Margaret Wade Campbell Deland (February 23, 1857 - January 13, 1945) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet closely associated with the literary realism movement. Born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh, Deland was educated at Cooper Union and began her career as a writer with the encouragement of her husband, Lorin F. Deland. Initially commencing her literary journey with the publication of 'The Old Garden and Other Verses' in 1886, she pivoted to prose and gained significant recognition with 'John Ward, Preacher' (1888), a novel that explored the controversial themes of religious doubt and the reconciliation of faith and science. Deland is renowned for her 'Old Chester' series of novels and stories, set in a fictional, provincial town in Pennsylvania resembling her native Allegheny. 'An Old Chester Secret' stands among her later works, contributing to the rich tapestry of her imagined community and offering insights into the social norms and everyday lives of its inhabitants. Deland's prose is marked by graceful characterization and a gentle humor, with an underlying sharpness that dissects the hypocrisies and moral dilemmas of her time. Her attention to the details of domestic life, and her progressive views on women's roles and social change, position her as a noteworthy figure in turn-of-the-century American literature.