New-York tribune., 1881-12-10
LETTERS OF GEORGE ELIOT
ON HER CRITICS AND HER HUSBAND.
Ern,n Ihe AMennnnl.

From The Aueneunt
We owe the opportunity of publishing the follow
{np letters to the courtesy of Professor ID. Kauf
manu- to whom they were addressed. Professor
Kaufman is well known by his remarks on Dan
iel Deronda" and it will be seen that his CRITICISMS
attracted the notice Of the novelist and led TO her
writing to him:
TIE PRIoRY. 81, NORTH BANK. May 81, ~.
MY OAR SIR: Hardly, since became an author,
bays had a deeper satisfaction may say more
heartfelt 10Y, than you have gwen me IN your
estimate OF Daniel Deronda'
observed not 10 read the criticisms on my Writings
For years have found this abstinence necessary
10 preserve me from that discouragement as an
artist which ill-judged praise, 10 less than III
indged blame. tends to produce in me. For far
worse than any verdict as to the proportion Oh gGod
and evil in our work. is the painful impression that
we write for public which has no discernment OF
Nv husband reads any notices of me that come
before him and reports to mt TOR else refrans from
renortiuCl the general character of the notice or
something in particular which strikes nun as show
ing either an exceptional insight or an ObtuSeness
that il gross enough to be amusing. Very rarely,
when he has read crtique of me, he has handed
II to me- saying, " You must read TINS" Ana your
estimate of Daniel DerOnda" made one OF these
CertaIniy. if I had been asked to choose. ChGt
should be written about my D0ok anu I"O o snou,u
thing so good as what you have written, but an
article which must be written by jew VINO
showed not merely sympathy with the best asplra-
fons of his race, but "a remarkable insight INTO the
nature of art and the processes OF the aItistic
mind Believe me, / should not nave caied 10
deyour even ardent praise if it had not crne from
one who showed the discriminating sensibility, the
perfect response to the artists INTENTION Whcn
must make the fullest rareSt Joy 10 one VINO wofks
from inward conviction and not IN compliance Win
current fashions Such a response Mods Ior an
author not only what is best in the llie mat now
is but the promise Of that which is to come"
mean that the usual approxmatiye. narrow perceD-
tou of what has been intending and probes
sedly feeling in ones work. lmpres es one WIN tue
sense that 1t must be poor perlshabe stun wlthont
roots to take any lasting hold In the minds OF men;
while any instance Of complete comprehension en-
courages one to hope that the creative prompting
has fOreshadowed, and will continue to satisfy,
FTcnse me that write but imperfectly and per-
haps dimy, what l have felt IN reading y ,ur
article Ii has affected II deeply, and though the
prejudice and ignorant obtuseDess which has met
my effort TO contribute sOmethihg 70 ine eiiootns
of Judaism in ihe conception OF the Christian con-
munty and in the consciousness OF The jewish com
munty, has never for moment made me repent my
choice but rather has been added PROOF 10 me that
unsatisied hunger tor certain signs OF sympathetc
discernment, which you onlv have given. 1 may
mention as instance your clear perception o1
the relation between the presentation of the
Jewish clement and those of English Social life.
work under the pressure Of small hurries; for
we are inst moving into the country for the summer
aud all things are in yagrant condition around
me Bet / wish not TO defer answering your letter
10 an bnssand has said more than once that he feels
grateful to you. For he is more sensitive on my
behalf than on his own. A,
Hence he unites with me IN the assurance OF the
high regard with which remain
Always your faithfully,
NJ. Z. LEwEs.
The PRIoRY. 81. NORTH BANK,
REGRNI's PARK, Oct. II, III
My DEAR SIR trust 1t will not be Otherwise
than gratifying to you TO know that your strrlng
article on aDaael Derondao is now tran slated into
English by a son of Professor Ferrer, who was =,
philosophical writer OF considerable marx III VIII
Sc ;ssusd In a handsomer form than that OF the
psmphlet. and will appear within this autumnal
1ublslnng season, Messrs. Blackwood having al
read, advertised il. Whenever copy is ready we
shall have the pleasure Of sending IL to you. There
Il often something to be borne with In reading ones
own whiting 10 a translation, but hope that in this
case YOU will not be made to vince severely.
In waiting TO send you this news seem to have
deferred TOO long the expression OF my warm thanks
Tor your Kindness in sending me the Hebrew trans
laiions of Less,ng and the collection of Hebrew
boems a kindness which felt myself rather pre-
Sumptuous In asking for, since your time must be
keu filed with more important demands. Yet