Queen Lucia

By: E. F. Benson

Narrated by: Nadia May

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

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)

Always irresistible.

Nadia May is superb, which suits Lucia just fine. The story as narrated by miss May is never tarsome

We all need more E.F. Benson in our life!

I am ashamed to say that I did not know this author before stumbling by mere chance on "Queen Lucia." What a find! Absolutely hilarious. Well written, witty, entertaining and just plain good (humorous) literature.
I will look for more audiobooks from this author.
As far as Nadia May is concerned: BRAVA! I bought a few Audibles read by Nadia May and hated them all. As I indicated in my reviews, I couldn't tell if it was because of the reader's lack of talent or because the novels themselves were not well written. But finally, for this book, this reader was ideal!! Absolutely unbeatable!
I highly recommend this Audible.

Always clever -- sometimes laugh-out-loud funny.

EF Benson's witty Lucia novels are the rare kind of satire that is incisive and engrossing, but never ever cruel. Here are fiendish plots and dastardly counterplots, short term tactics and long game strategy, without murders, mayhem, car wrecks, or the merest whiff of sex (though the sexlessness is itself wildly funny). This first of the series (which by popular demand intersected with the Miss Mapp novels) introduces Queen Lucia, her realm in the 1920s Elizabethan town of Riseholm, her court, and the rivals and pretenders to her throne. The narration is perfect, bringing out the subtle humor with just the right amount if sympathy and restraint. Morris dancing in the Moonlight (Sonata).

If you like the television show, Frasier, you'll love this book

The story is full of the absurdities of the self involved. The characters and situations will give you a chuckle.

Be careful before you select this audiobook

There is a pretty hardcore racist line of dialogue in this novel. Potential readers should be aware. In addition I interpreted a character as being potentially antisemitic. Outmoded cultural depiction of a character from India.

Wonderful characters and interactions

Would you consider the audio edition of Queen Lucia to be better than the print version?

Not this audio edition - it is read way too fast for me to truly enjoy and savor it.

What did you like best about this story?

The characters and their motivations seem authentic.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

SLOW DOWN!!!!!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Jilted, replaced and reclaimed

Any additional comments?

Beautifully written and intricate enough to hold my attention. I get so tired of mystery novels and prefer stories involving understanding of human relationships which can vary from culture to culture but still contain the common thread of humanity. "Make new friends and keep the old ones..." I like the book so much I will try another reader.

Maybe I was looking for Wodehouse

I think I expected funnier. And Lucia is a woman I don't think I'd want to spent any time with in real life. Control-freak, anyone? But the full cast of characters are charming (and not in the snotty, backhanded way). I might read the next in the series. Nadia May made the reading worth finishing. A few laugh out loud moments.

A delight

A little slow to get into but well worth it! Funny characters and situations, well narrated.

One of the very few worthy interpretations of the work.

Extremely enjoyable, with a good understanding of the vocal inflection of the age and the cultural environment that produced them.

Satire At It’s Best

An hysterical spoof on the British upper class and the latest fads. A most enjoyable read/listen.