Citation: George MacDonald, Wilfrid Cumbermede (London: Hurst & Blackett, 1872).

Bulloch (1925):

Wilfrid Cumbermede. By George MacDonald, LL.D. London: Hurst & Blackett, 1872 (1871).

8vo

  • vol. L, pp. vi + 320
  • vol. 11., pp. vi + 326 + (2)
  • vol. III., pp. vi + 291 + (1)
  • 1870. With the subtitle, “An autobiographical story,” the novel was first serialised in St. Paul’s, London, with seven illustrations by P. A. F. (Nov., 1870-Dec. 1871), vii., 105-130, 209-231, 313-339, 401-423,497-515; viii., 1-18, 95-118,191-206,287-311,371-392, 483-507, iz, 1-29,113-142, 225-269. The story ran with the same illustrations in Scribner’s Monthly (Nov., 1870-March, 1872), i., 90-105, 196-211, 319-337, 428-436, 543-556, 655-672; ii., 78-93, 189-203, 301-316, 415-426, 524-542, 637-650; iii., 64-73, 222-231, 345-351, 457-466, 557-567.

This was the first serial in Scribner, and draws a rather sarcastic comment from Mr. L. Frank Tooker (Century, July, 1924, p. 399) that, though the magazine had been started to become a national institution and foster natural literature, “it had gone to Scotland for its first serial novel.” He thinks that MacDonald’s “pietistic tendencies” may in part have influenced the editor, Dr. J. G. Holland, in making the choice. Holland was certainly very enthusiastic, for when he heard that MacDonald was going to America he wrote (Scribner’s Monthly, March, 1872, iii., 625) that “thousands of hearts will beat quicker at this news and lean out to meet him as towards no other living man —with loving sympathy and reverence.” MacDonald met Holland in New York in the winter of 1872.

The story, for the copyright of which MacDonald got £1200 from Strahan, is set in Switzerland, where MacDonald took a long and much needed holiday in 1865 as described in Dr. Greville MacDonald’s life (pp. 347-352). The book was written while the MacDonalds were greatly troubled over the grim ending of Ruskin’s courtship of Rose La Touche, and Dr. Greville MacDonald thinks that Ruskin’s suffering, his lavish giving of himself and his starvation by her who alone would give him peace, were the incentive of the book.

  • 1872. Published by Scribner, Armstrong A Co, New York: 12mo, pp. viii + 498, with 11 plates (New York Pub. Lib.).
  • 1872. Published as vols, 6 and 7 of Asher’s ” Collection of English Authors,” published by Engelmann, Berlin: pp. 305,296.
  • 1884. Published by Strahan : “ 4th edition ” (“ English Cat.”).
  • 1893. Published, by Kegan Paul; 8vo,pp. 528.
  • 1901. Published by Kegan Paul; 8vo: price Is. 6d.
  • N.D. Published by Lippincott, Philadelphia.

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