From J. D. Hooker   17 August 1867

Dear Darwin

I return, by the Train to Bromley, Mary Barton & Vol. II of North & South—¹ The whole of the vraisemblable² of the latter falls before the Darwinian Gospel— how could such imbecile parents have such a child as Margaret? Also the denouement is too abrupt, & I have no sympathy with the Hero.³

As to Mary Barton it is the most horrible story I ever read— I got through the first $\frac{1}{3}$ ^d of the book of deaths of all classes & ages of starvation, fever, & consumption spiced and garnished with Paralysis & blindness—when poor Esther⁴ came on the scene & floored me— I took thereupon a sip or two of the last chapter, & being somewhat revived thereby, I managed to struggle through the rest. Esther is the blunder of the book— there was no occasion to run her hapless hopeless misery through the whole story, & thus leave a most painful impression of the whole book—a regular poisoning of the tale— It is tremendously unnatural & sensational in plot & matter but most powerful, & I suppose extremely well written— At least I could always reread bits with pleasure. The life of the Manchester work people, is I suppose pourtrayed to the life.

I also send Cunningham’s letters— do not read them unless you like— they are all details—but some of them may interest you.⁵

Mirabilis not in flower yet.⁶

We go to Scotland on the evening of the 30^th—via Dunfermline (near which my old Indian friend Sir J Colvile lives)—to Dundee—⁷

Ever Yr affec | J D Hooker