Nutwood Cottage, Frith Hill,
Godalming,
Novr. 29th. 1881
Dear Mr. Macmillan1
I have just completed a book which I should like you to publish — Let me first tell you why I have written it.
My article in the Contemporary last November on "How to Nationalize the Land,"2attracted much attention & brought me much correspondence. Many persons, thinking it offered the long-sought basis for a practicable scheme of Land Nationalisation thought a Society shd. be formed to make known the plan and interest the public. This has been now done, several important converts have been made & several hundred pounds have been provided for preliminary expenses. We have settled on a programme [2] embodying the main principle of my scheme but with some important practical modifications. My book (which I was at work at all last winter but which has been stopped by my building & garden making during the summer) is intended to give a general and readable sketch of the whole subject, on which, notwithstanding all that has been written the most deplorable ignorance prevails. I enclose you titles for the Chapters, which will show the scope of the book, & I should much like you to read one chapter — say that on Scotland — which would enable you to judge of the [3] character of the book.
The quantity of matter will be about ⅓ more than Mr. Russell’s3 — "New Views on Ireland"4 or about double Mr. Mongredien’s5 "Free Trade & English Commerce."6 I want a cheap edition in paper covers to be issued at s1/- and I think I can promise that the Land Nationalisation Society will take 1000 copies of this to distribute among the working classes. Of course if you think fit a good Edition (like Mr Russell’s book) can be published at the same time at any price you like.
[4]7 I consider the book the most important I have ever written, and I have taken pains to get together facts which have never been brought together before, and to discuss them in as forcible and interesting a manner as I could.
The book must be brought out as soon as possible, and I confidently anticipate for it a large sale.
Please let me know as soon as possible whether you will undertake it & on what terms.
Believe me | yours very faithfully | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]
P.S. One thousand copies of the cheap edn. will be taken — & probably another thousand afterwards. ARW.8
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP3375.3343)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Land – Nationalisation1
Contents.
Chapter I. On the causes of Poverty in the midst of Wealth.
Chapter II. A sketch of British Land-tenure, its Origins and present condition.
Chapter III. The Effects of Landlordism in Ireland.
Chapter IV. Landlordism and its Results in Scottland.
Chapter V. Landlordism in England.
Chapter VI. The results of Occupying Ownership as opposed to those of Landlordism.
Chapter VII. Low Wages and Pauperism the direct consequences of Private Property in Land.
Chapter VIII. Nationalisation of the Land affords the only mode of effecting a complete solution of the Land Problem.
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[2](Title)
Land Nationalisation
Its Necessity and its Aims:
Being an Enquiry into the System of
Landlord — and – Tenant
and that of Occupying – Owners
as affecting the Well-being of the People.
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By, Alfred Russel Wallace
Author of "Island Life" &c.&c.&c.
Status: Draft transcription [Enclosure (WCP3375.5070)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP3375,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on