John Blackwood to GE, London, 7 June 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, London, 7 June 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, London, 7 June 1858
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1858-06-07
Place
London
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, London, 7 June 1858
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Cavendish, Jermyn St. | June 7/58.
My Dear Sir
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter and also Lewes'. The sales in Scotland make up the demand for the Scenes to the number you supposed so there is no occasion for gloom, although considering the excellence of the book, the opinion formed of it, and the opinion expressed by the newspapers etc., one would have been inclined to bet that double the number would have been sold by this time.
Still the great point is attained, the reputation made, which will bring your next work an audience at once prepared to admire. You would see too from the number we printed that I did not calculate upon a very large sale. My impression was that the general public were not fairly caught, although by what process I arrived at this opinion I cannot tell as it was quite against my own conviction of the merits of your admirable stories.
I sent a copy of the Saturday Review to Lewes containing a highly laudatory notice. I hope[d] it would reach you as the praise was hearty and the description of the author would amuse you highly. 1149 The secret is well kept and it is of the utmost importance that it should continue so.
How does Adam Bede progress? I long to see more of him -- in a week I hope to be out of this red hot Babel and back in Scotland with famous time for reading.
You will I doubt not see the Revue des Deux Mondes 1150 at Munich.
There is not much merit in the Review, although the sketch of the stories is given with tolerable fidelity and it is a compliment to have a paper of that length on your book in the only good French periodical.
Tell Lewes that I have paid £20 to his account at the Union in acknowledgment of Blood pt. 1. As I write, it flashes across me that the Major (my brother) 1151 may not know or remember that part 2 is among the M.S.S. I left at home, but I write to him about it today.
Your account of Munich tallies very much with my own recollection of the place. With the exception of the Gallery I thought it had neither the merits of Germany nor Italy. Still I think you will find a good many studies for heads in the Italian story you have in view. 1152
London is very hot and very full. People seem too busy to read anything but the newspapers. I am sure Lewes is right in thinking this a bad residence for a literary man. Thackeray would I think do well to select some quiet retreat in the country. With best regards to Lewes, Believe me
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
I have desired a copy of the Magazine to be sent to you. I wish you to read the article on Religious Memoirs 1153 which I think particularly good.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
The Cavendish, Jermyn St. | June 7/58.
My Dear Sir
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter and also Lewes'. The sales in Scotland make up the demand for the Scenes to the number you supposed so there is no occasion for gloom, although considering the excellence of the book, the opinion formed of it, and the opinion expressed by the newspapers etc., one would have been inclined to bet that double the number would have been sold by this time.
Still the great point is attained, the reputation made, which will bring your next work an audience at once prepared to admire. You would see too from the number we printed that I did not calculate upon a very large sale. My impression was that the general public were not fairly caught, although by what process I arrived at this opinion I cannot tell as it was quite against my own conviction of the merits of your admirable stories.
I sent a copy of the Saturday Review to Lewes containing a highly laudatory notice. I hope[d] it would reach you as the praise was hearty and the description of the author would amuse you highly. 1149 The secret is well kept and it is of the utmost importance that it should continue so.
How does Adam Bede progress? I long to see more of him -- in a week I hope to be out of this red hot Babel and back in Scotland with famous time for reading.
You will I doubt not see the Revue des Deux Mondes 1150 at Munich.
There is not much merit in the Review, although the sketch of the stories is given with tolerable fidelity and it is a compliment to have a paper of that length on your book in the only good French periodical.
Tell Lewes that I have paid £20 to his account at the Union in acknowledgment of Blood pt. 1. As I write, it flashes across me that the Major (my brother) 1151 may not know or remember that part 2 is among the M.S.S. I left at home, but I write to him about it today.
Your account of Munich tallies very much with my own recollection of the place. With the exception of the Gallery I thought it had neither the merits of Germany nor Italy. Still I think you will find a good many studies for heads in the Italian story you have in view. 1152
London is very hot and very full. People seem too busy to read anything but the newspapers. I am sure Lewes is right in thinking this a bad residence for a literary man. Thackeray would I think do well to select some quiet retreat in the country. With best regards to Lewes, Believe me
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
I have desired a copy of the Magazine to be sent to you. I wish you to read the article on Religious Memoirs 1153 which I think particularly good.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, London, 7 June 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/95317