Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 11 March 1872
Title
Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 11 March 1872
Title
Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 11 March 1872
Sender
Joseph Munt Langford
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1872-03-11
Place
London
Letter Content
Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 11 March 1872
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Paternoster Row | March 11th 1872.
My dear Sir . . .
The Third Book of Middlemarch seems to me first-rate -- as good as anything she has written. The number and variety of characters each clear and distinct and standing on its own legs are perfectly marvellous; -- down to the Vet and Mr. Bowyer "hoping somebody will invite him to dinner" 473 one feels them all to be true to life. The death of old Featherstone is most powerful. She is wonderful in the faculty, when she has to be forcible, of getting at the right word and phrase directly and without beating about the bush for strong language. There is no hesitation or doubt when the blow has to be struck at the imagination. The humorous touches are delicious -- what a group the family in waiting is. One thing I do not like is the habit of putting her characters at a distance as if to look at them and then making remarks on them.
The sale of Maga this month is most satisfactory and it is such a good number. . . . There is no special feature in the sales generally; they are steady and satisfactory. I am, My dear Sir
Yours respectfully
J. M. Langford.
John Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Paternoster Row | March 11th 1872.
My dear Sir . . .
The Third Book of Middlemarch seems to me first-rate -- as good as anything she has written. The number and variety of characters each clear and distinct and standing on its own legs are perfectly marvellous; -- down to the Vet and Mr. Bowyer "hoping somebody will invite him to dinner" 473 one feels them all to be true to life. The death of old Featherstone is most powerful. She is wonderful in the faculty, when she has to be forcible, of getting at the right word and phrase directly and without beating about the bush for strong language. There is no hesitation or doubt when the blow has to be struck at the imagination. The humorous touches are delicious -- what a group the family in waiting is. One thing I do not like is the habit of putting her characters at a distance as if to look at them and then making remarks on them.
The sale of Maga this month is most satisfactory and it is such a good number. . . . There is no special feature in the sales generally; they are steady and satisfactory. I am, My dear Sir
Yours respectfully
J. M. Langford.
John Blackwood Esq.
Signature
J. M. Langford.
Citation
Joseph Munt Langford, Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 11 March 1872, 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/95513