John Blackwood to William Blackwood, London, 18 May 1876
Title
John Blackwood to William Blackwood, London, 18 May 1876
Title
John Blackwood to William Blackwood, London, 18 May 1876
Sender
John Blackwood
Recipient
William Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1876-05-18
Place
London
Letter Content
John Blackwood to William Blackwood, London, 18 May 1876
MS: National Library of Scotland. Brief extract published: John Blackwood, p. 372.
Arlington St. | May 18/76.
My Dear Willie . . .
Langford is in great form and I think looking better since his gout. He is thinner but not too much pulled down by any means. . . .
Larrie Oliphant came in immediately after breakfast and we had a very long chat and laugh. He has a scheme for a paper which I shall work hard to get him to write, the autobiography of a joint stock company. 478 It might take the tide. . . .
I had a long and most pleasant visit to Charles Reade. He is a thorough gentleman and we shall pull together like men. When I left I said I was so glad we had come together at last and he replied "The good fortune is mine." When I went in, an old lady bustled out of the room. 479 He was busy writing and said I found him like a good boy at his work.
From him I went to the Priory where I was rapturously received and remained for about an hour and a half. She was looking a little worn and I think Lewes fidgets her in his anxiety both about her and her work and himself. She says she never reads any review, but she certainly hears plentifully all that is said or written in London on the subject of Deronda. She remarked that it was hard upon her that people should be angry with her for not doing what they expected with her characters, and if people were no wiser in their speculations about more serious subjects such as theories of creation and the world than they were about the characters one poor woman was creating it did not say much for human wisdom. These are not her exact words but the meaning was how vain and foolish was the wisdom of the wise with their dogmas about what they could not know.
She did not wish me to read in M.S. here, so told me she had sent M.S. of portion of book off to Edinb. Have it up soon.
Is part 4 of C. Reade not ready yet?
ever yours affectionately
John Blackwood.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Brief extract published: John Blackwood, p. 372.
Arlington St. | May 18/76.
My Dear Willie . . .
Langford is in great form and I think looking better since his gout. He is thinner but not too much pulled down by any means. . . .
Larrie Oliphant came in immediately after breakfast and we had a very long chat and laugh. He has a scheme for a paper which I shall work hard to get him to write, the autobiography of a joint stock company. 478 It might take the tide. . . .
I had a long and most pleasant visit to Charles Reade. He is a thorough gentleman and we shall pull together like men. When I left I said I was so glad we had come together at last and he replied "The good fortune is mine." When I went in, an old lady bustled out of the room. 479 He was busy writing and said I found him like a good boy at his work.
From him I went to the Priory where I was rapturously received and remained for about an hour and a half. She was looking a little worn and I think Lewes fidgets her in his anxiety both about her and her work and himself. She says she never reads any review, but she certainly hears plentifully all that is said or written in London on the subject of Deronda. She remarked that it was hard upon her that people should be angry with her for not doing what they expected with her characters, and if people were no wiser in their speculations about more serious subjects such as theories of creation and the world than they were about the characters one poor woman was creating it did not say much for human wisdom. These are not her exact words but the meaning was how vain and foolish was the wisdom of the wise with their dogmas about what they could not know.
She did not wish me to read in M.S. here, so told me she had sent M.S. of portion of book off to Edinb. Have it up soon.
Is part 4 of C. Reade not ready yet?
ever yours affectionately
John Blackwood.
Signature
John Blackwood.
Citation
John Blackwood, John Blackwood to William Blackwood, London, 18 May 1876, 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/95466