The Executor Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine vol. LXXXIX

"The Executor" by Mrs. Oliphant is a story from the Victorian era that follows John Brown, a lawyer, whose life is turned upside down when he's made executor of a strange woman's will. The will leaves everything to a daughter, Phœbe Thomson, who has been missing for years, and John must find her to settle the estate. This puts him at odds with the Christians, who anticipated receiving the inheritance themselves. As John looks for Phoebe, the story examines the town peoples' desires and how the prospect of money changes their relationships; themes of ambition, social standing, and what is right and wrong surface as the characters face their own internal battles. The narrative also poignantly explores the story of young Bessie Christian, whose future becomes linked with the events set in motion by the will.