“I have complained to you before of the shabby appearance of my things.”
This is a quote from a letter John Galt wrote to William
Blackwood from London on 18 May 1822. He
was complaining about the quality of the edition of his novel The Provost which
had just been issued by Blackwood.
Galt's main concern was the quality of the paper on which the book had been printed and he goes on to tell Blackwood that he is sending part of The Steamboat and makes a suggestion about its printing –
“I hope you will not grudge to give it better paper, for I am mortified to see The Provost in such poor clothing compared with Pen Owen.”
 |
| William Blackwood, Publisher |
Quite an indignant response from John Galt in comparing the quality of paper of his own novel with that of another novel published by Blackwood the same year – Pen Owen. Pen Owen is thought to have been written by either James or Theodore Hook, the sons of composer James Hook (1746-1827),
 |
| Blackwood's edition of The Provost by John Galt Read more about John Galt's novel The Provost and a real life Provost of Irvine here. |
