Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 15 September 1871
Title
Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 15 September 1871
Title
Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 15 September 1871
Sender
Joseph Munt Langford
Recipient
John Blackwood
Date(s)
- 1871-09-15
Place
London
Letter Content
Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 15 September 1871
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Paternoster Row | September 15th 1871.
My dear Sir,
Thanks for the pleasant communication from Lewes. His attack of gout must be an obstinate one. 362
As to the form of publishing the George Eliot story there is something to be considered. I do not see that the plan proposed offers or even appears to offer any special temptation to the public to induce them to buy instead of to hire. The parts will look only like halves of a rather thin and dear, ordinary novel volume -- just as complete in cloth we now sell to the libraries at 6/. My impression is that there should be some variety of form to divert the attention of the public from such a comparison as I suggest. This would be gained by printing in demy 8vo. If you could get hold of the original edition of Les Miserables which made, if I recollect rightly, 10 vo[lume]s you would see what I mean. The paper I think was of a loose spongy texture so as to give thickness to the volume. The public want quantity for their money but might be satisfied with the appearance of it, or with novelty in form.
Mr. Watson 363 had occurred to me when I suggested an agent for the advt. sheet. . . .
I am, My Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully
J. M. Langford.
Wm. Blackwood Esq.
MS: National Library of Scotland. Hitherto unpublished.
Paternoster Row | September 15th 1871.
My dear Sir,
Thanks for the pleasant communication from Lewes. His attack of gout must be an obstinate one. 362
As to the form of publishing the George Eliot story there is something to be considered. I do not see that the plan proposed offers or even appears to offer any special temptation to the public to induce them to buy instead of to hire. The parts will look only like halves of a rather thin and dear, ordinary novel volume -- just as complete in cloth we now sell to the libraries at 6/. My impression is that there should be some variety of form to divert the attention of the public from such a comparison as I suggest. This would be gained by printing in demy 8vo. If you could get hold of the original edition of Les Miserables which made, if I recollect rightly, 10 vo[lume]s you would see what I mean. The paper I think was of a loose spongy texture so as to give thickness to the volume. The public want quantity for their money but might be satisfied with the appearance of it, or with novelty in form.
Mr. Watson 363 had occurred to me when I suggested an agent for the advt. sheet. . . .
I am, My Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully
J. M. Langford.
Wm. Blackwood Esq.
Signature
J. M. Langford.
Citation
Joseph Munt Langford, Joseph Munt Langford to John Blackwood, London, 15 September 1871, 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/95515