(Busted – that’s a picture from Chipping Camden, not from Rye, the village of E.F. Benson’s residence and, famously, his inspiration for “Tilling.” But can’t you just imagine these windows right into a 1920s series about conniving social climbers in an English village?)
Prepare for social domination… domination… domination…
E.F. Benson’s Mapp and Lucia novels are classics of comedic British literature – such that it’s really appalling that it’s taken me this long to find my way to the series and read all the way through. Benson famously resided in Rye (also home to literary luminary Henry James) in a stately city house much like the one where Elizabeth Mapp perches all-seeing in her sweet little bow window. From that undeniably fertile ground, Benson has raised personalities such as Miss Mapp, unmatched in her conjectures and schemes; Lucia Lucas, cultural guru of neighboring Riseholme; and supporting characters such as Major “Benjy” Flint, Georgie Pillson, Godiva Plaistow, Daisy Quantock – and the list goes on.
Queen Lucia introduces us to Emmeline “Lucia” Lucas, her husband “Peppino,” best chum Georgie Pillson and frenemy Mrs. Quantock. When the book opens Lucia is the undisputed Queen of her small village, Riseholme. She is a benevolent ruler, treating her subjects to garden parties and evenings listening to Lucia play the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata – not the second or third, though, because they are really more “afternoon” and “midnight.” She goes so far in thinking of their well-being that in the opening scene, she walks home from the train station after a visit to London, so that the villagers will have something to talk about when they see her luggage arrive home without her. But there are revolutionary rumblings threatening Lucia’s throne – her frenemy Daisy Quantock has brought a “Guru” from London to teach her yoga and mindfulness. Lucia quickly determines that she must “annex” the “Guru” before Daisy usurps her position as arbiter of all things cultural and/or interesting. No sooner has Lucia carried off this feat than an opera prima donna arrives in town and begins hosting “romps,” and Lucia’s loyal lieutenant, Georgie, begins to harbor revolutionary feelings of his own. What is a self-proclaimed village cultural ruler to do?
In Miss Mapp, we meet the denizens of Tilling for the first time. Elizabeth Mapp reigns supreme over the high street – or at least, she’d like to think she does. She certainly has a gift for seeing what her neighbors are up to and connecting the dots to ferret out all their disagreeable little secrets. But Miss Mapp gets her comeuppance time and again – whether in the form of accidental twinning with her archrival “Diva” Plaistow, curtsying to a man she mistakenly believes to be the Prince of Wales, being threatened with false and defamatory rumors about drunkenness, or having nothing to do with a duel that comes to nothing. Every time Mapp gets into a social scrap, the reader finds herself torn between rooting for her and hoping that she embarrasses herself – again. Each of the characters surrounding Miss Mapp – from the ostentatious social climber Mrs. Poppit to the exhibitionist fishmonger – is a delight.
There are four more novels in the Mapp and Lucia series – and that’s just the originals, by E.F. Benson, not even counting the continuation of the series by Tom Holt. I’m saving them for a future day – they’d make wonderful summer reading on the back patio, with a glass of lemonade. The anticipation of the earth-shaking social tremors that are sure to happen when Mapp and Lucia encounter one another for the first time gives me the shivers.
A combined edition of Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp is available here (not an affiliate link).
covered in flour 
I’ve never read this series (and yes, that’s appalling!). I’m adding these to my list ASAP. I’ve never been to Rye, but I assume that won’t impede my ability to picture Tilling.
I think you’d enjoy them so much! Highly recommended. The first time I read Queen Lucia I only kind of liked it; the “guru” storyline bothered me because I thought it was racist. On my second read, I realized that the “guru” storyline was actually mercilessly mocking Lucia and Daisy for their attempts at cultural appropriation – a storyline totally ahead of its time, once I realized what was really going on! It seems that sometimes I can be quite dim. Making that connection catapulted E.F. Benson straight onto my list of favorite authors.
P.S. I’ve never been to Rye, either, but there are many lovely pictures of it online! It is a lovely town – lots of stunning half-timbered buildings. If you google E.F. Benson’s house, you can see what Miss Mapp’s house looks like, as he based it on his own home, Lamb House. Henry James and Rumer Godden were also residents of Lamb House (but not at the same time as Benson, and not at the same time as one another).
I have always been a fan of E.F. Benson.
I am so glad you liked these books too.
Loved this review.
Have you seen the TV series based on these books, starring Geraldine McEwan and Prunella Scales.
I haven’t seen the TV series, but I would like to! I hear there is a new adaptation starring the actress who played Caroline Bingley in the 1995 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice (Anna something, I am blanking on her last name) – who is a descendant, some-number-of-greats-grandniece, of Jane Austen! So that’s on my list as well!
I didn’t know that. What channel is it on? I would love to watch it too.
Have you read Diary of a Provincial Lady by E M Delafield.
It is set in around the same period and is as light and frothy as E F Benson.
LOVE the Provincial Lady! I had tears running down my face from laughing the first time I read her. So funny!
I’m not sure what channel the new Mapp & Lucia is on, or even if it’s out yet. I noticed it because of the actress from P&P, but tabled it in my mind until I’ve finished with the series (still have four books to go). Netflix or Prime Video would probably be the best bets, though!
I am so glad you like my kind of books and shows.
I am a great Jane Austen fan too.
My favourite P&P adaptation is the one starring Colin Firth although Keira Knightley is much better as Elizabeth Bennett in the later version.
I also love books and shows set in the 1920’s . How about You?
It’s so much fun to find like-minded bookish folk! I always get excited to meet people who share my taste in reading. I’m glad our paths have crossed! I do enjoy books and shows set in the 1920s, as well. Such a fascinating decade! I just picked up a book on the 1920s from the Folio Society winter sale – can’t wait to read it, but I have to get through my library stack first…
I am excited to meet you too.
I really enjoy the 20s.
Bright young things, flappers and jazz– what a glamorous age it must have been.
Indeed! I’d have loved to experience it – but then, knowing what was to come in the decades to follow, maybe not. It’s fun to read about, though!
This is such an enjoyable series. I like Queen Lucia better than Miss Mapp though.
I think I slightly preferred Miss Mapp, but they’re both great! It really is a wonderful series.
Hello Jaclyn. I need to read the books, but even in the TV series I also felt sympathy for Miss Mapp, flawed as she was, as she always had to hustle for her keep and who wouldn’t cry at having to sell their beloved house? Somehow I wondered if in some respects E.F. Benson wasn’t a little unconsciously snobby himself in making the more moneyed Lucia always the victor. Again I have to read the books for a more fair assessment. How agreeable!
Hi, Heather – thanks so much for stopping by and for your thoughtful comment! I haven’t seen the TV series yet, but I am itching to watch it! In the books (at least the first four) Miss Mapp doesn’t sell her house – in “Mapp and Lucia” she rents it to Lucia for a few months as part of an annual real estate musical chairs that the residents of Tilling get up so as to have a change of scenery without actually leaving town – LOL! Lucia ends up buying a different house in Tilling. But I haven’t read the fifth or sixth book yet, so perhaps Mapp has to sell her home in one of those installments – if so, I’d certainly feel for her. Sounds like the TV versions aren’t as balanced as the books; Miss Mapp holds her own in the books and defeats Lucia from time to time, and both women come in for their share of gentle ribbing from the author. 🙂 The books are great, and I hope you enjoy them!
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