Margaret Oliphant
English Novelist and Biographer
1828 – 1887 A.D.

She is one of the most prolific authors of this age. For forty years she produced a book and has written in all over seventy books. She is especially happy in the delineation of Scottish and English life and character. Her birthplace was in Midlothian, Scotland.

Among her works are Katie Stewart, The Laird of Norlan, The Chronicles of Cartlingford (in nine volumes), The Ladies Lindores, and Mrs. Blencarrows’ Troubles.

Of her works on history and biography we mention, The Literary History of England, The Makers of Florence, Makers of Venice, Jerusalem, the Holy City, and St. Francis of Assissi.

She edited for the Messrs. Blackwood series of Foreign Classics for English Readers and prepared the volume on Dante and Cervantes.

Mrs. Oliphant as a write is not only prolific but versatile. More so, perhaps, than any other female novelist. From pure fiction she could turn to psychological subjects and from these historical themes ad thence to sketches of travel. Two volumes of Historical Sketches of the Reign of George II. are of great interest and permanent value. The volumes consist of short biographies, political, literary, and fashionable. Queen Caroline and Walpole come first, then they follow “The Man of the World” (Lord Chesterfield), “The Woman of Fashion” (Lady Montagu), “The Poet” (Pope), “The Reformer” (John Wesley), “The Sailor” (Anson), “The Philosopher” (Berkeley), “The Novelist” (Richardson), “The Skeptic” (David Hume), and “The Painter” (Hogarth).

This is a happy idea of showing the times, through the portraiture of a group of leading individuals in the various walks of life. One of the easiest ways of leading individuals in the various walks of life. One of the easiest ways of studying history is through the biographies of leaders.

We would especially mention in this connection her vivid description of George Whitefield and the Bristol Colliers.

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Reference: Woman: Her Position, Influence and Achievement Throughout the Civilized World. Designed and Arranged by William C. King. Published in 1900 by The King-Richardson Co. Copyright 1903 The King-Richardson Co.