Given Margaret Oliphant's gift for writing about women's experiences and issues, it is sometimes overlooked how many novels and stories she wrote which center on a male character. Often these story lines concern the coming of age of a young man, and the challenges he must overcome. Like his female counterparts he may struggle alone - against wrongs, misunderstandings, obstacles set in his way. He is likely to have ambition, touchiness, pride - which may help or hinder him as he moves forward.
There are also male central characters less positive, dealing with their own flaws - magnified perhaps by the disappointments of middle-age - such as in The Rector, Brownlows, A Poor Gentleman, and The Unjust Steward.
Two works with male central characters, having each a unique and unforgettable story line, are Dr Barrère and Mr Sandford.
