Showing results for "Margaret Oliphant" in Literature & Fiction

This Victorian masterpiece of comic irony and unsentimental warmth has a force of nature at its core: headstrong Lucilla Marjoribanks. Mrs Oliphant’s unconventional and endearing heroine is ‘a woman with a mission’: she is determined to take charge of her widowed father and shape the social life of the community. With insight, tact and intelligence, she organises events, manages relationships, and guides the fates of those around her, all while remaining firmly in control of her own life.

Hester (1883) is a dramatic story of female power and family tensions within Victorian society. Using her own money, Catherine Vernon manages to save the family bank from collapse after her cousin John absconds with some of its money. As the matriarch of Redborough, Catherine is used to commanding authority, but this is challenged with the arrival of John’s strong and capable teenage daughter, Hester. Ignorant of her father’s conduct, Hester takes against Catherine and a mutual antipathy soon sets in. A masterpiece of domestic realism, the novel is one of Mrs Oliphant’s most admired works.

Three BBC radio adaptations of famous novels by the prolific 19th-century author Mrs Oliphant - plus an episode of Reading Aloud, with extracts from her autobiography. Sometimes called ‘the feminist Trollope’, Margaret Oliphant wrote more than 100 works of fiction in a wide variety of genres, ranging from novels of small-town life to historical tales and supernatural stories. Included here are three of her best-loved works, brimming with dry wit, perceptive irony and flawed but fascinating heroines.

In this final volume, we delve into Hesters journey as she navigates her identity within a family that is hers by blood but not by nurture. As the bank where her father once worked faces new threats, Hester must confront her feelings towards her suitors and make pivotal decisions that could shape her future. Join us as we explore themes of belonging, love, and resilience in this captivating conclusion to Hesters story. - Summary by Anne Erickson

In Hester, Catherine Vernon expertly manages both her family and their thriving business. However, her carefully laid plans for Edward, the young protege she cherishes like a son, are thrown into disarray with the arrival of Hester, a fiercely independent 14-year-old girl. The tension between Catherine and Hester unfolds as they both navigate their feelings for Edward, leading to an unexpected bond forged through love and rivalry. This compelling narrative not only explores a love story but also stands out for its progressive portrayal of women in the business world during its time. - Summary ...

The story opens with Mrs. Murray strolling alongside two of her grandchildren by the tranquil banks of Loch Arroch in the picturesque Scottish borderlands. While they appear to embody wealth and distinction, the family harbors deep-seated troubles, and difficult sacrifices loom on the horizon. Join us as we delve into a tale of love, loss, and the complexities of familial bonds. - Summary by Lynne Thompson

Caught in a web of love and obligation, one man finds himself betrothed to a woman he cannot marry, while anothers heart hangs in the balance. Will he choose loyalty or true love? Summary by Michele Eaton

Over the course of 47 years, Victorian writer Margaret Oliphant produced 120 novels, biographies, and histories, as well as hundreds of essays and book reviews. "She was of an intellect so alert," wrote J. M. Barrie, "that one wondered if she ever fell asleep." Widowed young, she was the sole support of her children and her nieces, whom her brother had abandoned: a powerful impetus for her prodigious output. The two novels included here reflect the difficulties that Victorian wives had when their lives took unexpected turns.

'The Library Window' is a ghost story. A young girl, visiting her aunt in Scotland, finds herself increasingly intrigued by a mysterious window in the house opposite her own favourite window, where she sits to read. There seems to be a local mystery about the window, including a dispute about whether there is even a window there at all. Increasingly this doubt seems odd to the girl as the days go by, as she can see into the room opposite and make out furniture and objects there. Then one day she sees someone in that room....

Margaret Oliphant Wilson was born on 4th April 1828 in East Lothian in Scotland but spent her childhood in Midlothian, Glasgow and Liverpool. She wrote from a young age and in 1849 had her first novel about the Scottish Free Church movement, a cause her parents sympathized with, published. Her next, ‘Caleb Field’, a couple of years later, led to a lifelong association with Blackwood Magazine to which she contributed more than a 100 articles and reviews.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of the English Lake District, this story revolves around the seemingly ordinary Mrs. Blencarrow, a widow managing her late husbands modest estate while raising five children. Respected in her quaint community, she partakes in the familiar social rituals of tea and dinner parties. Yet, beneath her unassuming exterior lies a surprising revelation a strangers remark about her being a woman with a history hints at a past shrouded in intrigue and perhaps scandal. After eighteen years in the town, where has she hidden her secrets?

Elinor has made the momentous decision to marry, but the identity of her chosen partner remains a tantalizing mystery. Who is this man? Is he of good character, or does he harbor secrets from a shadowy past? Could he even have a wife? Join us as we unravel the enigma surrounding Elinors heart. - Summary by LynneT

Step into the world of Miss Marjoribanks, one of the captivating entries in Margaret Oliphants Chronicles of Carlingford. Written between 1861 and 1876, this novel, alongside two short stories and five others, first graced the pages of the renowned Blackwoods Magazine. Oliphant, a prolific author of her time, often portrayed strong, independent women in her works. In fact, some have likened Miss Marjoribanks to a modern-day Emma from Jane Austens classic, though with a sharper focus, a resolute nature, and a strategic mindset that sets her apart. Join us as we explore the intricate social ...

Mortimer è un padre che ha portato la sua famiglia a vivere in un vecchio maniero scozzese. Un giorno, nelle vecchie rovine abbandonate di fianco alla casa, suo figlio inizia a sentire delle voci misteriose e subito dopo si ammala gravemente. Eppure il bambino non ha paura: piuttosto prova un enorme dolore per quell'apparizione, e disperato chiede al padre di risolvere il mistero e aiutare l'anima perduta a ritrovare la via.

In Hester, Catherine Vernon expertly navigates the complexities of family and business. She has high hopes for her young protege Edward, whom she cherishes like a son. However, everything changes with the arrival of Hester, a spirited 14-year-old girl who matches Catherines determination. Their initial clash transforms as they discover a shared bond through their mutual affection for Edward. While at its heart a love story, Hester stands out for its groundbreaking portrayal of women in the business world. - Summary by Anne Erickson

A house divided against itself cannot stand. So proclaimed Abraham Lincoln in 1858. In this captivating tale, we meet the irascible Mr. Waring, a cantankerous English ex-patriot entrenched in the picturesque landscapes of Italy alongside his enchanting daughter, Frances. Long before the influx of tourists and hotels, Mr. Waring cherished his solitude, harboring deep resentment for the gawkers that now invade his peaceful existence, many of whom are fellow countrymen. Frances, though petite and charming, unexpectedly navigates her role as the mistress of the house with a mix of grace and ...

In the midst of Victorian England, where social status and snobbery reign supreme, Phoebe Beecham embarks on a journey of discovery that unravels her familys intriguing history. As she navigates the complexities of religion and politics, Phoebe learns that the past holds secrets that could challenge the very foundations of the social order. - Summary by Lynne T

Ghost stories from the golden age. Six great writers weave their spell in creepy, insidious style.

Nessuno sa quando sia iniziata di preciso la leggenda della stanza segreta nel castello di Gowrie, eppure tutti la conoscono. Dopotutto, vista la forma irregolare del castello, le sue grandi dimensioni e la disposizione tentacolare degli alloggi, l'esistenza di una stanza del genere non sarebbe poi così improbabile, oltre che facile da nascondere. Si dice però che nessuno tranne il conte, il suo erede e un estraneo fidato ne conoscano la posizione.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. Whether they hail from the Lowlands or the Highlands, to be a Scottish author is to part of a quite an extraordinary band of authors and its literary traditions. These beguiling stories example the full range and majesty of their talents and the subjects they explore.