Margaret Oliphant - Hester: "Somehow even a popular fallacy has an aspect of truth when it suits one's own case"

The life of Margaret Oliphant Wilson is marked by both literary achievement and profound personal tragedy. After publishing her first novel in 1849, she married her cousin and had six children, three of whom died in infancy. Following her husband's death from tuberculosis, she became the sole provider for her remaining children through her writing. Despite her prolific career, she faced continuous loss, including the deaths of her daughter and two sons. Her health declined after these tragedies, leading to her death at 69, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and literary contributions.