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  • Miss Mapp

  • By: E. F. Benson
  • Narrated by: Nadia May
  • Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (203 ratings)
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Miss Mapp cover art

Miss Mapp

By: E. F. Benson
Narrated by: Nadia May
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Summary

Miss Elizabeth Mapp, magnificent grande dame and heiress, is always on the lookout lest her neighbors fall outside the bounds of perfect, exemplary manners. But her tightly controlled world is soon beset on all sides by interlopers, first in the disturbingly masculine form of two very different retired army officers, both of whom are anything but retiring in their conflicting aims upon her heart. Second, there appears the elegant, insidiously evil Contessa possessed of dazzling charm and diabolical designs.
Public Domain (P)2001 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Nadia May does a hilarious Miss Mapp, the small-minded small-town heiress of a certain age who leads an absolutely full life spying on and attempting to best her neighbors." ( AudioFile)

What listeners say about Miss Mapp

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

and escapist delight

It would be difficult to say quite what it is about this audiobook that is so mesmerically wonderful. i've listened to it repeatedly. Familiarity just makes it more comforting- like a warm blanket.

It's a picture of a perfect world; a group of people living in a beautiful little town 'Tilling' (Rye really, as everyone knows, in Sussex) All the charecters have enough money to live comfortably, and servants to do the hard work so they have all day to plot against each other- living lives of constant point-scoring, petty meanness and one-up-manship.

We're still waiting for Blackstone Audio and Audible to bring us the sequels...

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sublime!

If you haven't read, or listened, to these before, you're in for a treat. There was an excellent TV adaptation at Christmas, 2014, but the great pleasure of these books, as with PG Wodehouse is not what happens (not much does), but the fantastically witty descriptions and dialogue. A TV adaptation can capture the dialogue, but not the language used for the descriptions.This particular reading (and Queen Lucia, another in the series) is performed by Nadia May, sometimes known by her real name of Wanda McCaddon, who captures it brilliantly. I would urge (a) you to listen to this, and to Queen Lucia, and (b) the publishers to commission, forthwith, unabridged versions of the rest of the Mapp & Lucia series

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Miss Mapp is my mother in law!

Very much of it's time but it's a time that I like. A wittily observed picture of small town middle class ladies of a certain age and their rivalries and frailties. It's actually very funny in it's own genteel fashion and Miss Mapp's similarity to my above mentioned relative made my blood run cold. He must have known her! Very well written, well read and entertaining.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Hillarious & an enjoyable read!

This may have been published some 90 years ago but E.F. Benson's observation of people is still just a relevant for today. The story is s series of 'episodes' of Miss Mapp's life in Tilling [Rye] and the many interactions with fellow villagers. They are hilarious events such as decorating clothing with cut out flowers from curtains and consequential one-man-up-manship that takes place; The visit of the Prince of Wales and the schemes to meet him.



It is great descriptive writing that will have you chuckling out loud.



Nadia's reading is enjoyable with the various voices 'just right'. Read while on a 2 week cruise and has fond memories. I re-reading often enjoying going back to certain chapters for sheer escapism to Tilling.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a hoot!

Wonderful depiction of insular English village life and characters between the wars. Great it's unabridged.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great escapism

Would you listen to Miss Mapp again? Why?

Maybe if I was ill. I don't usually revisit books unless they are firm favourites. Life's too short.

What did you like best about this story?

That it's total escapism from the demands of my daily life.

Have you listened to any of Nadia May’s other performances? How does this one compare?

I've not listened to any others. I might be tempted now, though

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not particularly, it's more of a gentle comedy

Any additional comments?

I found this on audible after watching the dramatisation on the BBC last Christmas. It was an easy, enjoyable listen, and it's a shame that there aren't many more unabridged readings of the other novels available.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

My life seems uncomplicated in comparison

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, its an interesting view into the intrigue and snobbery of early 20th C England, but also very funny

What did you like best about this story?

I learnt some new vocabulary

What does Nadia May bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

excellent delivery, good timing

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

too long but a great car journey novel

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great characters

Elizabeth Mapp is an odious woman operating at the height of her game in a world beset with strict codes of conduct. The storms of rage and frustrated fury occasioned by the orchestrated oneupmanship is laugh out loud funny. I love this series.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfectly charming A period piece

I remembered the TV series so was delighted to see the original book. I wasn't disappointed. Miss Mapp is an absolutely charming period piece that perfectly captures 1920's market town snobbery. Written with a perfect dry ascerbic wit that would put Stephan Fry to shame I would thoroughly recommend this book

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

I'm struggling to get a negative review through ?

I've got nearly 400 titles in my library, I've left good, bad and meh reviews.

I hate this book.
I detest every character ( in varying degrees).
I think there is nothing enjoyable, entertaining, thoughtful , poignant, educational or relevant anywhere.
I grew up in this sorta environment, it is not pleasant.

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