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The Mapp and Lucia series of novels penned by author E.F. Benson is a study in opposites. The vengeful and calculating Miss Mapp, whom many readers love to hate, is balanced out by the social graces of Lucia, who, though good-hearted and well-meaning, often finds herself mired in seemingly intractable snafus. Queen Lucia is the first novel in the series and an engrossing introduction to these two protagonists' shared social milieu.Tags
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noveltea Lucia reminds me of a self-deluded version of Lucilla Marjoribanks
Member Reviews
This is just the sort of thing that makes the Kindle worthwhile; I suspect that without the Kindle, this would have passed me by. And I'm so glad it didn't.
This is an account of a year in the life of a small English town early in the twentieth century, and the doings of its upper middle-class inhabitants. If that sounds unpromising then take heart; E F ’Fred’ Benson sketches his subjects with a wry savagery that is outrageously funny. At the centre of the community is Mrs Emmeline Lucas, known to all as Lucia (pronounced in the Italian manner). Lucia is vain, narcissistic, scheming and thoroughly selfish as she plots her way around the threats posed to her social pre-eminence by an Indian mystic, an aristocratic Russian show more spiritualist, a distinguished diva and, of course, her fellow residents who constantly try to pull her down a peg or two. Of these, only Georgie, vain and rather fey (no doubt reflecting Fred Benson’s homosexuality), is at all likeable.
Quite delightful. show less
This is an account of a year in the life of a small English town early in the twentieth century, and the doings of its upper middle-class inhabitants. If that sounds unpromising then take heart; E F ’Fred’ Benson sketches his subjects with a wry savagery that is outrageously funny. At the centre of the community is Mrs Emmeline Lucas, known to all as Lucia (pronounced in the Italian manner). Lucia is vain, narcissistic, scheming and thoroughly selfish as she plots her way around the threats posed to her social pre-eminence by an Indian mystic, an aristocratic Russian show more spiritualist, a distinguished diva and, of course, her fellow residents who constantly try to pull her down a peg or two. Of these, only Georgie, vain and rather fey (no doubt reflecting Fred Benson’s homosexuality), is at all likeable.
Quite delightful. show less
I first read E. F. Benson's Lucia and Mapp novels in the 1980's when I chanced upon a volume of the collected novels in the remaindered section of Barnes and Noble. Since then, there has been a BBC series of the novels, but nothing is as good as the books, and, in this time of Covid and toxic politics, they are a wonderful tonic for what ails you.
Queen Lucia is the first novel in the series and introduces us to Mrs. Emmeline Lucas, who with her husband Phillip (Peppino) and her faithful walker, Georgie Pillson ( he's a confirmed bachelor & likes to do needlework - get it?), rules the social life of Riseholme with an iron fist. in a wonderful send-up of provincial English society, Mrs. Lucas has pretensions of being able to speak Italian show more (hence the Lucia moniker) to have ability to play the piano & to understand art. Her rivals like Daisy Quantock, a former Christian Scientist, who falls into the thrall of a bogus Indian yogi, and the imperious, but stupid Lady Amermere, are not match for Lucia's will of iron. However, when a real opera singer, Olga Bracely, arrives in town, Lucia finds her reign as the Queen of Riseholme society in danger.
This book is a delight from start to finish & the perfect antidote to what's happening today. show less
Queen Lucia is the first novel in the series and introduces us to Mrs. Emmeline Lucas, who with her husband Phillip (Peppino) and her faithful walker, Georgie Pillson ( he's a confirmed bachelor & likes to do needlework - get it?), rules the social life of Riseholme with an iron fist. in a wonderful send-up of provincial English society, Mrs. Lucas has pretensions of being able to speak Italian show more (hence the Lucia moniker) to have ability to play the piano & to understand art. Her rivals like Daisy Quantock, a former Christian Scientist, who falls into the thrall of a bogus Indian yogi, and the imperious, but stupid Lady Amermere, are not match for Lucia's will of iron. However, when a real opera singer, Olga Bracely, arrives in town, Lucia finds her reign as the Queen of Riseholme society in danger.
This book is a delight from start to finish & the perfect antidote to what's happening today. show less
In the quiet village of Riseholme, the genteel neighbours' lives revolve around gossip, peering out of windows and regular get togethers, presided over by Emmeline Lucas aka 'Lucia'. Charming (mostly) when she reigns as Queen Bee, there are, nonetheless, undercurrents of irritation from the others, especially when she lures away the interesting Indian guru from the woman who 'discovered' him, and when her disciple Georgie starts to relish being first with a piece of news, eclipsing Lucia...
This has moments of absolute hilarity. I loved deaf Mrs Antrobus "presenting her (ear) trumpet to him in the manner in which an elephant presents its trunk to receive a bun".
Lucia is a total phoney, her 'impromptu' events carefully rehearsed; the show more Italian she affects to speak with her amenable spouse actually just a few trite phrases. And when an opera singer comes to live in the village, it seems she may have been usurped.
Comic novels are a bit like fruit cake- enjoyable now and then. So I shan't be going straight off to read the sequels...I need a bit of seriousness first. But very enjoyable.
Read for Stuck in a Book's 1920 Club. show less
This has moments of absolute hilarity. I loved deaf Mrs Antrobus "presenting her (ear) trumpet to him in the manner in which an elephant presents its trunk to receive a bun".
Lucia is a total phoney, her 'impromptu' events carefully rehearsed; the show more Italian she affects to speak with her amenable spouse actually just a few trite phrases. And when an opera singer comes to live in the village, it seems she may have been usurped.
Comic novels are a bit like fruit cake- enjoyable now and then. So I shan't be going straight off to read the sequels...I need a bit of seriousness first. But very enjoyable.
Read for Stuck in a Book's 1920 Club. show less
Queen Lucia by E.F. Benson is a tongue in cheek satire aimed at the pretensions of the not quite ‘top-drawer” class. He sets his story in the fictional English village of Riseholm where society and etiquette are dictated by one woman, Emmeline Lucas, better known as Queen Lucia.
This book is light and amusing, but subtle it isn’t. The author misses no opportunity to mercilessly poke fun at these people and their desires to an upper class life of wit and elegance. It is when a rival to her throne moves into the village that the story takes off and each page of this character driven comedy will have the reader smiling, giggling or even snorting in delight.
I think the essence of this book rings a bell with people as these broadly show more drawn characters can be found amongst one’s social circle today. Every society must have its’ queen, and every queen must struggle to retain her throne. Queen Lucia is the first in a series of books, and judging by this first one, the rest of the series should prove delightful. show less
This book is light and amusing, but subtle it isn’t. The author misses no opportunity to mercilessly poke fun at these people and their desires to an upper class life of wit and elegance. It is when a rival to her throne moves into the village that the story takes off and each page of this character driven comedy will have the reader smiling, giggling or even snorting in delight.
I think the essence of this book rings a bell with people as these broadly show more drawn characters can be found amongst one’s social circle today. Every society must have its’ queen, and every queen must struggle to retain her throne. Queen Lucia is the first in a series of books, and judging by this first one, the rest of the series should prove delightful. show less
Queen Lucia is the first in a series of six novels satirizing a slice of 1920s English society (which Simon at Stuck-in-a-Book recently christened, "Bright Middle-Aged Things"). Mrs Lucas is the self-appointed "queen" of Riseholme, a sleepy village somewhere near London. Her speech is littered with Italian phrases, inspiring the nickname Lucia. She prides herself on staying au courant with all the local gossip, cementing her dominant social position in Riseholme. Lucia is an amusing character in her own right, and Benson populates Riseholme with an extensive supporting cast. Mrs Quantock gets caught up in every cultural fad (first yoga, and later spiritualism). Olga Bracely, an opera singer, takes up residence in Riseholme and threatens show more to disturb the social order. Lucia's dear friend Georgie simultaneously worships Lucia and works to subvert her power. And there are many more ...
In lieu of a complete story arc, the novel meanders through a series of vignettes intended to both define the social order and amuse the reader. Each one is a comedy of manners where situations and people are not as they seem, misunderstandings abound, and someone gets their comeuppance. Benson's Riseholme came to life, and Reading Queen Lucia I was transported to a time when people communicated by letter several times each day, servants were largely invisible until they decided to (shock!) marry one another, and formal dinner parties with music and tableaux were routine entertainment. It was all quite cozy and fun.
Some readers criticize these books, and the characters, for being shallow and mean-spirited. But it's satire -- it's meant to be biting, and the humor makes you stop and think about how ridiculous and self-important people can be. If you're looking for light amusement, this is just the ticket. show less
In lieu of a complete story arc, the novel meanders through a series of vignettes intended to both define the social order and amuse the reader. Each one is a comedy of manners where situations and people are not as they seem, misunderstandings abound, and someone gets their comeuppance. Benson's Riseholme came to life, and Reading Queen Lucia I was transported to a time when people communicated by letter several times each day, servants were largely invisible until they decided to (shock!) marry one another, and formal dinner parties with music and tableaux were routine entertainment. It was all quite cozy and fun.
Some readers criticize these books, and the characters, for being shallow and mean-spirited. But it's satire -- it's meant to be biting, and the humor makes you stop and think about how ridiculous and self-important people can be. If you're looking for light amusement, this is just the ticket. show less
I share Miss Bracely's opinion of Lucia, "She is an ass." And so it's too bad that she's the main protagonist here. Olga is awfully engaging and Georgie is positively in-the-closet and so charming. I enjoyed the Brahmin from Benares, Foljambe, Georgie's butch sisters and even the Quantocks were more interesting than Lucia. She's ignorant and stuck-up and full of herself. I'd go on with the series if it were more about the secondary and tertiary characters. But that it's Lucia's show, I think I'll stop here.
Queen Lucia is the comic period novel for those who shy away from the genre. It's perfect for anyone who's cynically observed Queen Bees at work in any era.
Queen Lucia operates as a delicious satire on two levels: Yes, the novel paints a particularly stinging picture of the social climbing of the British upper middle classes in the period between the World Wars. Our protagonist, E.F. Benson's Emmeline Lucas -- referred to as Queen Lucia behind her back -- considers herself "high-priestess at every altar of Art" and the small village of Riseholme's premiere social arbiter, imposing her iron will on all her neighbors. That Mrs. Lucas, whose Italian is virtually non-existent, insists that all of her friends and acquaintances refer to her show more as "Lucia," with the Italian pronunciation, gives the reader an early indication of just how pretentious Emmeline Lucas is.
That Lucia sees herself as the pinnacle of refinement and exalted sensibility and her hamlet as the pre-eminent bastion of high art in England is part of the delicious joke. Like Lucifer in Paradise Lost, the competitive Lucia would rather rule in a Cotswold backwater than serve in London, which she constantly disparages. Will Lucia be able to prevail when a nationally renowned opera singer moves into Riseholme? If she doesn't, it won't be for lack of trying, by fair means or foul!
While Queen Lucia ruthlessly ridicules the genteel social climbers of the 1920s, the novel also provides a scathing satire of Queen Bees of any period. Throughout the novel, you can see the beginnings of the current trend of suburbanites descending on idyllic rural parts and then transforming them into twee, Disneyfied versions of the original with no consideration for the locals. (Don't miss the send-up of Lucia's rarefied version of an Elizabethan cottage.) And Lucia's maneuvering to maintain her position as the arbiter of style and taste for Riseholme is hilarious. Scenes of the various residents of Riseholme kowtowing to those above them on the social hierarchy while condescending to those below could, with slight modifications, take place today in the Home Counties in England or the suburbs of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois or California.
Every upper-middle-class suburb, whether in the UK or America, contains social climbers who will boast about "traveling in the best society" and will try to dominate their social circles and one-up everyone else. Any woman who has ever served on a committee or sent their child to a private school will recognize modern-day Emmeline Lucases who have proved as competitive and infuriating as Lucia.
Yet, however infuriating, pompous, domineering, and pretentious Lucia might be, her antics will keep you riveted to the last page. Nor will you be able to wait for the next novel, Lucia in London. show less
Queen Lucia operates as a delicious satire on two levels: Yes, the novel paints a particularly stinging picture of the social climbing of the British upper middle classes in the period between the World Wars. Our protagonist, E.F. Benson's Emmeline Lucas -- referred to as Queen Lucia behind her back -- considers herself "high-priestess at every altar of Art" and the small village of Riseholme's premiere social arbiter, imposing her iron will on all her neighbors. That Mrs. Lucas, whose Italian is virtually non-existent, insists that all of her friends and acquaintances refer to her show more as "Lucia," with the Italian pronunciation, gives the reader an early indication of just how pretentious Emmeline Lucas is.
That Lucia sees herself as the pinnacle of refinement and exalted sensibility and her hamlet as the pre-eminent bastion of high art in England is part of the delicious joke. Like Lucifer in Paradise Lost, the competitive Lucia would rather rule in a Cotswold backwater than serve in London, which she constantly disparages. Will Lucia be able to prevail when a nationally renowned opera singer moves into Riseholme? If she doesn't, it won't be for lack of trying, by fair means or foul!
While Queen Lucia ruthlessly ridicules the genteel social climbers of the 1920s, the novel also provides a scathing satire of Queen Bees of any period. Throughout the novel, you can see the beginnings of the current trend of suburbanites descending on idyllic rural parts and then transforming them into twee, Disneyfied versions of the original with no consideration for the locals. (Don't miss the send-up of Lucia's rarefied version of an Elizabethan cottage.) And Lucia's maneuvering to maintain her position as the arbiter of style and taste for Riseholme is hilarious. Scenes of the various residents of Riseholme kowtowing to those above them on the social hierarchy while condescending to those below could, with slight modifications, take place today in the Home Counties in England or the suburbs of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Illinois or California.
Every upper-middle-class suburb, whether in the UK or America, contains social climbers who will boast about "traveling in the best society" and will try to dominate their social circles and one-up everyone else. Any woman who has ever served on a committee or sent their child to a private school will recognize modern-day Emmeline Lucases who have proved as competitive and infuriating as Lucia.
Yet, however infuriating, pompous, domineering, and pretentious Lucia might be, her antics will keep you riveted to the last page. Nor will you be able to wait for the next novel, Lucia in London. show less
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- Canonical title
- Queen Lucia
- Original title
- Queen Lucia
- Original publication date
- 1920
- People/Characters
- Emmeline Lucas (Lucia); Georgie Pillson; Philip Lucas (Pepino); Daisy Quantock; Lady Ambermere; Olga Bracely (show all 16); George Shuttleworth; Foljambe; Hermy; Ursy; Robert Quantock; The Guru; Mrs Weston; Colonel Boucher; Mrs. Antrobus; Princess Popoffski
- Important places
- Riseholme, Worcestershire, England, UK; The Hurst, Riseholme, Worcestershire, England, UK
- First words
- Though the sun was hot on this July morning Mrs. Lucas preferred to cover the half-mile that lay between the station and her house on her own feet, and sent on her maid and her luggage in the fly that her husband had ordered ... (show all)to meet her.
- Quotations
- A couple of volumes of these prose poems had been published ... at "Ye Signe of Ye Daffodile", on the village green, where type was set up by hand, and very little, but that of the best, was printed.... [His poems] were print... (show all)ed in blunt type on thick yellowish paper, the edges of which seemed as if they had been cut by the forefinger of an impatient reader, so ragged and irregular were they, and they were bound in vellum.
Anyhow he would not tell her that Olga and her husband were dining at The Hall tonight; he would not even tell her that her husband's name was Shuttleworth, and Lucia might make a dreadful mistake, and ask Mr and Mrs Bracely.... (show all) That would be jam for Georgie, and he could easily imagine himself saying to Lucia, "My dear, I thought you must have known that she had married Mr Shuttleworth and kept her maiden name! How tarsome for you! They are so touchy about that sort of thing."
"How kind of you to come and see us," she said. "Georgie, this is Mr Pillson. My husband."
"How do you do, Mr Shuttleworth," said Georgie to shew he knew, though his own Christian name had given him quite a start. For the ... (show all)moment he had almost thought she was speaking to him....
"Done!" she said. "Now don't you try to get out of it, because my husband is a witness. Georgie, give me a cigarette."
In a moment Riseholme-Georgie had his cigarette-case open.
"Do take one of mine," he said, "I'm Georgie too."
"You don't say so! Let's send it to the Psychical Research, or whoever those people are who collect coincidences and say it's spooks. And a match please, one of you Georgies." - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)It tasted rather bitter, but not unpleasantly so...
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