John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 12 November 1856
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 12 November 1856
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 12 November 1856
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1856-11-12
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 12 November 1856
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, I, 419-420.
Edinburgh | November 12 /56.
My Dear Sir
I am happy to say that I think your friend's reminiscences of Clerical Life will do. If there is any more of the series written I should like to see it, as until I saw more I could not make any decided proposition for the publication of the Tales in whole or in part in the Magazine. This first specimen Amos Barton is unquestionably very pleasant reading. Perhaps the author falls into the error of trying too much to explain the characters of his actors by descriptions instead of allowing them to evolve in the action of the story; but the descriptions are very humorous and good. The death of Milly is powerfully done and affected me much. I am not sure whether he does not spoil it a little by specifying so minutely the different children and their names.
The windup is perhaps the lamest part of the story and there too I think the defect is caused by the specifications as to the fortunes of parties of whom the reader has no previous knowledge and cannot consequently feel much interest. At first I was afraid that in the amusing reminiscences of childhood in church there was a want of some softening touch as the remembrance of a father or mother lends in after years to what was at the time considerable penance.
I hate anything of a sneer at real religious feeling as cordially as I despise anything like cant, and I should think this author is of the same way of thinking although his clergymen with one exception are not very attractive specimens of the body. The revulsion of feeling towards poor Amos is capitally drawn although the asinine stupidity of his conduct about the Countess had disposed one to kick him.
I daresay I shall have a more decided opinion as to the merits of the Story when I have looked at it again and thought over it, but in the meantime I am sure that there is a happy turn of expression throughout, also much humour and pathos. If the author is a new writer I beg to congratulate him on being worthy of the honours of print and pay. I shall be very glad to hear from you or him soon. I do not recollect your note proposing a short paper on the anemones but you may take the unintentional silence as consent. 762
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Published: Cross, I, 419-420.
Edinburgh | November 12 /56.
My Dear Sir
I am happy to say that I think your friend's reminiscences of Clerical Life will do. If there is any more of the series written I should like to see it, as until I saw more I could not make any decided proposition for the publication of the Tales in whole or in part in the Magazine. This first specimen Amos Barton is unquestionably very pleasant reading. Perhaps the author falls into the error of trying too much to explain the characters of his actors by descriptions instead of allowing them to evolve in the action of the story; but the descriptions are very humorous and good. The death of Milly is powerfully done and affected me much. I am not sure whether he does not spoil it a little by specifying so minutely the different children and their names.
The windup is perhaps the lamest part of the story and there too I think the defect is caused by the specifications as to the fortunes of parties of whom the reader has no previous knowledge and cannot consequently feel much interest. At first I was afraid that in the amusing reminiscences of childhood in church there was a want of some softening touch as the remembrance of a father or mother lends in after years to what was at the time considerable penance.
I hate anything of a sneer at real religious feeling as cordially as I despise anything like cant, and I should think this author is of the same way of thinking although his clergymen with one exception are not very attractive specimens of the body. The revulsion of feeling towards poor Amos is capitally drawn although the asinine stupidity of his conduct about the Countess had disposed one to kick him.
I daresay I shall have a more decided opinion as to the merits of the Story when I have looked at it again and thought over it, but in the meantime I am sure that there is a happy turn of expression throughout, also much humour and pathos. If the author is a new writer I beg to congratulate him on being worthy of the honours of print and pay. I shall be very glad to hear from you or him soon. I do not recollect your note proposing a short paper on the anemones but you may take the unintentional silence as consent. 762
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 12 November 1856, 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/95361