Smith, George Barnett (1841-1909)
Title
Smith, George Barnett (1841-1909)
Description
George Smith published Romola after luring George Eliot away from Blackwood and Sons with a 10,000-pound offer, which, according to George Henry Lewes, was the highest payment offered to any author at the time. After negotiating terms, Eliot accepted 7,000 pounds. Smith also hired Lewes as editor of the Fortnightly Review, which he owned. Neither Eliot's novel nor the journal under Lewes were profitable, so the business relationship soured, though the three remained friendly. When Eliot finished her next novel, Felix Holt, the Radical, Smith rejected it (according to his own accounts), leading Eliot to return to Blackwood, with whom she would publish all her remaining works.
Publisher
George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org
Letters Exchanged
To:
GE to George Smith, London, 10 July 1862
GE to George Smith, London, 17 July 1862
GE to George Smith, London, [25 July 1862]
GE to George Smith, London, 10 March 1863
GE to George Smith, London, 8 March 1864
GE to George Smith, London, 8 January 1865
GE to George Smith, London, 13 March 1866
GE to George Smith, London, 23 December 1866
GE to George Smith, London, 26 July 1867
GE to George Smith, London, 14 October 1867
GE to George Smith, London, 2 January 1875
GE to George Smith, London, 4 February 1880
GE to George Smith, Witley, 25 September 1880
GHL to George Smith, Biarritz, 26 January 1867
GE to George Smith, Biarritz, [26 January 1867]
GHL to George Smith, London, 25 December 1867
GE to George Smith, Bonn, 1 June 1868
GHL to George Smith, London, [29 November 1872]
GHL to George Smith, London, 11? December 1872
GHL to George Smith, London, 29 December [1872]
GHL to George Smith, London, [January 1873]
GHL to George Smith, London, [1873?]
GHL to George Smith, London, [10 June 1875]
GE to George Smith, London, 2 January 1877
GE to George Smith, London, 11 February 1880
From:
George Smith to GE, London, 3 May 1864
GE to George Smith, London, 10 July 1862
GE to George Smith, London, 17 July 1862
GE to George Smith, London, [25 July 1862]
GE to George Smith, London, 10 March 1863
GE to George Smith, London, 8 March 1864
GE to George Smith, London, 8 January 1865
GE to George Smith, London, 13 March 1866
GE to George Smith, London, 23 December 1866
GE to George Smith, London, 26 July 1867
GE to George Smith, London, 14 October 1867
GE to George Smith, London, 2 January 1875
GE to George Smith, London, 4 February 1880
GE to George Smith, Witley, 25 September 1880
GHL to George Smith, Biarritz, 26 January 1867
GE to George Smith, Biarritz, [26 January 1867]
GHL to George Smith, London, 25 December 1867
GE to George Smith, Bonn, 1 June 1868
GHL to George Smith, London, [29 November 1872]
GHL to George Smith, London, 11? December 1872
GHL to George Smith, London, 29 December [1872]
GHL to George Smith, London, [January 1873]
GHL to George Smith, London, [1873?]
GHL to George Smith, London, [10 June 1875]
GE to George Smith, London, 2 January 1877
GE to George Smith, London, 11 February 1880
From:
George Smith to GE, London, 3 May 1864
Image
For more information
Citation
George Barnett Smith (1841-1909), Smith, George Barnett (1841-1909), Social Network Gallery, George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett, https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed November 11, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/97139