pickFascinating life of Mary Benson, who was called the cleverest woman in Europe. The wife of a Victorian Archbishop of Canterbury, she also had a series of women lovers. Five of her six children survived into adulthood to become prolific writers and they all seem to have been gay or lesbian.
pickIt's with a certain sadness I finish the last of Benson's Lucia novels, not for the finishing itself as I can, and will, re-read them, but because the intimations of growth I thought I saw in Lucia's character in the previous two books came to naught.
If Olga Bracely and Miss Mapp represent the better and worse aspects of Lucia's character, then, like Georgie, I'm more attracted to her in the former, and repelled by her in the latter mode. 👇🏼
I'm on to the last of Benson's Lucia novels, and with the Worshipful One now mayor of Tilling, appearances must be upkept with even greater energy and ruthlessness. "Tilling's appetite for social catastrophe was keen", so there's much to be done to maintain status, whilst politely sticking the knife in to ones friends and neighbours.
Frankie's attitude of feline disinterest and aloofness is probably a good strategy ?
👑 “Now Miss Mapp's social dictatorship among the ladies of Tilling had long been paramount, but every now and then signs of rebellious upheavals showed themselves..”
📖Spending the morning with the ladies of Tilling and a cup of tea. Happy Sunday. The days have been running together slightly as I feel like my life has been on the same repeat weekly. Hope everyone has wonderful reading ahead of them today!
#missmapp #currentlyreading #efbenson
My evening: A bit from each of these two reads and catching up on my book journal.
Look what came in the mail, a gift from the lovely @LeahBergen ‼️We‘re going to buddy read it one of these days. Thanks, girlfriend! 😍😍😍😍😍
"The hours of the morning between breakfast and lunch were the time which the inhabitants of Riseholme chiefly devoted to spying on each other." ??
?My only #StartsWithQ book on my shelf! I was sure I must have more...
#MayBookFlowers #EFBenson #QueenLucia
