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w literary records。
In addition to much worry； my work at this time was truly overwhelming。 The unfortunate agreement to which I have already alluded； entered into with the firm in which I believe Mr。 Maxwell； the late husband of Miss Braddon； was a partner； had been abrogated without a lawsuit； through the admirable efforts of my friend and agent； Mr。 A。 P。 Watt。 But this was done at a price； and that price was that I should write them two stories； which in addition to my other and more serious work of course cost me time and labour。 The tales that I wrote for them were called respectively “Mr。 Meeson’s Will” and “Allan’s Wife。” Ultimately； after various “business plications；” in the course of which I lost some money that was due for royalties； together with “Dawn” and “The Witch’s Head；” they passed into the hands of Messrs。 Longmans。
Then I began “Cleopatra” on May 27； 1887； and； as the MS。 records； finished it on August 2nd of the same year。 In order to do this I fled from London to Ditchingham； because in town there were so many distractions and calls upon my time that I could not get on with my work。 I remember my disgust when on arrival there an invitation to be present in Westminster Abbey on the occasion of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria was forwarded too late for me to be able to avail myself of it。 Although I do not greatly care for such pomp and circumstance； that was a ceremony which I should have liked to see。
Charles Longman thought very highly indeed of “Cleopatra。” Also； he backed his opinion by buying the copyright of the book for a large sum of money。
By the way； unluckily for myself； I also sold “Jess” outright and not for a large sum。 Messrs。 Smith； Elder； however； behaved extremely well to me； for when the novel proved such a great success they sent me a second cheque of a like amount as that they had given for the copyright； a thing which perhaps few publishers would have done。 Moreover； a dozen years or so later； they offered to give me back a half interest in the book if I would write them another work。 This I was very anxious to do； as both for sentimental and business reasons I should much have liked to regain a part proprietorship in “Jess。” But when I wrote to Charles Longman on the subject he begged me to abandon the idea； and as I could not hurt the feelings of such an old and valued friend； I did so； with many sighs。
I should explain that at the time I published only with the Longmans。 Afterwards to my great sorrow I was obliged to abandon this arrangement； for the reason that I found it impossible to place works serially unless I could give the book rights as well。 For a while I got over this difficulty； or rather Messrs。 Watt； my agents； did； by selling serial rights to the two great illustrated papers。 But in course of time； I suppose as they began to feel the pressure of the petition of the new sixpenny magazines； they gave up publishing serials； or at any rate paying much for them。 So I had to go to those who would run the serial if； and only if； they were given the book rights also。
Lang did not think quite so highly of “Cleopatra” as Longman； at any rate at first； as the following letter shows：
You will loathe me for the advice； but if I were you I’d put “Cleopatra” away for as long as possible； and then read it as a member of the public。 You will find； I think； that between chapters 3 and 8 it is too long； too full of antiquarian detail； and too slow in movement to carry the general public with it。 I am pretty certain of this。 The style is very well kept up； but it is not an advantage for a story to be told in an archaic style （this of course is unavoidable）。 For that reason I would condense a good deal and it could be done。 You’ll find that when you e fresh to it again。 The topic is horribly difficult： there is a kind of living life in the modern Introduction which must of the rest wants； as far as I have gone。 I see pretty clearly where and how the condensing could be done。 You don’t want a reader’s interest to fall asleep； and now it would in places。 I am writing with perfect frankness because； of course； I want it to be A1 in its genre — a dreadfully difficult genre it is。 As far as I have read I have made a few verbal notes where the style occasionally is not consistent。 But the main thing is； at any expense； to hurry on more — to give the impression of solemnity； but at more speed； and with much fewer strokes。 I know you hate altering； so it is a prendre ou a laisser； this long screed of opinion。 Of course I see it is a book you have written for yourself。 But the B。P。 must also be thought of。
In a second letter； written about the same time； he says：
I gave all my morning to “Cleopatra” and return her。 After Chapter 8 she’ll do！ I have marked a good many minutiae of style； or expression。 In a few places； a judicious shortening of moral reflections by Harmachis would give him more point to my mind。 Unluckily neither Harmachis nor Cleopatra is sympathetic。 Can’t be helped。 I think even more than before that you should lighten the ship by greatly shortening between chapters 3 and 8。 I can estimate this； because today I read slick on rapidly and was interested all the way。 In the earlier part my attention flagged over all the preparation； and many a traveller would not have persevered。 I like Antony； but don’t feel that that inexplicable person has had full justice done him。 The inevitably archaic style will not make it more popular； but that can’t possibly be helped。 As a whole I think the manner is very well kept up。 I venture to suggest some alterations where modern words e in out of tune。
Screw it a little tighter； and I think it is undeniably an artistic piece of work。 The imagination kindles up after the killing of Paulus。 Before； it is not always up to your level of wakefulness and energy。 At least that’s my impression。 What an awful piece of romance the end is！ I like Charmion to turn on him for his bullying the queen。 The absence of any business for the other girl； Iras； strikes me as rather a pity。 I’d like； if you don’t mind； to read over the early part with you as I feel a good deal turns on adding energy to that； and on condensing。 The Menkara bit is A1； and Cyprus is good — did you take the wreck from the Odyssey at all？ I don’t see who they can say you stole your plot from。 They’ll say the parts from Plutarch are from Shakespeare； probably they never read Plutarch！
I do not know whether I cut out much from the chapters which Lang though too long。 Probably not； since I have always been a very bad hand at making alterations in what I have once put down； unless indeed I rewrite the entire work。 Moreover； at any rate in my books； this cutting out of passages resembles the pulling of bricks from a built wall； since it will be found that every or nearly every passage； even if it is of a reflective character； is developed or alluded to in some portion of what follows。 The pulling out of bricks may or may not improve the appearance of the wall； but it certainly decreases its stability。
In the Author’s Note at the mencement of “Cleopatra” I see that I wrote the following passage； evidently having Lang’s criticism in mind：
Unfortunately it is scarcely possible to write a book of this nature and period without introducing a certain amount of illustrative matter； for by no other means can the long dead past be made to live again before the reader’s eyes with all its accessories of faded pomp and forgotten mystery。 For such students as seek a story only； and are not interested in the Faith； ceremonies； or customs of the Mother of Religion and Civilisation； ancient Egypt； it is； however； respectfully suggested that they should exercise the art of skipping and open this tale at its second book。
I dedicated “Cleopatra” to my mother； because I thought it the best book I had written or was likely to write； although since then I have modified that opinion in favour or one or two that came after it。 The following letter from her was written not long before her death； and was； I think； the last I ever received from her。
Bradenham： June 29； 1889。
My dearest Rider； — I have only a few minutes to write and thank you for your charming gift