Life Margaret_Oliphant

memorial mrs oliphant in st giles cathedral edinburgh.

she had become popular writer , worked notable industry sustain position. unfortunately, home life full of sorrow , disappointment. in january 1864 remaining daughter maggie died in rome , buried in father s grave. brother, had emigrated canada, shortly afterwards involved in financial ruin. mrs oliphant offered home him , children, adding support heavy responsibilities.

in 1866 settled @ windsor near sons, being educated @ eton. year, second cousin, annie louisa walker, came live companion-housekeeper. home rest of life. more thirty years pursued varied literary career, continued have personal troubles. ambitions cherished sons unfulfilled. cyril francis, elder, died in 1890, leaving life of alfred de musset, incorporated in mother s foreign classics english readers. younger, francis (whom called cecco ), collaborated in victorian age of english literature , won position @ british museum, rejected sir andrew clark, famous physician. cecco died in 1894. last of children lost her, had little further interest in life. health steadily declined, , died @ wimbledon on 20 june 1897. left personal estate gross value £4,932 , net value £804.

in 1880s literary mentor of irish novelist emily lawless. during time oliphant wrote several works of supernatural fiction, including long ghost story beleaguered city (1880) , several short tales, including open door , old lady mary .