Citation: George MacDonald, David Elginbrod (London: London: Hurst and Blackett, 1863).

Bulloch (1925):

David Elginbrod. By George MacDonald, M.A. London: Hurst and Blackett, 1863.

8vo, vol. I., pp. viii + 325 + (1): vol II., pp. vi + 335 + (1): vol III., pp. iv + 398.

Dedicated “ to the memory of Lady Noel Byron … with love stronger than death.” MacDonald first met Byron’s widow (died 1860) in 1857 and became great friends with her, introducing her as Lady Bernard in “The Vicar’s Daughter” (1872). Many references to her occur in Greville MacDonald’s “George MacDonald.”

“ David Elginbrod ” was the first book MacDonald had written since “ Phantastes ” (1858), and he found difficulty in getting it published (Greville MacDonald’s “ George MacDonald,” pp. 322-324). Smith, Elder, refused it and several other publishers were tried. At last a Manchester friend, Miss Jessie Ballantyne, showed it to Miss Mulock, who took it to her publishers, Hurst and Blackett, and they gave £90 for it. Sir William Robertson Nicoll was wrong when he said that Mrs. Oliphant introduced it to that house. The Tints described it as “ the work of a man of genius “: the Athenaeum, Jan. 17, 1863, gave it three columns (pp. 79-80), and in 1905 called it “ a fine book though wild.” The character of David Elginbrod was drawn from MacDonald’s father. Frederick Denison Maurice figures in it: ” Funkelstein ” was based on a Polish mesmerist, Zamoiski, whom MacDonald met at Hastings: and an Arundel deacon who gave him a good deal of trouble is introduced (iii., 106) as a rich grocer. In regard to the famous epitaph much interesting speculation has been expended on its origin. Dr. Greville MacDonald says that his father heard it quoted at an oyster supper by Manby Smith, a journalist who had read it “ somewhere The “ somewhere ” was probably the ” Essay towards the theory of the intelligible world,” written in 1700 by Gabriel John, who is poasibly Thomas D’Urfey. Max Muller discussed the epitaph in the Athenaeum (May 14, 1887, p. 641) finding Vedic analogies. Other versions including French and two German were cited by correspondents to the Sunday London (June 1, 8, 15, 22, July 13, 1924); the Yorkshire Evening Post (May 24, 1924); and Notts and Qutrits (July 5,1924), cxlvii., 7. J. M. Bulloch summarised these versions in the Aberdeen University Review (Nov. 1924), xii, 40-43.
(1871.)

  • 1863. Published by Hurst and Blackett, 8vo, pp. vi + 412 + frontispiece, drawn by Edward Hughes and engraved in steel by J. Godfrey.
  • 1871. Published as vols. 1189 and 1190 of Tauchnitz’s “Collection of British Authors,” Leipzig, 319: pp. 326, 311.
  • 1873. Translated into German by Julie Sutter and published by Heyder and Zimmer, Frankfort: 8vo, pp. vii + 414 (Kayser’s “ Bucher Lexicon ”). This, I think, is the only MacDonald book translated into a foreign language. Julie Sutter was the author of “ Britain’s next Campaign,” 1903.
  • 1879. Published in Munro’s Seaside Library, New York.
  • 1897. Published as no. 14 of the Lavender Series by Fen no, New York.
  • 1900. Published by Hurst and Blackett; 8vo: pp. 412.
  • 1906. Sixpenny edition by Hurst and Blackett.
  • 1917. Published in the Home Library Series by Burt, New York.
  • 1921. Published by Hurst and Blackett.
  • N.D. Published by Lothrop, Boston (12mo); Mackay, Philadelphia : and Winston, Philadelphia.

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