There are those books that somehow you miss along the way and people assume you have read. For me those books were the Mapp and Lucia series by E F Benson. I first came to them a few years ago – very late to the party indeed. I bought all six for my kindle and there they sat. I have spaced them out rather more than I had intended, in fact it is four years since I read book four – not quite sure how that happened. It is probably the invisibility of my kindle books that make them languish unread so long – they don’t call to me in the same way the books on my shelves do.
Lucia’s Progress is the fifth of E F Benson’s famous series, opening about a year after the previous story ended. Lucia is contemplating her upcoming fiftieth birthday with steely resignation. Now living in Grebe cottage, which isn’t really grand enough for Lucia, she is only looking for a chance to get her hands on Mallards again. Elizabeth Mapp is back at Mallards, though not alone. She is now married – to Major Benjy – and has hyphenated her name to Mapp-Flint. The whole of Tilling is completely fascinated by this marriage – who exactly is it that wears the trousers there? Major Benjy has been seen drinking tea, and he isn’t playing as much golf as he used to either.
“Elizabeth Mapp-Flint had schemes for her husband and meant to realize them. As a bachelor, with an inclination to booze and a very limited income, inhabiting that small house next to Mallards, it was up to him, if he chose, to spend the still robust energies of his fifty-five years in playing golf all day and getting slightly squiffy in the evening. But his marriage had given him a new status: he was master, though certainly not mistress, of the best house in Tilling…”
Georgie has had shingles on his face – and unable to shave a fearful white beard is now covering half his face. Poor Georgie is mortified and hasn’t been seen outside the house in a fortnight. As Tilling begin to gossip about his whereabouts – and try all ways to gain access to his house to find out – Georgie moves in with Lucia to hide from them. The two of them get along famously, they enjoy the companionship and being together all the time sows a little seed in both their minds. However, when Lucia suggests dyeing his beard to match his hair Georgie is delighted with the results and is soon seen strutting around Tilling again and joining in the exhausting society of the town.
Rumour and speculation are always on the agenda with the residents of Tilling – Quaint Irene and Diva are two of the worst culprits. A certain rumour begins to circulate about Elizabeth – when someone notices she has altered her green skirt – well she is only forty-three! Lucia is the most sceptical – and Elizabeth is doing nothing to quash the rumours. Competition has always been at the heart of Lucia and Elizabeth’s relationship – and this only increases when Lucia starts to play the stock market – giving out tips to anyone who’ll listen. Elizabeth of course swears she will do the exact opposite of whatever Lucia says.
“‘Ah, my Financial Post,’ she said. “I thought it would be amusing, dear, just to see what was happening to Lucia’s gold mine. I take such an interest in it for her sake.” She turned over the unfamiliar pages, and clapped her hands in sympathetic delight. “Oh, Benjy-boy, isn’t that nice for her?” she cried. “Siriami has gone up another three shillings. Quite a fortune!” Benjy was just as pleased as Elizabeth, though he marvelled at the joy that Lucia’s enrichment had given her.”
When a vacancy on the town council opens up – Lucia and Elizabeth go into full competitive overdrive. Lucia lobbying to raise taxes to help the poor – and Elizabeth promising to lower them – the unemployed needing to be encouraged to work. It all gets just a little mean spirited – with both candidates sure they will be victorious.
When later, Lucia believes she has discovered the remains of a Roman villa in the asparagus patch, her excitement knows no bounds. Georgie is roped in, but everyone else is barred entry – so as to heighten their curiosity and excitement. Of course, anything that excites Lucia utterly infuriates Elizabeth – and so the forced smiles and thinly disguised sniping continues – as Lucia and Georgie make a life changing decision.
It’s all great fun, sharply observed and deliciously tart. I really should try to read the final Mapp and Lucia book in something rather less than four years! I also have another E F Benson book As We Were tbr – which I feel sure I read a review of somewhere not that long ago.
Lovely! I have very fond memories of reading some of the Mapp and Lucia books (though possibly not this one) after watching the TV series in the mid-’80s. Deliciously tart is a great way of describing the tone of these novels – you make me want to read them all over again!
They are the kinds of books I can imagine readers revisiting.
I went through a Mapp and Lucia phase a few years ago – because I found actual books which contained all of them. I think that I may have abandoned them as they became increasingly surreal…defying belief in fact. I know that someone has recently continued the stories and I must admit I haven’t got round to them, yet. A super post, though.
Yes I believe two different authors have continued the stories, I have heard they are good, but I can’t decide if I want to read them.
Great review Ali, and you remind me how much I love the Mapp and Lucia books. Such fun! I loved the 1980s show as well – perfectly cast. How wonderful Lucia was, despite her nastiness – cruelly, I always enjoyed seeing her get one up on Mapp! 🙂
Of the two I also prefer Lucia, she is a terror, but Elizabeth really grates on my nerves. Perhaps that’s how EF Benson intended us to feel.
Your superb post reminded me of how much I love Mapp and Lucia and I’m also a fan of the 1980s series. I’ve read quite a bit of Benson’s other works and As We Were is splendid.
Glad to hear you rate As We Were, one to look forward to at some point in the future.
Enjoyed reading your review. I discovered these books myself only after joining Shelfari, but enjoyed reading them. It’s been a while since I read one and reading your review is making me want to do just that. The very first is my favourite.
I think my favourite was the fourth one. I much preferred it when the two characters came together.
Yes-that was fun too- I didn’t like book 2 (Miss Mapp) as much though.
Lovely review. I had a phase with them in the 90s, I think, but am sure I only read four.
It’s easy to forget about the later books probably because the two women come together in book 4.
I devoured all of these books quickly, but then I had them on the shelf calling to me. I’ve read a few that have been written by some other authors too and they were enjoyable. I have the DVDs and they are great, perfect for when you need some comfort viewing. The casting is brilliant with Prue Scales as Mapp and Geraldine McEwan as Lucia.
I never saw the original Mapp and Lucia TV series, it was before they came into my life. But I did enjoy the more recent one with Miranda Richardson and Anna Chancellor.
You must see the original! It’s perfect. I gave away all my Lucias after I read them a century ago. Then I had to rebuy them.
Yes, I rather wish I had them in book form rather than on kindle. Perhaps I will happen upon them one day. I will look out for that old production.
I’m even later to the party than you Ali, and it does sound like a party! What fun – just the ticket for these darkening winter days 🙂
Oh yes perfect to brighten up dark, gloomy evenings. They are fun.
[…] Lucia’s Progress (1935) by E F Benson has languished on my kindle along with the other Mapp and Lucia books for years. It was a fun, escapist read, Elizabeth and Lucia are both is full battle cry for most of the novel – and it’s frequently hilarious. […]