John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 3 November 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 3 November 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 3 November 1858
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1858-11-03
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 3 November 1858
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 48.
Edinburgh | November 3/58.
My Dear Sir
After writing to you on Saturday I fastened upon the 3d volume of Adam Bede 1209 and read the whole of the M.S. that afternoon. I am happy to tell you that I think it capital. I never saw such wonderful effects worked out by such a succession of simple and yet delicate and minute touches. Hetty's night in the fields 1210 is marvellous. I positively shuddered for her, poor creature, and I do not think the most thoughtless lad could read that horrible picture of her feelings and hopeless misery without being deeply moved.
Adam going to support her at the Trial 1211 is a noble touch. You really make him a gentle Man by that act. It is like giving him his spurs.
The way poor Hetty leans upon and clings to Dinah 1212 is beautiful. Mr. Irving 1213 is always good. So are the Poysers, lifelike as possible.
Dinah is a very striking and original character, always perfectly supported and never obtrusive in her piety. Very early in the book I took it into my head that it could be "borne in upon her" to fall in love with Adam. Arthur is the least satisfactory character but it is true too. The picture of his complacent happy feelings before the bomb shell bursts upon him 1214 is very good.
We have been trying pages so as to start with the printing immediately. The extent is not so great as I imagined and I cannot help thinking that our people have rather underestimated the quantity.
Inclosed I send our formal offer 1215 for the book which will I hope come up to your expectations and, congratulating you upon having worked out the climax of your story so splendidly, I am always,
yours very truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 48.
Edinburgh | November 3/58.
My Dear Sir
After writing to you on Saturday I fastened upon the 3d volume of Adam Bede 1209 and read the whole of the M.S. that afternoon. I am happy to tell you that I think it capital. I never saw such wonderful effects worked out by such a succession of simple and yet delicate and minute touches. Hetty's night in the fields 1210 is marvellous. I positively shuddered for her, poor creature, and I do not think the most thoughtless lad could read that horrible picture of her feelings and hopeless misery without being deeply moved.
Adam going to support her at the Trial 1211 is a noble touch. You really make him a gentle Man by that act. It is like giving him his spurs.
The way poor Hetty leans upon and clings to Dinah 1212 is beautiful. Mr. Irving 1213 is always good. So are the Poysers, lifelike as possible.
Dinah is a very striking and original character, always perfectly supported and never obtrusive in her piety. Very early in the book I took it into my head that it could be "borne in upon her" to fall in love with Adam. Arthur is the least satisfactory character but it is true too. The picture of his complacent happy feelings before the bomb shell bursts upon him 1214 is very good.
We have been trying pages so as to start with the printing immediately. The extent is not so great as I imagined and I cannot help thinking that our people have rather underestimated the quantity.
Inclosed I send our formal offer 1215 for the book which will I hope come up to your expectations and, congratulating you upon having worked out the climax of your story so splendidly, I am always,
yours very truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 3 November 1858, 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/95265