Her evocative novels, novellas, and short stories, published between 1937 and 1964, established Wilson as a sensitive observer of humanity and important contributor to Canadian modernist fiction. With a witty, elegant style, she explored the inner lives and moral values of her protagonists in works such as Swamp Angel and Hetty Dorval. Her powerful depictions of West Coast landscapes conveyed a strong sense of place that contributed to the literary identity of British Columbia. Wilson shared her insights by engaging in important cultural debates and by inspiring younger writers, including Margaret Laurence and Alice Munro.