5238. RB to Robert Bulwer Lytton
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 30, 256–257.
19. Warwick Crescent,
Upper Westbourne Terrace W.
June, 17. ’63
My dear Lytton,
I will tell you the exact truth, knowing you deserve it, [1] —and only stipulating that you will equally believe all I say to be meant for truth as I see it—not that compliments are put in by way of smoothing down unpleasant expressions. The worth of a book being relative to the ability of its writer, I begin by saying that I believe increasingly in your genius, and have a right to expect progress in all you do: I do not see that,—nor good, therefore, to you, in the tale in question: the great talent, every where apparent, being of little account coming after genius, of which you have given proofs: who could doubt, knowing these, that such a work as this might come easily to you? Had you made such a beginning, well & good. The story is not a new one, the machinery not good, in my opinion: and throughout I object to the insincerity of the supernaturalism,—there is neither belief nor disbelief in it. As a magazine-article, (if you thought that success worth getting) the pretension of the piece would be less, and the danger to your reputation next to nothing—but there is much pretension in the bringing out these two volumes—and I fear the critics for once.
Therefore, if it can be, I would even yet suppress the book: how I wish I had been able to say so earlier!—since you care about my judgment.
I have not said a word about this to anybody, nor shall: but I heard from Forster yesterday in just a word, that the publication was inevitable. [2] You will have, in that case, to strive all the harder next time—and, at the worst, you & we can fall back on there being great talent in the book: there are worse misfortunes: you will have a sale, I dare say, and my forebodings may be the fruit of too much sympathy with Robert Lytton of my old Florence days, who is rather inside my heart than close to it: I may very likely expect too much, .. desire too much I cannot while I remain as I do
Your affectionate
RB.
I had the great pleasure of meeting your Father at dinner a fortnight ago: he asked me to Knebworth in the kindest manner—Pen also! I could not arrange it, but the kindness was great.
Publication: None traced.
Manuscript: Lord Cobbold.
1. Concerning The Ring of Amasis; see letter 5236.
2. The book was issued four days before; see letter 5236, note 2.
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