John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 April 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 April 1876
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 April 1876
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1876-04-17
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 April 1876
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 394.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
April 17/76.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
Proofs of Book Seven go to you by this post. I can hardly venture to speak about it and as for criticism, I should as soon think of regaling you with comments upon one of the great Greek Tragedies. This Book is so powerful as to be very terrible. What a pain must have been Deronda's in that interview with his mother 450 and how directly and simply does the language bring it home to the reader.
I was nearly as uneasy as Deronda while Gwendolen went on with her confession. 451 The words of old Elspeth in the Antiquary came irresistibly to my mind: "An' Murder tirlit at the door if it cam na' ben." 452
No wonder Deronda felt "worn" 453 at the close of the interview. I can hardly imagine any one reading without being carried away and feeling upset, and what must be the strain of thinking and writing out such a scene. Much as I know of the conscientious pain and anxiety you go through in the construction of your great works, I never felt more deeply and sympathisingly with you in your labours than I did last night in reading this Book 7 of Daniel, and it was for the second time, as I had not been able to resist reading the M.S. before I sent it into the Printing Office. But the glory is great and I trust the labour with this work is nearly over.
I think I hear and see Lewes over the proofs and hoping this may find you well and happy, I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
P.S. I must tell you I sent for a Hebrew Dictionary to look up the word tephillin 454 but to my shame I could not make out the letters and the dunderhead of a German who compiled the book had not given a relative table of English and Hebrew letters.
You were quite right as to Lush saying he would "take odds." He was not in such a happy and sanguine state as to say he would lay odds, but as to that you are the only judge, as you alone knew his exact feelings.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 394.
George Street, | Edinburgh.
April 17/76.
My Dear Mrs. Lewes
Proofs of Book Seven go to you by this post. I can hardly venture to speak about it and as for criticism, I should as soon think of regaling you with comments upon one of the great Greek Tragedies. This Book is so powerful as to be very terrible. What a pain must have been Deronda's in that interview with his mother 450 and how directly and simply does the language bring it home to the reader.
I was nearly as uneasy as Deronda while Gwendolen went on with her confession. 451 The words of old Elspeth in the Antiquary came irresistibly to my mind: "An' Murder tirlit at the door if it cam na' ben." 452
No wonder Deronda felt "worn" 453 at the close of the interview. I can hardly imagine any one reading without being carried away and feeling upset, and what must be the strain of thinking and writing out such a scene. Much as I know of the conscientious pain and anxiety you go through in the construction of your great works, I never felt more deeply and sympathisingly with you in your labours than I did last night in reading this Book 7 of Daniel, and it was for the second time, as I had not been able to resist reading the M.S. before I sent it into the Printing Office. But the glory is great and I trust the labour with this work is nearly over.
I think I hear and see Lewes over the proofs and hoping this may find you well and happy, I am
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
P.S. I must tell you I sent for a Hebrew Dictionary to look up the word tephillin 454 but to my shame I could not make out the letters and the dunderhead of a German who compiled the book had not given a relative table of English and Hebrew letters.
You were quite right as to Lush saying he would "take odds." He was not in such a happy and sanguine state as to say he would lay odds, but as to that you are the only judge, as you alone knew his exact feelings.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 17 April 1876, 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/95199