Rating: 
Summary: Au reservoir!
Review: An almost asphixicatingly high level of camp at times but very, very funny. Less in the spirit of camp, but the real joy of this and other books in the series, is the acute observation of character. E F Benson seems to have had Jane Austen's eye for human folly (little mercy is shown). Pretentious, scheming, snobbish, attention-seeking... there's probably more of Lucia in most of us than we would care to admit. Outrageous though she is it's hard not to root for her, if only that she is surrounded by even greater fools. I urge you to meet her. Wonderful, wonderful books.
Rating:
Summary: I am now a Luciaphile!
Review: And proud of it...
I began this series because of recommendations from those who enjoyed Wodehouse. Although It's much dryer in the humor department than Wodehouse, the series is lovely and possesses that crisp hard edged satire that only Brits seem to be able to master. His skewering is principally focused on a narcissist who, despite her braggart ways, you can't take your eyes off and wouldn't want to live without. I've read all six in short succession, and I do agree with most reviewers that the final three are his strongest. I am sorry that we are left with only the six novels, but at least we have those. Long live Lucia!
Rating:
Summary: One of the 3 funniest novels ever written
Review: And the other 2 are also by Benson ... well, tied with Toole's "Confedearcy of Dunces" and Keenan's "Blue Heaven."There's a slow start with the first chapter--Benson's humour is entirely character-based, so you needs must meet the character before the jokes can begin--but once they begin, they don't let up. Luckily (because you'll want more, more more after this book) there are others in the series. This first book sets the pattern: wealthy, intellectually-pretentious, English housewife Lucia wants to be thought of as the exemplar of good/interesting taste, and will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. The characters are all frightfully interested in the most trivial things, and it's screamingly funny. If you like Benson, try Beverley Nichols (oh, and do read the other two funniest novels ever written, mentioned above--you owe it to yourself.) Note: a 3 star ranking from me is actually pretty good; I reserve 4 stars for tremendously good works, and 5 only for the rare few that are or ought to be classic; unfortunately most books published are 2 or less.
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Summary: A french lectrice
Review: Hi ! I've been reading several english writters, and Benson is one of those I love best, for his terrific irony, his sens of the "absurde" (sorry, I don't know the english word !) , his characters, who are all of them so crazy that you don't know which one is the most mad... If you enjoyed Benson, then you MUST read the american writter Joe Keenan, who is one of the man able to concurrence Benson concerning this kind of humour !
Rating:
Summary: Among my very favorite novels
Review: I can't tell you how many times I have read these books since I first discovered them 10 years ago -- and I thoroughly enjoy them each and every time. The characters begin to seem like people you know. There are times when I will be in a certain social situation, and I wonder "What would Lucia do?" She ALWAYS manages to come out ahead no matter what setbacks she may encounter; she is shameless and ruthless and dauntless, and you can't wait to see what she will do next! Just this morning, I was smiling to myself as I remembered an exchange between Georgie and Quaint Irene. I LOVE these books.
Rating:
Summary: You Will Treasure This Novel
Review: I discovered Lucia through the television presentation of "Mapp & Lucia". I immediately bought all six novels (despite the unleavened presence of Miss Mapp in one of them). That was fourteen years ago. My copies of these works are now dog-earred, and I'm surprised the ink hasn't faded from excessive eye contact. Elizabeth Mapp embodies the perfect villain, and reading Lucia's triumphs over her is a balm to the soul. The characters of Benson's supporting cast become just as real and vivid as do his leads. One wishes to transport to Tilling of the 20's and 30's and participate in the machinations of the two ladies. I even learned to play bridge to enrich my apprehension of the texture of these novels. Read one! You'll soon be hooked.
Rating: 
Summary: The knives are so sharp because the town is so small
Review: I was attacted to this book (and series by Benson) because Tom Holt has written sequels to these books, and I felt like I should read the originals before searching out Holt's pastiches. I was reminded of these in a recent thread on rec.arts.books regarding writers similar to Wodehouse. Finding a [inexpensive] paperback at The Tattered Cover, I splurged the ninety-eight cents. And it was a ninety-eight cents well spent. Benson isn't Wodehouse, but then, who is? What Benson has is his own idea about the English and their manners, or what passes for manners in his idealized and satirical version of small town high society. Mrs. Emmeline Lucas--Lucia to all in the small town of Riseholme--rules her town with a iron will. She is the arbiter of all things cultural. But when Olga Bracely, the opera star, decides to take up residence in Riseholme, Lucia discovers that her thin veneer of culture can't stand up to the real thing. Watching Lucia get her comeuppance, and then re-win her social throne, is the main plot of the book. But there's also Daisy Quantock's Guru, and the mysterious medium, and the imperious Lady Ambermere, and the rest of Riseholme. Like Wodehouse, Benson has created characters that seem very familiar, and yet aren't typical stereotypes, and the fun is watching how they play against each other.
Rating:
Summary: I would give it 6 stars, but they won't let me
Review: I was turned on to these wonderful books by a friend of mine who is completely Georgie! Read the book, you'll know who I mean. Every single one is an absolute jewel--I loved it from the beginning and have not been disappointed in the least with the subsequent novels. Please try them--they are well worth your reading time!
Rating:
Summary: I would give it 6 stars, but they won't let me
Review: I was turned on to these wonderful books by a friend of mine who is completely Georgie! Read the book, you'll know who I mean. Every single one is an absolute jewel--I loved it from the beginning and have not been disappointed in the least with the subsequent novels. Please try them--they are well worth your reading time!
Rating:
Summary: You must buy this book!
Review: I'm not the kind of person to say that lightly, but this book changed my life. The wonderful Lucia. The Godess. To bad she did not live in Roman times. There could have been a Lucian Empire!
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