John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 20 April 1866
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 20 April 1866
Title
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 20 April 1866
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1866-04-20
Place
Edinburgh
Letter Content
John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 20 April 1866
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | April 20/66.
My Dear Lewes
I am delighted to hear that Mrs. Lewes has so nearly finished her Novel and also much pleased that she should think in the first instance of her old friend as the publisher. 429
That such a Novel as you describe by her will be first rate I have no manner of doubt but it would be against the principle upon which I really enter into and take a pleasure in my own business were I to decide finally on such a matter without having some opportunity of forming an opinion of the book by seeing a volume or so. I think she knows me well enough not to object to this and I would give an answer within a couple of days after receiving the M.S.
As to what my opinion will be I feel nearly certain and the more serious matter is the terms.
I contemplate giving from four to five thousand Pounds for the copyright for five years from date of publication and if this does not come up to your ideas I cannot see my way to anything like a fair chance of making the transaction remunerative by giving more. Of course I understand that it is a novel of the ordinary length in three volumes. I should like of all things to publish another great success by George Eliot and I do hope we may be able to agree about terms.
Will you give her my regards and tell her that I have been thinking so much of her Novel since receiving your note that I have found it very difficult to attend to my ordinary work, of which I have more than enough at this period of the month.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Edinburgh | April 20/66.
My Dear Lewes
I am delighted to hear that Mrs. Lewes has so nearly finished her Novel and also much pleased that she should think in the first instance of her old friend as the publisher. 429
That such a Novel as you describe by her will be first rate I have no manner of doubt but it would be against the principle upon which I really enter into and take a pleasure in my own business were I to decide finally on such a matter without having some opportunity of forming an opinion of the book by seeing a volume or so. I think she knows me well enough not to object to this and I would give an answer within a couple of days after receiving the M.S.
As to what my opinion will be I feel nearly certain and the more serious matter is the terms.
I contemplate giving from four to five thousand Pounds for the copyright for five years from date of publication and if this does not come up to your ideas I cannot see my way to anything like a fair chance of making the transaction remunerative by giving more. Of course I understand that it is a novel of the ordinary length in three volumes. I should like of all things to publish another great success by George Eliot and I do hope we may be able to agree about terms.
Will you give her my regards and tell her that I have been thinking so much of her Novel since receiving your note that I have found it very difficult to attend to my ordinary work, of which I have more than enough at this period of the month.
always yours truly
John Blackwood.
G. H. Lewes Esq.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to GHL, Edinburgh, 20 April 1866, 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/95383