The Perpetual Curate is a novel written by Margaret Oliphant and originally published in 1863. It is the fifth of seven works set in the delightful country town of Carlingford. This witty, entertaining novel has remained one of Mrs. Oliphant's most popular. The story is about Frank Wentworth, the perpetual curate in the Anglican church. The story revolves around Frank and his family, his love for Lucy Wodeworth, and at least one mysterious visitor to the town. 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.