John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 March 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 March 1859
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 March 1859
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1859-03-16
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 March 1859
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | March 16/59.
My Dear Sir
I think I may now fairly congratulate you upon being a popular as well as a great author.
We printed 2090 65 of Adam Bede and with the aid of the insatiable Mudie we have disposed of upwards of 1800, so a second edition is now a certainty. 66 The question is in what form should it be: 2 volumes small 8'b0ree; 12/ or another short edition in the present shape. The two vol. 12/- must be the form one day even as intermediate to a people's edition for which I have a strong inclination so I think we had better set about printing the two volume edition at once to be ready. If the dregs of the first edition go off very quickly I suppose we must treat the public to another 3 volume edition. 67 Let me hear what Lewes and you think.
Your triumph is a great one and I do heartily rejoice in it. The sale is nothing to the ring of applause that I hear in all directions. The only qualm that ever came across me as to the success of the book was that really to enjoy it I required to give my mind to it and I trembled for that large section of Novel readers who have little or no mind to give, but now I think the general applause is fairly enlisting even noodles.
I was delighted by an allusion in one of Lewes' notes to your being engaged in a new Tale. 68 Pray let me hear about this. Inclosed are a couple of letters from worshippers 69 I suppose.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | March 16/59.
My Dear Sir
I think I may now fairly congratulate you upon being a popular as well as a great author.
We printed 2090 65 of Adam Bede and with the aid of the insatiable Mudie we have disposed of upwards of 1800, so a second edition is now a certainty. 66 The question is in what form should it be: 2 volumes small 8'b0ree; 12/ or another short edition in the present shape. The two vol. 12/- must be the form one day even as intermediate to a people's edition for which I have a strong inclination so I think we had better set about printing the two volume edition at once to be ready. If the dregs of the first edition go off very quickly I suppose we must treat the public to another 3 volume edition. 67 Let me hear what Lewes and you think.
Your triumph is a great one and I do heartily rejoice in it. The sale is nothing to the ring of applause that I hear in all directions. The only qualm that ever came across me as to the success of the book was that really to enjoy it I required to give my mind to it and I trembled for that large section of Novel readers who have little or no mind to give, but now I think the general applause is fairly enlisting even noodles.
I was delighted by an allusion in one of Lewes' notes to your being engaged in a new Tale. 68 Pray let me hear about this. Inclosed are a couple of letters from worshippers 69 I suppose.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 16 March 1859, 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/95197