The Rector’ is the second novella in Oliphant’s ‘Chronicles of Carlingford’. It was originally published in 1863 as part of a series which first appeared in Blackwood’s Magazine. 50-year-old Mr Proctor has had a very satisfying life as Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford. Now he has ventured out from that academic haven to become Rector of the parish church in Carlingford. Instead of adjusting gradually to his new surroundings, Mr Proctor becomes more and more uncomfortable in his role of parish clergyman. Finally his presence at the deathbed of a parishioner will bring his feelings to a crisis. Margaret Oliphant was a Scottish novelist and historical writer, who usually wrote as Mrs. Oliphant. During her career she wrote more than 120 works, including novels travelogues, histories and volumes of literary criticism. Two of her better-known fictional works are Miss Marjoribanks (1866) and Phoebe Junior (1876). Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, with a new introductory biography.