a little background on the Lucia books
Posted by Kathleen T on November 29, 1997 at 10:05:53:
In response to more info please?, written by Kathleen on November 28, 1997 at 14:19:00
E.F. Benson wrote 6 books in the Lucia series (though one, Miss Mapp, does not feature Lucia at all). They were published between 1920 and 1939. They are: Queen Lucia, Lucia in London, Miss Mapp, Mapp and Lucia, The Worshipful Lucia and Trouble for Lucia.
The stories (except for Miss Mapp) revolve around the life and small town machinations of one Mrs. Emmeline Lucas (Lucia) who, by sheer force of will, is the preeminent social power-broker of first Risholme, and later Tilling by the Sea. Lucia's reign as czar is never easy, and frequently challanged, and the ensuing battle for supreme ruler of the social scene makes for some wildly funny reading.
The books are all very readable and deliciously nasty (though in a G rated sense, I assure you- sex does not rear it's ugly head anywhere in this series). Though there is an order to the series, it won't ruin many surprises to read them out of order. If one of the books is selected, I'd suggest Mapp and Lucia. The whole series has been reprinted in a single volume called Make Way for Lucia which was published in 1977 by Harper and Row (and I think available in paperback now)
Kathleen, who thinks the opening line of Miss Mapp almost rivals the opening line of P&P:
Miss Elizabeth Mapp might have been forty, and she had taken advantage of this opportunity by being just a year or two older.
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