Margaret Oliphant - The Ladies Lindores: 'To have a man who can flirt is next thing to indispensable to a leader of society''

Margaret Oliphant Wilson's life was marked by both literary achievement and profound personal tragedy. Starting her writing career in her early twenties, she faced the loss of three children and her husband to tuberculosis, which forced her to become the sole provider for her family through her writing. Despite her prolific output and growing reputation, she continued to endure heartbreak with the deaths of her remaining children. Ultimately, her health declined, leading to her death at 69, leaving behind a legacy of resilience amid sorrow.