Stories from Neighbours on the Green

The short story collection Neighbours on the Green was published in 1889. Eight of the nine stories take place at 'Dinglefield Green', which Mrs Oliphant modelled closely on the real village of Englefield Green, where she often visited friends, and which was near her home in Windsor. The fictional narrator, Mrs Mulgrave, tells the stories of various people living on or near the Green.

Before publication of the collection, these stories had already appeared in periodicals from 1868 onwards. The ninth story 'My Faithful Johnny' may have been included by mistake, as it does not take place at Dinglefield Green, nor is the narrator Mrs Mulgrave. (Therefore 'My Faithful Johnny' is not listed on this page, but is listed under Other Short Fiction.) However there is a true ninth story of Dinglefield Green, which was somehow omitted from the book: 'Norah, the Story of a Wild Irish Girl', included below. The 1874 novel A Rose in June also takes place at Dinglefield Green.

Visitors to beautiful Englefield Green might enjoy trying to identify the houses described so vividly in these stories. Some research was done on this a few years ago by a resident of Englefield Green, and this will be documented here at a later date.

◊ My Neighbour Nelly (1868)
Read at Making of America : My Neighbour Nelly

◊ The Stockbroker at Dinglewood (1868) - not available online

◊ Mrs Merridew's Fortune (1869)
Read at Making of America: Mrs Merridew's Fortune

◊ Lady Isabella (1871)
Read at Making of America : Part I / Conclusion

◊ Norah, the Story of a Wild Irish Girl (1871)
Read at Making of America : Part I / Conclusion

◊ The Scientific Gentleman (1872)
Read at Making of America : Part I / Conclusion

◊ A Rose in June (novel, 1874) - to be available soon

◊ The Barley Mow (1877) - not available online

◊ An Elderly Romance (1879)
Read at Making of America: An Elderly Romance

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