Edward Frederick Benson was a British author, best known for his Mapp & Lucia series, published in the 1920s and 1930s. The six novels in the series proved to be popular with readers from the start, due to their searing, human honesty and wit. An incredibly prolific writer, E. F. Benson published a book almost every year from 1893 until his death in 1940, including novels, biographies, memoirs, short stories and history books. His last book, Final Edition, was delivered to his publisher ten days before his death.
E. F. Benson
E. F. Benson
Mapp & Lucia
E. F. Benson’s Family
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Her Majesty The Queen
On Mapp & Lucia
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Watercolour of West Street with the Garden Room and Lamb House by Edward Clifford, 1908
© National Trust Images
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Lamb House
© National Trust James Dobson
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Her Majesty The Queen at Lamb House
© National Trust Megan Taylor
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Hayley Mills
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E. F. Benson’s Desk
Lamb House
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Miranda Richardson
Reads Mapp & Lucia
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Miranda Richardson
On a Favourite Memory from Filming the BBC Adaptation
E. F. Benson
From Mapp & Lucia
Featured book by E. F. Benson
Mapp and Lucia
Subtly brilliant comedy of social rivalry between the wars. Emmeline Lucas (known universally to her friends as Lucia) is an arch-snob of the highest order. In Miss Elizabeth Mapp of Mallards Lucia meets her match. Ostensibly the most civil and genteel of society ladies, there is no plan too devious, no plot too cunning, no depths to which they would not sink, in order to win the battle for social supremacy. Using as their deadly weapons garden parties, bridge evenings and charming teas, the two combatants strive to outcharm each other – and the whole of Tilling society – as they vie for the position of doyenne of the town.
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