Margaret Oliphant - Merkland or, Self Sacrifice: "There is nothing so costly as bargains"

Margaret Oliphant Wilson's life was marked by both literary achievement and profound personal tragedy. After publishing her first novel in 1849, she faced the loss of three of her six children and the death of her husband from tuberculosis. Despite these hardships, she became a prolific writer to support her family, gaining a significant readership over her thirty-year career. The deaths of her remaining children left her increasingly isolated, leading to a decline in her health. She passed away in 1897, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and literary contribution.