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Queen Lucia

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Queen Lucia

By: E. F. Benson
Narrated by: Nadia May
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About this listen

 The fascinating story of the village of Riseholme's reigning queen of high society: the indomitable Lucia!

England between the wars was a paradise of utter calm and leisure for the very, very rich. But into this enclave is born Mrs. Emmeline Lucas - La Lucia, as she is known - a woman determined to lead a life quite different from the pomp and subdued nature of her class. With her cohort, Georgie Pillson, and her husband, Peppino, she upends the greats of high society, including the imperious Lady Ambermere and her equally imperious dog, Pug; the odious Piggy and Goosie Antrobus; the Christian Scientist Daisy Quantrock, with her penchant for the foreign; and everyone else in the small English town that the wealthy Britons call their country home. Beset on all sides by pretenders to her social throne, Lucia brings culture, the fine arts, and a great deal of excitement and intrigue into this cloistered realm.

(P)1997 Blackstone Audio Inc. Literature & Fiction Funny

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Critic reviews

"[A] delicious satire of the pretensions and foibles of provincial middle-class life in Britain in the 1920s and '30s...[with] droll send-ups of the bitter battles waged by matrons desperate to live out their fantastical versions of upper-class elegance and wit, and...shrewd readings of the ways in which our longings can make us both bizarre and sometimes appealing." ( Kirkus Reviews)
All stars
Most relevant
This highly amusing listen is full of foibles and fun. The narrator is superb with distinctive voices for each character.

Very Petty and Very Funny

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This was such a lovely, light treat in the midst of all the gloom and doom news coming in just now!
The writing was just amazing...impeccable grammar, tone and content. Some modern authors please listen and learn....

Queen Lucia reigns supreme and I loved this character. Well, actually I loved all the characters in this book. They came to life in each phrase, each manipulative wrongdoing!

The narrator deserves 10 stars for this - as she performed all the characters so very well. Excellent!

We are amused....!

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

Excellent narration captures the innuendo and arch idiocy of every character.

What other book might you compare Queen Lucia to, and why?

Others in the Mapp and Lucia series, but Benson is a one off.

What about Nadia May’s performance did you like?

Distinct voice for each character which captured the humour, manners and satire all at the same time.

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

Yes, but I spread it over a few sittings. Virtually every line is a gem and it's worth savouring.

Any additional comments?

I've read the books and listened to a couple of radio adaptations of Mapp and Lucia. I've watched the 1980s TV series and never tire of the humour and satire. The characters are so filled with their own importance and place and they interlock with panache. It's a wonderful portrayal of a particular inter war period which will never be seen again. The pretensions, class distinction and daily one puma ship is priceless.

Perfect portrayal

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I got quite into this once I had got over the irritation of the mispronunciation of Riseholme which should be pronounced “Rizum” according to the Lucia book when she first moves to the place. There was other very dubious pronunciation such as “De boo see” for Debussy. Nevertheless it’s a great story and has the benefit of being cost free.

Queen Lucia

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I'd love to hear the other Mapp and Lucia books unabridged, they are such a delightful treat to return to again and again. Delicious characters in a small community set in the 1920's, wicked and gossipy and fun, fun, fun!

Love Lucia, would like more unabridged Lucia pls

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