"You have good reason to be pleased with the reception the book has had from the English press, considering that you had no one particularly to stand godfather to your bantling, but that it tumbled into the world almost without the aid of a midwife. Under these circumstances success is a great triumph...." Octavo. COLLATION: _Three volumes._ GEORGE ELIOT MARY ANN _or_ MARIAN CROSS (1819-1880) 95. Adam Bede | By | George Eliot | Author Of | "Scenes Of Clerical Life" | [Quotation] In Three Volumes | Vol. I. | William Blackwood And Sons | Edinburgh And London | MDCCCLIX | The Right of Translation is reserved. _Scenes from Clerical Life_ had appeared in the early part of January, 1858, and had proved an unexpected success, but the name of its author, concealed under a pseudonym, long proved a mystery. "The first volume [of Adam Bede]," says Mrs. Cross, "was written at Richmond, and given to Blackwood in March. He expressed great admiration of its freshness and vividness, but seemed to hesitate about putting it in the Magazine, which was the form of publication he, as well as myself, had previously contemplated. He still _wished_ to have it for the Magazine, but desired to know the course of the story. At _present_ he saw nothing to prevent its reception in 'Maga,' but he would like to see more. I am uncertain whether his doubts rested solely on Hetty's relation to Arthur, or whether they were also directed towards the treatment of Methodism by the Church. I refused to tell my story beforehand, on the ground that I would not have it judged apart from my _treatment_, which alone determines the moral quality of art; and ultimately I proposed that the notion of publication in 'Maga' should be given up, and that the novel should be published in three volumes at Christmas, if possible. He assented." "... When, on October 29, I had written to the end of the love-scene at the Farm between Adam and Dinah, I sent the MS. to Blackwood, since the remainder of the third volume could not affect the judgement passed on what had gone before. He wrote back in warm admiration, and offered me, on the part of the firm, £800 for four years' copyright. I accepted the offer.... The book would have been published at Christmas, or rather early in December, but that Bulwer's 'What will he do with it?' was to be published by Blackwood at that time, and it was thought that this novel might interfere with mine." The book was published the first day of January with the still unpenetrated pseudonym on the title-page. It cost thirty one shillings and six pence. The advance subscriptions amounted to 730 copies, and the following note, written March 16, gives the history of its success: