John Blackwood to GE, St. andrews, 4 October 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, St. andrews, 4 October 1858
Title
John Blackwood to GE, St. andrews, 4 October 1858
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Eliot
Date(s)
- 1858-10-04
Place
St. andrews
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GE, St. andrews, 4 October 1858
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 47.
St. Andrews | October 4/58.
My Dear Sir
You would feel that I could not do otherwise than like the second volume of Adam Bede otherwise I should not have been guilty of so long a silence as to its merits, although my house has been so full of visitors during the last few weeks that I have had the greatest difficulty in finding any time to read, think, or write.
The story is a very striking one and I cannot recollect anything at all of the same kind. I long to see how you will work it out.
You may be sure that I shall sit down to the third volume the moment I get the M.S. and you shall have no cause for impatience to hear from me about it.
Hetty is a wonderful piece of painting. One seems to see the little villain. She is painted in such irresistible colours that I am very sorry for the well intentioned Arthur. One feels that there is no chance of escape for any youth of his age unless he takes to his heels.
I have thought a great deal over the encounter between Adam and Arthur, 1193 indeed I daresay it is pondering over that scene which has prevented me from sooner sitting down to write to you. The picture of Adam's feelings before he gets the fatal glimpse of the scene in the wood is perfection. The point is worked up to with wonderful skill. It is very difficult to imagine what would happen between any two men brought so suddenly into such a total revulsion of feelings and change of relative positions as happens to Adam and Arthur, but on the whole I think you have hit the mark and sustained in a very trying climax the characters of the two men you are drawing. I am ashamed of myself for not feeling more sorry for Adam, but I have no doubt the sympathies will gather round him keenly when the full force of his affliction comes upon him and the tender and stern fibres in his heart of oak fairly begin to struggle.
Mrs. Poyser is excellent as also her husband and the children, or rather child. I am puzzled as to what the wicked old Squire is up to.
There can be no doubt that the book will be successful but the degree of success will depend very much upon the third volume, so I think the best plan will be to leave our final arrangements for publication, number of copies to be printed, etc. etc. until the book is finished. The printing will occupy very little time and it would not save much to begin until you could give your undivided attention to the proofs.
I inclose Mr. Froude's note which is very gratifying. I write him a line embodying your message which will probably bring another outpouring from him.
Give my regards to Lewes when you see him and say that I shall write to him from Edinburgh where I intend to be tomorrow. Hoping soon to congratulate you on the completion of Adam, Believe me
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Extract published: John Blackwood, p. 47.
St. Andrews | October 4/58.
My Dear Sir
You would feel that I could not do otherwise than like the second volume of Adam Bede otherwise I should not have been guilty of so long a silence as to its merits, although my house has been so full of visitors during the last few weeks that I have had the greatest difficulty in finding any time to read, think, or write.
The story is a very striking one and I cannot recollect anything at all of the same kind. I long to see how you will work it out.
You may be sure that I shall sit down to the third volume the moment I get the M.S. and you shall have no cause for impatience to hear from me about it.
Hetty is a wonderful piece of painting. One seems to see the little villain. She is painted in such irresistible colours that I am very sorry for the well intentioned Arthur. One feels that there is no chance of escape for any youth of his age unless he takes to his heels.
I have thought a great deal over the encounter between Adam and Arthur, 1193 indeed I daresay it is pondering over that scene which has prevented me from sooner sitting down to write to you. The picture of Adam's feelings before he gets the fatal glimpse of the scene in the wood is perfection. The point is worked up to with wonderful skill. It is very difficult to imagine what would happen between any two men brought so suddenly into such a total revulsion of feelings and change of relative positions as happens to Adam and Arthur, but on the whole I think you have hit the mark and sustained in a very trying climax the characters of the two men you are drawing. I am ashamed of myself for not feeling more sorry for Adam, but I have no doubt the sympathies will gather round him keenly when the full force of his affliction comes upon him and the tender and stern fibres in his heart of oak fairly begin to struggle.
Mrs. Poyser is excellent as also her husband and the children, or rather child. I am puzzled as to what the wicked old Squire is up to.
There can be no doubt that the book will be successful but the degree of success will depend very much upon the third volume, so I think the best plan will be to leave our final arrangements for publication, number of copies to be printed, etc. etc. until the book is finished. The printing will occupy very little time and it would not save much to begin until you could give your undivided attention to the proofs.
I inclose Mr. Froude's note which is very gratifying. I write him a line embodying your message which will probably bring another outpouring from him.
Give my regards to Lewes when you see him and say that I shall write to him from Edinburgh where I intend to be tomorrow. Hoping soon to congratulate you on the completion of Adam, Believe me
ever yours truly
John Blackwood.
George Eliot Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GE, St. andrews, 4 October 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/95340