Miss Mapp by Edwin F. Benson is a delightful and witty novel that follows the doings of a small English town filled with gossip, rivalries, and social intrigue. The story revolves around the character of Miss Elizabeth Mapp, a sharp-tongued and nosy woman who is determined to be at the center of all the town's happenings.

Benson's writing is sharp and humorous, perfectly capturing the absurdity and pettiness of small-town life. The characters are vividly drawn, each with their own quirks and motivations that make them both entertaining and relatable. Miss Mapp herself is a wonderfully complex character, full of insecurities and hidden depths beneath her facade of superiority.

The plot is engaging and full of twists and turns, as Miss Mapp schemes and plots to maintain her place as the queen bee of the town. The pacing is brisk, keeping the reader eagerly turning the pages to see what will happen next. Overall, Miss Mapp is a charming and entertaining read that will appeal to fans of witty social comedies and character-driven novels.

Book Description:

E. F. Benson’s Mapp and Lucia series, consists of six novels and three short stories. The novels are: Queen Lucia, Lucia in London, Miss Mapp (including the short story The Male Impersonator), Mapp and Lucia, Lucia’s Progress (published as The Worshipful Lucia in the U.S.) and Trouble for Lucia. Most of these works are set in the fictional village of “Tilling”, which is based on the village of Rye, Sussex, England. “Mallards”, the house with the garden room inhabited by Miss Mapp, and later by Lucia, is based on Lamb House, Benson’s own home in Rye. Earlier, the house was the Sussex home of writer Henry James.