From J. V. Carus 11 November 1867
Leipzig
Nov. 11th. | 1867
My dear Sir,
I should be very sorry if you should think that I intend to write a Prospectus of your work before knowing it.1 All that Schweizerbart asked me to do was to put down some few lines on the contents and the whole tenor of the first volume, which he could use for his advertisement of the work. And this does not even reach the public but is chiefly if not exclusively sent to booksellers.
Shall I return the proof of title?2
On page 325 there are two quotations of “Gardener’s Chron. and Agricult Gaz.”, notes 73 and 74. The pages are so near each other (729 and 730) that I think I ought to ask you if the years are correct, one gives 1856, the other 1855. I have no access to that periodical here, else I should look myself if all is right.3
The first two words on p. 348 made me ask you, what is “gean”; at first I thought “géant” was meant, but the word is on so prominent a place of the page, that it is not likely to be overlooked.4
Couldn’t you ask Mr Murray to send the last sheet and preface (if there is one) at once. Schweizerbart (that is, his successor) is quite out of humour;5 he saw the original advertised and sends me telegrams and letters to get the end out of me.6
I beg to accept my very best wishes for your health and and | Yours very sincerely | J. Victor Carus
Footnotes
Bibliography
Variation: The variation of animals and plants under domestication. By Charles Darwin. 2 vols. London: John Murray. 1868.
Summary
Is not writing prospectus [of Variation] – merely sketch of contents and tenor of first volume for advertisement to booksellers.
Questions on details for the translation.
Publisher anxious to get volume out.
Letter details
- Letter no.
- DCP-LETT-5676
- From
- Julius Victor Carus
- To
- Charles Robert Darwin
- Sent from
- Leipzig
- Source of text
- DAR 161: 65
- Physical description
- ALS 3pp
Please cite as
Darwin Correspondence Project, “Letter no. 5676,” accessed on 24 April 2024, https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/?docId=letters/DCP-LETT-5676.xml
Also published in The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, vol. 15