John Blackwood, London, 8 January 1873
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Wednesday 8 January 73.
My dear Blackwood
I had only time yesterday, owing to visitors, to dispatch a postcard acknowledging receipt of your two letters with the bills for 1097.16.11. (for which and for your sharing of Smith's discount many thanks) and I now write to say that we are quite willing to accept your proposal of 5/ a copy for the 21/ edition.
I think this edition ought to be hurried out as soon as may be for these reasons: As far as I can gather there is a ground swell beginning which will rapidly affect the libraries and we ought to be ready for the top of the wave. To drop metaphor, I heard only yesterday sufficient indication that the book is being talked about in various influential quarters. Thus one gentleman 700 told me there was an animated discussion in the smoking room of the Athenaeum and while he was saying this up came Pigott who said he had just left Partridge 701 who told him that at the Academy dinner Bishops and Archbishops were enthusiastic -- I went on to the London Library and there saw Sir James Alderson 702 who had been staying at Hatfield (Lord Salisbury's) and there Middlemarch was the subject of much discussion. Now these three very different sources imply a general interest. But the Libraries will be able to finesse with their copies unless there is the inducement to them of a cheaper edition in the same number of volumes.
I think therefore it should be expressly advertised as "The Guinea Edition." We both think a plain cover desirable. Could it not be made to range tolerably with the 12/- edition of the works? Same color and almost same size?
The Times is only of use as an advertisement and if it came out with our advertisement of a guinea edition might help us.
If you don't take a flight in the [Flying Scotchman] I will write you a programme of the Key.
Ever yours
G. H. L.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
Wednesday 8 January 73.
My dear Blackwood
I had only time yesterday, owing to visitors, to dispatch a postcard acknowledging receipt of your two letters with the bills for 1097.16.11. (for which and for your sharing of Smith's discount many thanks) and I now write to say that we are quite willing to accept your proposal of 5/ a copy for the 21/ edition.
I think this edition ought to be hurried out as soon as may be for these reasons: As far as I can gather there is a ground swell beginning which will rapidly affect the libraries and we ought to be ready for the top of the wave. To drop metaphor, I heard only yesterday sufficient indication that the book is being talked about in various influential quarters. Thus one gentleman 700 told me there was an animated discussion in the smoking room of the Athenaeum and while he was saying this up came Pigott who said he had just left Partridge 701 who told him that at the Academy dinner Bishops and Archbishops were enthusiastic -- I went on to the London Library and there saw Sir James Alderson 702 who had been staying at Hatfield (Lord Salisbury's) and there Middlemarch was the subject of much discussion. Now these three very different sources imply a general interest. But the Libraries will be able to finesse with their copies unless there is the inducement to them of a cheaper edition in the same number of volumes.
I think therefore it should be expressly advertised as "The Guinea Edition." We both think a plain cover desirable. Could it not be made to range tolerably with the 12/- edition of the works? Same color and almost same size?
The Times is only of use as an advertisement and if it came out with our advertisement of a guinea edition might help us.
If you don't take a flight in the [Flying Scotchman] I will write you a programme of the Key.
Ever yours
G. H. L.
Signature
G. H. L.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to John Blackwood, London, 8 January 1873, 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/94700