The Two Marys

Margaret Oliphant Wilson OliphantProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.6

Word count: 452K words
Chapters: 46

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Two Marys by Mrs. OliphantAuthor: Oliphant, Mrs. (Margaret), 1828-1897,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jul 23, 2016

Editor's review

This novel comes from the hand of the prolific 19th-century English writer Mrs. Oliphant. It centers on two women who share the same name, continuing the author's strength in psychological portraiture and observation of family ethics. The work is moderate in length, and its language carries the unhurried rhythm of Victorian fiction; its treatment of religious feeling, women's circumstances, and personal relationships is delicate yet pointed. As a public-domain eBook, it is especially suited to readers who want to move beyond the usual options of Austen and the Brontës and broaden the map of 19th-century British women's writing. While reading, watch for the parallel structure between the two "Marys" and how the narrator plants moral tension within domestic trifles. It suits reading in segments during quiet hours and can also serve as supplementary material for a thematic unit on women's fiction in a British literature course.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literature enthusiasts seeking to broaden their reading of 19th-century British women writers
Students studying Victorian novels of family ethics and religious themes
Readers of classic fiction who prefer nuanced characterization and an unhurried pace

Not a good fit for

Contemporary genre-fiction readers seeking strong plotting and fast-paced narrative
Beginners entirely unfamiliar with the language conventions and religious background of 19th-century English fiction

Reading tips

Read the opening chapters first, noting the differences in identity between the two "Marys" and the shifts in narrative perspective.
Keep a simple character chart to help track the multiple family relationships.
Pause halfway through and look back at earlier details to appreciate the contrasts and foreshadowing the author has planted.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

How is this book different from common Victorian novels?

It does not rely on a marriage plot or suspense for its appeal; it focuses more on women's inner struggles within family and faith. Mrs. Oliphant's narration is restrained and delicate, and her characterization carries a moral scrutiny, making it suitable for readers who want to see more facets of 19th-century women's writing.

Is the original English text difficult to read?

The language follows the conventional style of 19th-century English fiction: sentences are long but not obscure. Readers with university-level English reading ability and some familiarity with the feel of Victorian fiction can read it smoothly; first-time readers may wish to use an annotated edition or read a Chinese introduction first.

Do I need to understand the religious background to follow it?

The book touches on religious feeling and church contexts, but its core remains personal relationships and moral choices. Some basic background on 19th-century English church life helps, but theological knowledge is not required to follow the main thread.

Comments

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About the author

Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant Author · British (Scottish) · 1828–1897

Mrs. Oliphant (Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant, 1828–1897) was a prolific Scottish novelist, historical writer and biographer of the Victorian era. Born in Wallyford, she gained fame in 1849 with Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland. In 1852 she married her cousin Frank Oliphant; widowed in 1859, she supported her children by her pen and published more than a hundred works in her lifetime. The library holds 90 of her works, including the Carlingford Chronicles, Salem Chapel, Miss Marjoribanks, supernatural tales, Hester, Kirsteen and the autobiography The Days of My Life. She is known for her delicate, humorous portrayals of small-town life and for her historical and biographical writing, and stands as a representative professional woman writer of the Victorian period.