Oliphant Mrs : Mrs. Marjoribanks(Vmc) (Virago Modern Classics) - Softcover

Oliphant, Margaret Wilson

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140161899 ISBN 13: 9780140161892

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd, 1989

Synopsis

Excerpt from Chapter I: “Miss Marjoribanks lost her mother when she was only fifteen, and when, to add to the misfortune, she was absent at school, and could not have it in her power to soothe her dear mamma's last moments, as she herself said. Words are sometimes very poor exponents of such an event: but it happens now and then, on the other hand, that a plain intimation expresses too much, and suggests emotion and suffering which, in reality, have but little, if any, existence. Mrs Marjoribanks, poor lady, had been an invalid for many years; she had grown a little peevish in her loneliness, not feeling herself of much account in this world. There are some rare natures that are content to acquiesce in the general neglect, and forget themselves when they find themselves forgotten; but it is unfortunately much more usual to take the plan adopted by Mrs Marjoribanks, who devoted all her powers, during the last ten years of her life, to the solacement and care of that poor self which other people neglected. The consequence was, that when she disappeared from her sofa—except for the mere physical fact that she was no longer there—no one, except her maid, whose occupation was gone, could have found out much difference. Her husband, it is true, who had, somewhere, hidden deep in some secret corner of his physical organisation, the remains of a heart, experienced a certain sentiment of sadness when he re-entered the house from which she had gone away for ever.”

About this title

Book Description:

MISS MARJORIBANKS is one of her Chronicles of Carlingford. Exquisite and entertaining comedies of Victorian provincial Society.

About the Author:

Margaret Oliphant (1828-97) was a prolific Scots writer, author of over 100 books and innumerable articles. Early widowed, she was compelled to write for a living. She is best remembered for her 'Chronicles of Carlingford' series, which is set in a quiet country town near London. Religious themes predominate but the books are sharp and humorous.
Elisabeth Jay has written a critical 'Biography of Margaret Oliphant' and edited Gaskell's 'Life of Charlotte Bronte' for Penguin Classics.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0140161899
• ISBN 13: 9780140161892
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 496