John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 February 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 February 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 February 1860
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1860-02-20
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 February 1860
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 20/60.
My Dear Madam
I inclose another letter from Geneva. The "quelque importance" will I fear only apply to "Adele Roch." Volunteer correspondents rarely see that what is of importance to them may be totally uninteresting to the person whom they take the liberty of addressing.
I went out of town on the day the last proofs were sent to you, otherwise I would have written you a line. I had nothing however to say except that I had read to the end of the volume with continued delight. Tom's life at Stelling's is perfect. 483 It is perfectly wonderful how you have been able to realise the boy's feelings. Men will read it like reminiscences of what they themselves felt -- suffered. Uncle Pullet makes me laugh uncommonly, and my boy is generally addressed as "Young Sir" now. 484
I read the M.S. of volume 2 with keen interest. The darkening of old Tulliver's days and the whole scene drearily settling over the Mill form a very pathetic picture. I shall be glad when sunshine brings Tom more back to young life. I wish noble Maggie had a more goodly lover, 485 but I doubt not you are as right as can be, and she does not seem really in love. The ground is beautifully laid for the third volume and my expectations are great.
Mudie's threatened op[p]osition will melt under the sense of his own interest. It is quite natural that he should wish to have the book at a cheaper rate and his proposition is a good sign.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | February 20/60.
My Dear Madam
I inclose another letter from Geneva. The "quelque importance" will I fear only apply to "Adele Roch." Volunteer correspondents rarely see that what is of importance to them may be totally uninteresting to the person whom they take the liberty of addressing.
I went out of town on the day the last proofs were sent to you, otherwise I would have written you a line. I had nothing however to say except that I had read to the end of the volume with continued delight. Tom's life at Stelling's is perfect. 483 It is perfectly wonderful how you have been able to realise the boy's feelings. Men will read it like reminiscences of what they themselves felt -- suffered. Uncle Pullet makes me laugh uncommonly, and my boy is generally addressed as "Young Sir" now. 484
I read the M.S. of volume 2 with keen interest. The darkening of old Tulliver's days and the whole scene drearily settling over the Mill form a very pathetic picture. I shall be glad when sunshine brings Tom more back to young life. I wish noble Maggie had a more goodly lover, 485 but I doubt not you are as right as can be, and she does not seem really in love. The ground is beautifully laid for the third volume and my expectations are great.
Mudie's threatened op[p]osition will melt under the sense of his own interest. It is quite natural that he should wish to have the book at a cheaper rate and his proposition is a good sign.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 20 February 1860, 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/95214