Queen Lucia · Miss Mapp · Lucia in London A recommendation by Ben McCormack — and a highly appropriate one for August in Rye, given Benson lived there (in Lamb House), and that his fictitious Tilling — home of Miss Mapp — is modeled on Rye. While the sextet of novels (in two volumes) would not be described as “high” literature — there is a superbly comedic/satiric strand to them, and, taken together, they comprise a great insight into the period of modernism, its fads and affectations (see especially Lucia in London). While both Tilling and Riseholme — modeled on Broadway and home of Lucia — are idyls, they do reflect the unique 1919 to 1929 era (at least relevant for Volume 1), a period of optimism and prosperity. What is most interesting across the series is simply for readers to marvel at the outrageous characters (or caricatures) of Lucia and Mapp, for both are de facto “queens” in their respective locales, but have achieved this position only through ongoing hypocrisy and fabrication. In a world (or worlds) where news is power, the elaborate games of one-upmanship played are delightful for the reader. Given the story is told in the third person by an omniscient narrator, the reader is also prompted conveniently to partake in the absurdity of the characters' behaviour. Both amusing and page-turning, I wanted constantly to read on. 8/10.
By E. F. Benson