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Mapp & Lucia #1-2
Queen Lucia & Miss Mapp
E.F. Benson's beloved Mapp and Lucia novels are sparkling, classic comedies of manners set against the petty snobberies and competitive maneuverings of English village society in the 1920s and 1930s.
Benson's series revolves around two unforgettable characters, both forceful and irrepressible women who dominate their respective villages in southern England and who will eventually end up hilariously at war with each other. Lucia is the more deadly of the two, with her pretentious tastes, treacherous charm, and lust for power. Miss Elizabeth Mapp, on the other hand, is younger and more forceful and able to terrify her opponents into submission. Benson introduces these splendid comic creations in the first two novels of the series, Queen Lucia (1920) and Miss Mapp (1922).
Benson's series revolves around two unforgettable characters, both forceful and irrepressible women who dominate their respective villages in southern England and who will eventually end up hilariously at war with each other. Lucia is the more deadly of the two, with her pretentious tastes, treacherous charm, and lust for power. Miss Elizabeth Mapp, on the other hand, is younger and more forceful and able to terrify her opponents into submission. Benson introduces these splendid comic creations in the first two novels of the series, Queen Lucia (1920) and Miss Mapp (1922).
577 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1922
134 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
E.F. Benson
1,027 books354 followersEdward Frederic "E. F." Benson was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer.
E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.
Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.
Last paragraph from Wikipedia
E. F. Benson was the younger brother of A.C. Benson, who wrote the words to "Land of Hope and Glory", Robert Hugh Benson, author of several novels and Roman Catholic apologetic works, and Margaret Benson, an author and amateur Egyptologist.
Benson died during 1940 of throat cancer at the University College Hospital, London. He is buried in the cemetery at Rye, East Sussex.
Last paragraph from Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
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April 19, 2017Five Stars - Miss Mapp
Four Stars - Queen Lucia
Video Review to come!
Four Stars - Queen Lucia
Video Review to come!
April 4, 2016
On chapter eight and loving every delicious page so far. Indian guru dispensing Eastern mysticism and delicious curry, POW! Georgie's toupée, he may go hatless, THWACK! Gossip on the village green, WHO JUST ARRIVED IN A MOTOR?? KABOOM! Fancy opera singer at the garden party, SWOON!
You should read this book without delay! It really is the limit! Croquet, anyone??
Update: I have now finished the first book of this double edition and I'm enthrilled about the whole thing. I adore Miss Olga Bracely, if her name were Erma she could not be more perfectly "smute".
You should read this book without delay! It really is the limit! Croquet, anyone??
Update: I have now finished the first book of this double edition and I'm enthrilled about the whole thing. I adore Miss Olga Bracely, if her name were Erma she could not be more perfectly "smute".
November 30, 2017
There is nothing like the inhabitants of quaint English villages in the hands of a writer like E.F. Benson.
In Queen Lucia, the characters are engaged in trying to outdo each other with the most interesting of home entertainments. Here we have a guru (maybe), and a medium (maybe) and the delightful opera singer Olga Blakely. With all families trying to outdo each other and being caught up in frauds, it is a game to see how soon they will figure it out.
In Miss Mapp, the interactions are more personal as Miss Mapp tries to outdo her rivals. Miss Mapp is nosey, scheming and gossipy. None of the characters in either book have very many good qualities, but it all works.
Quote: "You wish to see me, Major Flint? she (Miss Mapp) said, in such a voice as icebergs might be supposed to use when passing each other by night in the Arctic seas."
The quote sums up the actions and attitude of Miss Mapp. I understand these two books are part of a series and one is Lucia and Mapp. It should be quite a romp when those two get together. The only other author I can think of who comes close to writing stories like these is P.G. Wodehouse. Wodehouse, however, is much lighter-hearted and presents more sympathetic characters. Benson's characters are more scheming and complicated.
In Queen Lucia, the characters are engaged in trying to outdo each other with the most interesting of home entertainments. Here we have a guru (maybe), and a medium (maybe) and the delightful opera singer Olga Blakely. With all families trying to outdo each other and being caught up in frauds, it is a game to see how soon they will figure it out.
In Miss Mapp, the interactions are more personal as Miss Mapp tries to outdo her rivals. Miss Mapp is nosey, scheming and gossipy. None of the characters in either book have very many good qualities, but it all works.
Quote: "You wish to see me, Major Flint? she (Miss Mapp) said, in such a voice as icebergs might be supposed to use when passing each other by night in the Arctic seas."
The quote sums up the actions and attitude of Miss Mapp. I understand these two books are part of a series and one is Lucia and Mapp. It should be quite a romp when those two get together. The only other author I can think of who comes close to writing stories like these is P.G. Wodehouse. Wodehouse, however, is much lighter-hearted and presents more sympathetic characters. Benson's characters are more scheming and complicated.
February 22, 2025
Hard to believe these two books were written in 1920 and 1922 as they could easily have been written today. Some sly observations on human nature, some genuinely funny parts, and all in all an amusing read.
August 28, 2016
This volume contains two novels. Both are British comedies of manners that became immensely popular in the 20s and 3os. Apparently they’re still that popular today, but not with me. Yes, there was some excellent humor, some especially good slapstick, and in Queen Lucia, a hilarious comeuppance scene (which made it my favorite of the two).
I would have enjoyed these episodes much more on TV, where they’d move along more quickly. For the most part, they were vain, meddlesome, idle rich in small towns with nothing to do but to put on airs, seek revenge, and outdo each other. I don’t think there was a serious reader in the lot. They were too busy watching their neighbors houses. Tiresome, vulgar people are great buffoons for comic relief
in Shakespeare or Jane Austen, but an entire cast of them was too much of nothing for me.
I would have enjoyed these episodes much more on TV, where they’d move along more quickly. For the most part, they were vain, meddlesome, idle rich in small towns with nothing to do but to put on airs, seek revenge, and outdo each other. I don’t think there was a serious reader in the lot. They were too busy watching their neighbors houses. Tiresome, vulgar people are great buffoons for comic relief
in Shakespeare or Jane Austen, but an entire cast of them was too much of nothing for me.
Read
July 25, 2020DNF . . . yet . . . probably never.
I thoroughly enjoyed Diary of a Provincial Lady and its sequel, and the Queen Lucia novels are often suggested alongside that series. For some reason, though, I just can't seem to get into it, although I have tried several times. I hit a little stride in which there are some funny and barbed bon mots, but then they taper off and nothing else ever seems to happen. It's very plodding and slow, whereas the Provincial Lady novels, while also not blessed with an abundance of plot themselves, are zippy and light with one zinger on top of another.
I thoroughly enjoyed Diary of a Provincial Lady and its sequel, and the Queen Lucia novels are often suggested alongside that series. For some reason, though, I just can't seem to get into it, although I have tried several times. I hit a little stride in which there are some funny and barbed bon mots, but then they taper off and nothing else ever seems to happen. It's very plodding and slow, whereas the Provincial Lady novels, while also not blessed with an abundance of plot themselves, are zippy and light with one zinger on top of another.
May 31, 2018
I keep returning to these farcical novels, featuring proud, pretentious villagers trying ineptly to mask their baser instincts as they nose around in one anothers’ business in adjacent homes on the green.
Edward Gorey loved these books, too. Now that I think of it, Lucia and Miss Mapp remind me of the histrionic characters who slather themselves over stone columns, sigh, and lift the backs of their wrists to their foreheads in Gorey’s animated opening of Masterpiece Theater. Campy and clever.
Edward Gorey loved these books, too. Now that I think of it, Lucia and Miss Mapp remind me of the histrionic characters who slather themselves over stone columns, sigh, and lift the backs of their wrists to their foreheads in Gorey’s animated opening of Masterpiece Theater. Campy and clever.
January 28, 2021
I know these books are comedies but these women, Lucia and Miss Mapp, are too annoying and horrible to be funny. I liked Miss Mapp slightly better than Queen Lucia, but just barely. In Miss Mapp, I enjoyed Diva’s character and the non-duel actually made me laugh. The look into the daily life of a small English town in the 1920s was somewhat interesting, but not enough to make spending time with these women bearable. 2/3 of the way through, both books felt like a slog to the finish.
July 21, 2017
It is always hard to get into a book where none of the characters are very likeable, and the sentences are long and rambling. But once I did, I enjoyed this little window into the pettiness of English village life. It ended up being quite entertaining. I preferred the Queen Lucia over the Miss Mapp because the situations were more amusing.
July 27, 2025
Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson is included among The 1,000 Novels Everyone Must Read, though it is a pathetic 2858th on The Greatest Books of All Time – for this reason alone, I should quit consulting this compilation, albeit there are hundreds of magnum opera there, which incidentally, you find reviewed on my blogs https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... together with a few thousand films from The New York Time’s Best 1,000 Movies list and other sites, for both books and motion pictures
I have read and enjoyed Queen Lucia so much that I have taken it a second time, indeed, here is my view after the first encounter https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20...
- This is now in my Top 200 Favorite Magnum Opera
Queen Lucia is also one of the preferred personages, flawed, arrogant, liar that she is – what I am saying, we live in the age of the fake news, conspiracy theories and I hope to God the Epstein debacle brings down this vile
- Orange Woland
I was thinking earlier this morning, as I was going (again) through the delightful last chapters that I have a buddy who is in many ways like Queen Lucia, not that he is a drag queen or anything, he is in fact a macho man
He has this attitude at times, when I have to go and talk to him while he is working out in the gym, and he seldom returns the favor, as in he is the monarch, aka Lucia and yours truly has to play the role of subject
Evidently, a connection could be made with this present Orange Queen Lucia that rules the free world, only the one from the marvelous chef d’oeuvre is someone I like, and the friend of the pedophile is one I loathe and despise
He is the ultimate Confidence Man https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... with monarchical ambitions, toying like a child with tariffs, killing USAID and thus responsible for a multitude of deaths
Queen Lucia is dominating the life Riseholme, up to the point when some hilarious events threaten to overthrow the royalty, first it is the guru, the alleged holy figure that stays with Daisy Quantock, until he is taken away by the queen…eventually, he proves to be a cook, and he runs away with stolen goods from his hosts
Then we have the arrival of the Russian medium, Princess Popoffski, brought and paid by the same Daisy, however, the alleged medium is another fraud, if not exposed this time, finally, the ‘opera diva Olga Bracely arrives in Riseholme for a visit, luring away Lucia's devoted friend Georgie Pillson’, and in the process, there is trouble
Queen Lucia claims to speak Italian, and this pretense misfires badly, when an Italian composer tries to communicate with her and the husband, then she makes other mistakes, connected with a quartet and more, in what is a fabulous comedy and satire…
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – I am on Goodreads as Realini Ionescu, at least for the moment, if I keep on expressing my views on Orange Woland aka TACO, it may be a short-lived presence
Also, maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the benefits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
I have read and enjoyed Queen Lucia so much that I have taken it a second time, indeed, here is my view after the first encounter https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20...
- This is now in my Top 200 Favorite Magnum Opera
Queen Lucia is also one of the preferred personages, flawed, arrogant, liar that she is – what I am saying, we live in the age of the fake news, conspiracy theories and I hope to God the Epstein debacle brings down this vile
- Orange Woland
I was thinking earlier this morning, as I was going (again) through the delightful last chapters that I have a buddy who is in many ways like Queen Lucia, not that he is a drag queen or anything, he is in fact a macho man
He has this attitude at times, when I have to go and talk to him while he is working out in the gym, and he seldom returns the favor, as in he is the monarch, aka Lucia and yours truly has to play the role of subject
Evidently, a connection could be made with this present Orange Queen Lucia that rules the free world, only the one from the marvelous chef d’oeuvre is someone I like, and the friend of the pedophile is one I loathe and despise
He is the ultimate Confidence Man https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... with monarchical ambitions, toying like a child with tariffs, killing USAID and thus responsible for a multitude of deaths
Queen Lucia is dominating the life Riseholme, up to the point when some hilarious events threaten to overthrow the royalty, first it is the guru, the alleged holy figure that stays with Daisy Quantock, until he is taken away by the queen…eventually, he proves to be a cook, and he runs away with stolen goods from his hosts
Then we have the arrival of the Russian medium, Princess Popoffski, brought and paid by the same Daisy, however, the alleged medium is another fraud, if not exposed this time, finally, the ‘opera diva Olga Bracely arrives in Riseholme for a visit, luring away Lucia's devoted friend Georgie Pillson’, and in the process, there is trouble
Queen Lucia claims to speak Italian, and this pretense misfires badly, when an Italian composer tries to communicate with her and the husband, then she makes other mistakes, connected with a quartet and more, in what is a fabulous comedy and satire…
Now for my standard closing of the note with a question, and invitation – I am on Goodreads as Realini Ionescu, at least for the moment, if I keep on expressing my views on Orange Woland aka TACO, it may be a short-lived presence
Also, maybe you have a good idea on how we could make more than a million dollars with this https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/20... – as it is, this is a unique technique, which we could promote, sell, open the Oscars show with or something and then make lots of money together, if you have the how, I have the product, I just do not know how to get the benefits from it, other than the exercise per se
There is also the small matter of working for AT&T – this huge company asked me to be its Representative for Romania and Bulgaria, on the Calling Card side, which meant sailing into the Black Sea wo meet the US Navy ships, travelling to Sofia, a lot of activity, using my mother’s two bedrooms flat as office and warehouse, all for the grand total of $250, raised after a lot of persuasion to the staggering $400…with retirement ahead, there are no benefits, nothing…it is a longer story, but if you can help get the mastodont to pay some dues, or have an idea how it can happen, let me know
As for my role in the Revolution that killed Ceausescu, a smaller Mao, there it is http://realini.blogspot.com/2022/03/r...
Some favorite quotes from To The Hermitage and other works
‘Fiction is infinitely preferable to real life...As long as you avoid the books of Kafka or Beckett, the everlasting plot of fiction has fewer futile experiences than the careless plot of reality...Fiction's people are fuller, deeper, cleverer, more moving than those in real life…Its actions are more intricate, illuminating, noble, profound…There are many more dramas, climaxes, romantic fulfillment, twists, turns, gratified resolutions…Unlike reality, all of this you can experience without leaving the house or even getting out of bed…What's more, books are a form of intelligent human greatness, as stories are a higher order of sense…As random life is to destiny, so stories are to great authors, who provided us with some of the highest pleasures and the most wonderful mystifications we can find…Few stories are greater than Anna Karenina, that wise epic by an often foolish author…’
January 18, 2015
Funny, witty and well-observed, even though none of the main characters are at all sympathetic.
December 19, 2021
As evidenced by an almost 6 month time to completion, this was not an enthralling set of novels. Queen Lucia was possibly a 1 star for me, and Miss Mapp had elements that did have me laughing out loud on the airplane so I averaged a two star review.
As Anne Bogel has suggested - I can see why this is good, but it’s not for me. And I watched every episode of Downton Abbey so I do enjoy this time period in England. In fact I was able to apply some of that knowledge to reading these books.
However! The long, drawn out comedy of neighbours simultaneously befriending and belittling themselves and casting wary glances at new people who arrive got tired for me way before the stories ended. So it was annoying by that point. Trapped on an airplane without wifi was required for plodding through these.
As Anne Bogel has suggested - I can see why this is good, but it’s not for me. And I watched every episode of Downton Abbey so I do enjoy this time period in England. In fact I was able to apply some of that knowledge to reading these books.
However! The long, drawn out comedy of neighbours simultaneously befriending and belittling themselves and casting wary glances at new people who arrive got tired for me way before the stories ended. So it was annoying by that point. Trapped on an airplane without wifi was required for plodding through these.
January 20, 2020
This is actually two novels published together as one. The first is "Queen Lucia" and the second is "Miss Mapp." The novels are fine (not great), although given that they were written in 1920 and 1922, respectively, there are some problematic comments and depictions regarding people of non-English ancestry and women. They also focus on the daily gossiping and pettiness of a rich group of English people living in small villages. Therefore, some of these problematic behaviors were intentional since almost all of the characters are horrible and spend most of their time worrying about and trying to impress each other.
Personally, I read this as it was the January 2020 selection for the Bas Bleu Book of the Month collection.
Personally, I read this as it was the January 2020 selection for the Bas Bleu Book of the Month collection.
April 30, 2023
Surprisingly entertaining given that the books were first published 100 years ago. The vintage touches are a reminder of how much has changed. Invitations sent by mail that arrive the next day. Food and other items bought from merchants on account and paid for once a week. A woman wearing a sable coat - you wouldn't dare do that in England these days. Great fun. (Purchased secondhand from a charity seller on Amazon.)
August 13, 2025
I’d already read Queen Lucia, but I didn’t remember much about it. Both of these novels are fun books about petty rivalries amongst a small group of middle class people in a small town. They are not nice people and Benson details the maliciousness they try to hide with politeness. 'Lucia' is pretentious, and Mapp is envious
July 3, 2019
If you loved Downton Abbey or Gosford Park, you will love these books.
The characters are charming and smart and the situations, while written in the 20’s, still ring true today. I’m hooked and am going to continue E.F. Benson’s journey.
The characters are charming and smart and the situations, while written in the 20’s, still ring true today. I’m hooked and am going to continue E.F. Benson’s journey.
April 7, 2022
I've read all of the books in this series a couple of times. This was a great book to have on my device to read while waiting for appointments. Always a joy to laugh again at these delightful characters.
December 27, 2025
A quaint read:)
Set in small towns in England, these two stories are full of snobbery, pettiness, and little non-events that fill daily life in small towns.
I like the Miss Mapp story better than Queen Lucia, but both were fun, easy reads, making you step back in time. Quaint indeed!
Set in small towns in England, these two stories are full of snobbery, pettiness, and little non-events that fill daily life in small towns.
I like the Miss Mapp story better than Queen Lucia, but both were fun, easy reads, making you step back in time. Quaint indeed!
July 3, 2017
Keeping up appearances! What a fun read - satire at its best.
May 5, 2018
Witty comedy about two delightfully nasty women.
January 13, 2020
I enjoyed Queen Lucia; the characters are all ridiculous people and the satire is sparkling.
January 21, 2020
I found it hard to stay in these books. If you love descriptive writing, then you will like these. Once the story began, it was engaging however.
February 11, 2020
Fun look at English villages in the 1920s These are the first two in the series that E.F. Benson wrote.
July 9, 2020
I don't usually re-read books, at least not contemporary fiction. The E F Benson Lucia books are a panacea for dire events and nostalgia.
July 20, 2020
Well-written, but not as enjoyable to me as I'd hoped. Also, the cover of my paperback is not shown, but it would not let me add a different edition.
August 4, 2020
These were written in 1931 and it shows it. If you like dated British writing, then you might enjoy these two novellas. They were a little too predicitable for me, though.
July 19, 2021
I found this book hard to keep up with on audio and gave up but read enough to count it, at least two thirds. Maybe will give it another try at some point.
May 12, 2023
Boring.
November 15, 2021
I love the exquisitely petty competition for status in Mapp and Lucia's village. Every tussle exposes human nature, and the suspense of when one of the bachelors will become the victim of the clever would-be queens is tantalizing.
February 7, 2017
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
DNF
Figured I would enjoy this since I've liked a number of similar books, but it wasn't really my cup of tea personally.
That said, they seem to be quite highly rated by a number of people, so don't let the fact that they didn't work for me stop you from giving them a go.
DNF
Figured I would enjoy this since I've liked a number of similar books, but it wasn't really my cup of tea personally.
That said, they seem to be quite highly rated by a number of people, so don't let the fact that they didn't work for me stop you from giving them a go.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews