Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant (1828 -1897), was a Scottish novelist and historical writer, who usually wrote as Mrs. Oliphant. Her fictional works encompass "domestic realism, the historical novel and tales of the supernatural." Oliphant, during an often difficult life, wrote more than 120 works, including novels, books of travel and description, histories, and volumes of literary criticism. In this book: Miss Marjoribanks The Marriage of Elinor Old Lady Mary The Perpetual Curate The Open Door, and the Portrait. Stories of the Seen and the Unseen.