Beschreibung:

ELIOT, George [i.e. Marian Evans (1819-1880)]. Series of 9 autograph letters signed ('George Eliot' (1), 'Marian Evans Lewes' (1), 'Marian E. Lewes' (1), 'M.E. Lewes' (6)) to Anne ['Nannie'] Leigh Smith The Priory, Regents Park, Holly Lodge and n.p., 2 July 1859 - 31 August 1873 and n.d., one in purple ink, together approximately 32 pages, 8vo , seven envelopes; with a letter by G.H. Lewes to the same recipient, n.d.
ELIOT, George [i.e. Marian Evans (1819-1880)]. Series of 9 autograph letters signed ('George Eliot' (1), 'Marian Evans Lewes' (1), 'Marian E. Lewes' (1), 'M.E. Lewes' (6)) to Anne ['Nannie'] Leigh Smith The Priory, Regents Park, Holly Lodge and n.p., 2 July 1859 - 31 August 1873 and n.d., one in purple ink, together approximately 32 pages, 8vo , seven envelopes; with a letter by G.H. Lewes to the same recipient, n.d. 'I AM NOT A PERSON TO UNDERVALUE JAM.' An affectionate, illuminating series to an artist, the sister of her closest friend, Barbara Bodichon. The first letter (signed as 'George Eliot') is evidently the beginning of the acquaintance, and thanks Nannie for unsolicited praise, and the gift of a picture: 'You are the first person in the world ... who has said to me, "I am more glad of Adam Bede because it is yours"'. The second letter also responds to a gift, of jam, 'you know from my books that I am not a person to undervalue jam for its own sake, & that it is part of my creed to reverence eating & drinking'. Later letters compare the weather in London and Rome (where Nannie is living), commenting with particular disfavour on London's 'oppressive fog, which make it difficult for me to believe in anything beautiful' (3 March 1864), though in a letter of January 1870 she notes 'I strum Schubert on the rainy days', and comments on the restorative effect of the countryside: 'I was much crushed in body & mind in October. But we went into the deep country, away from railroads, & wandered day after day in the beech & fir woods'. In March 1864 Eliot gives some literary news -- a quarrel involving J.H. Newman, and Browning's new poems, 'we are sure to get some fresh pictures & fresh thoughts from them'; in January 1870 there is news of an expedition to Dante Gabriel Rossetti's studio, where he is at work on his Beatrice , commenting on his use of Jane Morris as a model. Above all, the letters making frequent reference to the pleasures of visits from Nannie, 'even those who have seen little of you remember you with love', and of conversation -- though one undated letter excuses some over-animated discussion, 'You can hardly shudder at the introduction of the "Woman Question" more than I do', justifying however the view that 'a woman may pursue severe studies without looking severe'. Nannie Leigh Smith was a sister of the artist and women's activist Barbara Bodichon (née Leigh Smith , who is referred to frequently in the correspondence. Bodichon was one of Eliot's closest friends (described as her 'first friend' in her correspondence), and, in spite of Eliot's protestations in this correspondence, they shared an interest in improving the women's movement, as well as connections with pre-Raphaelite circles. (11)