John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 March 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 March 1860
Title
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 March 1860
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1860-03-07
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 March 1860
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh March 7/60.
My Dear Madam
I had intended not to read the M.S. of volume 3 as it would be in print so soon but I could not help myself. I took up the first page and of course never halted till it was finished and then sighed for more. 499
I am indeed wearying for the rest and feel the misfortunes impending on Maggie like a personal grief. The moment I saw Stephen Guest and Lucy sitting together 500 I felt that there was the element which I had missed in the probable form of the coming tragedy. This third volume will be perfectly fascinating.
So intensely real is it that I am not sure whether I did not exclaim aloud "Why the devil is she putting poor Maggie into a position where she would be more than human if she did not come to grief." It is a most wonderful performance and I feel satisfied that the interest is coming to a very grand culmination. The second vol. too winds up very beautifully with poor old Tulliver's death. 501 That scene is most effective and affecting.
My nephew Willie 502 writes that from what he knows he thinks 4000 will be too small a number. 503 We will however take care to feed the public appetite.
I hope you will see Willie and that he will be able to report you as well in the midst of your tragic work. He probably may be able to tell that all is finished.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh March 7/60.
My Dear Madam
I had intended not to read the M.S. of volume 3 as it would be in print so soon but I could not help myself. I took up the first page and of course never halted till it was finished and then sighed for more. 499
I am indeed wearying for the rest and feel the misfortunes impending on Maggie like a personal grief. The moment I saw Stephen Guest and Lucy sitting together 500 I felt that there was the element which I had missed in the probable form of the coming tragedy. This third volume will be perfectly fascinating.
So intensely real is it that I am not sure whether I did not exclaim aloud "Why the devil is she putting poor Maggie into a position where she would be more than human if she did not come to grief." It is a most wonderful performance and I feel satisfied that the interest is coming to a very grand culmination. The second vol. too winds up very beautifully with poor old Tulliver's death. 501 That scene is most effective and affecting.
My nephew Willie 502 writes that from what he knows he thinks 4000 will be too small a number. 503 We will however take care to feed the public appetite.
I hope you will see Willie and that he will be able to report you as well in the midst of your tragic work. He probably may be able to tell that all is finished.
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
Mrs. M. E. Lewes.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, Edinburgh, 7 March 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/95291