Margaret Oliphant - Miss Marjoribanks: 'What happiness is there which is not purchased with more or less of pain?''

The life of Margaret Oliphant Wilson is marked by both literary achievement and profound personal tragedy. After publishing her first novel in 1849, she faced the loss of three children and the death of her husband from tuberculosis, forcing her to support her remaining family through writing. Despite her prolific output and growing reputation, she continued to experience heartache, losing her only daughter and both sons over the years. Ultimately, her declining health led to her death at 69, leaving behind a legacy of resilience amid sorrow.