Sir Tom Volume 1

by Mrs. Oliphant

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ...how few people in the world would it be a matter of indifference that money, so to speak, was going begging, and might fall into their hands as well as another's! The best of us on this argument would prick up our ears. Nobody cared less for money in itself than Madame di Forno-Populo. She liked not to spend it only, but to squander--to make it fly on all hands. To be utterly extravagant one must be poor, and the money hunger which belongs to poverty is almost, one might say, a disinterested quality, so little is it concerned with the possession of the thing coveted. "Oh," she said, "this is too wonderful! and you are sure you have not been deceived by the language? You know English so well--are you sure that you were not deceived?" Bice did not deign any reply to this question. She gave her head a slight toss of scorn. The suggestion that she could be mistaken was unworthy of an answer, and indeed was not put in seriousness, nor did the Contessa wait for a reply. "What then," the Contessa went on, "is the position of Sir Tom? Has he no control? Does he permit this? To have it taken away from himself and his family, thrown into the sea, parted with--Oh, it is too much! But how can it be done? I was aware that settlements were very troublesome, but I had not thought it possible--Bice! Bice! this is very exciting, it makes one's heart beat! And you are her friend." "I am her--friend?" Bice turned one ear to her patroness with a startled look of interrogation. "Oh!" cried the Contessa once more; by which exclamation, naturally occurring when she was excited, she proved that she was of English race. "What difficulty is there in my meaning? You have English enough for that. What! do you feel no impatience when you hear of money running away?--going...

318 pages, Paperback

Published July 10, 2012

About the author

Margaret Oliphant Wilson Oliphant (née Margaret Oliphant Wilson) 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".

Margaret Oliphant was born at Wallyford, near Musselburgh, East Lothian, and spent her childhood at Lasswade (near Dalkeith), Glasgow and Liverpool. As a girl, she constantly experimented with writing. In 1849 she had her first novel published: Passages in the Life of Mrs. Margaret Maitland which dealt with the Scottish Free Church movement. It was followed by Caleb Field in 1851, the year in which she met the publisher William Blackwood in Edinburgh and was invited to contribute to the famous Blackwood's Magazine. The connection was to last for her whole lifetime, during which she contributed well over 100 articles, including, a critique of the character of Arthur Dimmesdale in Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter.

Reviews

[Water · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Oliphant charmer! Wild Sir Tom settles down later in life (his 40s) by marrying the innocent heiress Lucy. She sets his life to rights through her sweetness, kindness, and (oh yeah) her money! All is well until her 16-year-old brother Jock pays her a visit. Jock reminds her about the terms of their father's ridiculous will. She and Sir Tom have some disagreement about the will, and then things get downright hairy when Sir Tom's former "friend", the glamorous Contessa di Forno-Populo, visits them. The Contessa brings a mysterious young girl in tow, leading poor Lucy to imagine all types of illicit things about Sir Tom's relationship to these females. Like most Oliphant works, this novel has a sweet resolution.