Item Info

Accession Number: 87-1168
Physical Description: [3] pages + envelope
Material: paper
Transcription:

                Twenty Seventh February 1850.
My Dear Mrs. Gaskell.
                I will give you as honest an opinion of your story, as I faithfully promised I would.
                I think it EXCELLENT. I have no doubt that in your anxiety you have quite deceived yourself; being unable to get far enough away from it to see it as I do. It interested me greatly, as I read it. And it made me cry – which I mention, because I take that to be an indisputable proof of its effect. I am seriously convinced that it is in all respects worthy of you; or nothing would induce me, I believe, to tell you so.
                I have an idea – but I am by no means sure – that it might be brought a little closer in the first part, by the omission of a line or two, here and there, in the Proof. I think I would break it where you propose, and I should like to get, if possible, into the second portion, published in the following week, all that I have now. If your scheme should admit of its being concluded in a third part of about the same length, well. If not, I would divide it, with your permission into two chapters more.
                Do not let me interfere with any idea you may have in your mind, when I ask if you propose to make Lizzie dead, at this time? I seem to see through that means, a forcible lesson on the postponement of forgiveness, and the way we have of only leaving that legacy, when we are obliged to leave all legacies – at the point of Death. To leave the story with a notion of her child attaching herself to Susan’s child (when, in good time she had one) and devoting herself to it, would be very pretty, I fancy. But again I earnestly conjure you not to let me interfere with any idea you may have formed.
                Pray go on to the end. I know you will be pleased with it afterwards. I have sent all I have, to the Printer. Have you thought of any name? Or shall I try to christen it? I shall be anxiousto hear from you again, and to be assured that you do yourself mere justice. Mind! I have not the least reservation or doubt, of any sort.
                Dear Mrs. Gaskell
                                Faithfully Yours always
                                Charles Dickens

MssDate: Twenty Seventh February 1850
Media Type: Letters
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Written on stationery of Household Words.

Recipient: Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn, 1810-1865
Provenance: Purchased at Sotheby's London 12/18/86, lot 58, through Quaritch. Benoliel Fund.

Bibliography:

Volume 6, p. 48, The Letters of Charles Dickens, edited by Madeline House & Graham Storey ; associate editors, W.J. Carlton … [et al.].

Country: Creation Place Note:No. 16, Wellington Street North - Strand
Country:England
City/Town/Township:London

Call Number: DL G212 1850-02-27
Creator Name: Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 - Author