John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 February 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 February 1857
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 February 1857
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1857-02-16
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 February 1857
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 16/57.
My Dear George Eliot
I inclose proof of the first part of Mr. Gilfil with which I am very greatly delighted. The proof fully confirms the impression made by the M.S. The first eight pages in particular are bright, lifelike, and witty as may be. Many men write well and tell a story well, but few possess the art of giving individuality to their characters so happily and easily as you in both these stories. I think Mr. Gilfil is likely to be more generally popular than Amos and I have no qualms in starting him without seeing the conclusion.
On the proof I have made some marks in regard to which I shall be very glad if you agree with me. The last marks affect 'abrather seriously'bb the plot of the story but I think my objections may be obviated without any serious alteration of the plan. It is not a pleasant picture to see a good fellow loving on when the lady's heart is openly devoted to a Jackanapes, and I am a little puzzled as to how you are to bring the excellent Gilfil out 'abunless'bb without making him too abjectly devoted a lover for a man of character. I think the objection would be readily met by making Caterina a little less openly devoted to Wybrow and giving a little more dignity to her character. Understand that I by no means object to her; on the contrary I think that she promises to be most interesting and I look with great anxiety for the picture of her half-broken heart turning to Gilfil. I hope she finally rejects the insufferable Wybrow -- but I must not speculate upon your plot, and if I am wrong in my opinions about the demeanour of Caterina with Wybrow recollect that I write to some extent in the dark.
I have not been able to get part 2 into type yet but I read it with very great pleasure and I do not recollect of any passage that moved my critical censorship unless it might be the allusion to dirt in common with your heroine 797 and the cool proceeding of Wybrow at the close of the part. 798
Let me have back proof as soon as you can, and with many congratulations on your success believe me very sincerely yours
John Blackwood.
To the Author of Clerical Scenes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 16/57.
My Dear George Eliot
I inclose proof of the first part of Mr. Gilfil with which I am very greatly delighted. The proof fully confirms the impression made by the M.S. The first eight pages in particular are bright, lifelike, and witty as may be. Many men write well and tell a story well, but few possess the art of giving individuality to their characters so happily and easily as you in both these stories. I think Mr. Gilfil is likely to be more generally popular than Amos and I have no qualms in starting him without seeing the conclusion.
On the proof I have made some marks in regard to which I shall be very glad if you agree with me. The last marks affect 'abrather seriously'bb the plot of the story but I think my objections may be obviated without any serious alteration of the plan. It is not a pleasant picture to see a good fellow loving on when the lady's heart is openly devoted to a Jackanapes, and I am a little puzzled as to how you are to bring the excellent Gilfil out 'abunless'bb without making him too abjectly devoted a lover for a man of character. I think the objection would be readily met by making Caterina a little less openly devoted to Wybrow and giving a little more dignity to her character. Understand that I by no means object to her; on the contrary I think that she promises to be most interesting and I look with great anxiety for the picture of her half-broken heart turning to Gilfil. I hope she finally rejects the insufferable Wybrow -- but I must not speculate upon your plot, and if I am wrong in my opinions about the demeanour of Caterina with Wybrow recollect that I write to some extent in the dark.
I have not been able to get part 2 into type yet but I read it with very great pleasure and I do not recollect of any passage that moved my critical censorship unless it might be the allusion to dirt in common with your heroine 797 and the cool proceeding of Wybrow at the close of the part. 798
Let me have back proof as soon as you can, and with many congratulations on your success believe me very sincerely yours
John Blackwood.
To the Author of Clerical Scenes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 February 1857, 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/95196