E. F. Benson

Edward Frederic Benson was born at Wellington College in 1867 where his father was Headmaster. He went on to Marlborough College and gained a scholarship to King’s College, Cambridge, graduating in archaeology.  

‘Dodo’ was his first book, but he wrote many novels and short stories dealing with the supernatural. Today he is best known for the novels featuring Lucia and Miss Elizabeth Mapp.  These witty stories were published over some twenty years. The first, ‘Queen Lucia’, in 1920 and the third, ‘Lucia in London’, in 1927 are set in the village of Riseholme and tell the story of Lucia, leader of all artistic pursuits and social life.  In ‘Lucia in London’, Lucia descends on London for the season, attempting to conquer the social scene.

In ‘Miss Mapp’, the second book, published in 1922, the town of Tilling and its inhabitants are introduced. Miss Elizabeth Mapp reigns supreme over the social scene.  The fourth novel, ‘Mapp and Lucia’, published in 1931 brings these two formidable ladies together.  In the last two novels, ‘Lucia’s Progress’ of 1935 and ‘Trouble for Lucia’ published in 1939, the ladies battle it out over with endless dinner parties, evenings of bridge and afternoon teas. 

For details of the notable TV series please see the Wikipedia entry below...

Wikipedia

E F Benson Society

Friends of Tilling