Letters to his mother, Ann Borrow, and other correspondents — A Reader’s Guide

A Scholar's Etymology of a Goblin

In Letter II, Borrow responds to a correspondent asking about the pedigree of "le feu follet Belenger." He offers an opinion on the name's etymology, tracing it through English place names like Billingsgate and Billingham, and comparing suffixes across languages: "ger" in French, "ur" in Welsh, "ik" in Russian. He argues these all derive from a root meaning "Lord, master, maker, doer." The analysis is detailed but cautious—he admits certainty is elusive. This passage reveals Borrow's philological interests and his willingness to engage a correspondent's curiosity, though the letter is only an excerpt, so the full context of the query remains unknown.

Lost on the Moors: A Shilling's Tale

Letter XIV recounts a night when Borrow lost his way "amongst horrible moors." After wandering miles, he finds a light from a hovel and an old man who guides him for several miles, then continues further to ensure he stays on track. Borrow calls him "one fine, noble old fellow" and notes his "odd and entertaining" conversation. This anecdote is framed by a contrast: earlier that day, Borrow was swindled out of a shilling by a villain with a clan. He reflects, "I could write a history about those two shillings." The story is self-contained, vivid in its details of the landscape and the old man's kindness, and shows Borrow's eye for character and incident.

Practical Instructions in Later Years

Letter XV, dated 1874, is addressed to Mrs. MacOubrey and concerns household arrangements. Borrow mentions a pain in his left jaw, then gives precise directions: call at No. 36, have Leverton make boxes for books in sacks, bring down a long white chest and deal boxes, buy a thick under-waistcoat like the one he wears, and a lighter one for summer. He dismisses worsted socks as useless and prefers cotton. The letter ends with a request to return it when she comes. This later correspondence is markedly different from the earlier ones—less narrative, more logistical—but it shows Borrow's attention to detail and his reliance on others for practical matters.

The Editor's Frame and the Reader's View

The collection was printed for private circulation in an edition limited to thirty copies, edited by Thomas J. Wise. The excerpts here are drawn from that 1913 pamphlet, transcribed from images supplied by the Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library. The letters span from 1838 to 1874, but the selection is partial—only a few of the fifteen letters are included. Readers should note that the full correspondence may contain more letters or longer versions. The editor's role is minimal; there are no explanatory notes beyond the footnotes. This lack of editorial commentary means the letters speak for themselves, but it also leaves gaps in context that the reader must navigate.

These letters offer a fragmented view of George Borrow's life, from his travels in Spain to his domestic concerns in Suffolk. The excerpts show a man who is by turns defiant, scholarly, observant, and practical. Readers approaching the full collection should expect a mix of tones and subjects, with no single narrative thread. The letters are best read as individual snapshots, each revealing a different facet of the writer. Pay attention to the shifts in voice between correspondents and over time—they are the real story here.

Fragmented letters, a stranger on the moors—it made me think of my father's old habit of writing to me from business trips, just weather and train times. That intimacy found in gaps. I felt a similar hush reading The Jonathan Papers — Context and Discussion, where quiet domestic details carry the weight of an entire life, unsaid.