Un Po'di Mu--Celestial Mozartino

Does anyone else love the Lucia series by EF Benson? The books are smashing. The wonderful Geraldine McEwan, Prunella Scales, and Nigel Hawthorne acted in a series, available on DVD, of the Lucia books.

I also like: Delafield, Waugh, Diary of a Nobody, Stephen Fry, and many others.

You know, I read the Lucia series about 25 years ago, and my husband poked fun at me the entire time. I did enjoy it a great deal, however, and I think it might be time for a re-read.

I adored this series, though, like amancine, it's been ages since I read it.

Qui Hai!

These are the best books ever written!! I'm constantly looking for similar books. In a side note, are some excllent audiobooks available of Mapp and Lucia, Miss Mapp and Queen Lucia.

I never re-read books, but I've read the Lucia books at least three times. Absolute masterpieces!

Oh, dear, you've got me started on Queen Lucia now, and I shan't be able to stop before I've reread the whole set. How tarsome!

I'm re-reading the Lucia books and dreading getting to the end of the series. Gave the books to the op-shop last time I moved house, so am searching second-hand bookshops and the Internet to replace them. Love coming home to find a Lucia book on the doorstep - have to start reading immediately.

Au reservoir.

I finished Trouble for Lucia this morning, with much enjoyment. I wish threre were a few more in the set! I've posted some little reviews as I went along.

Something that struck me, looking back on the books as a whole, which isn't so obvious while you're actually immersed in the world of Tilling and Riseholme, was how little "of great moment" actually happens. There are none of the events that are supposed to drive a narrative: no-one falls in love, or out of it; a couple of characters die, but they do so offstage and without fuss; there are no wars or revolutions, and no-one becomes seriously rich or poor. Benson says somewhere that Lucia's great gift is to make people passionate about trivialities -- evidently that's what he's trying to achieve as a novelist.

I adore them! Read them all probably a dozen times. Bought the DVDs of the television series ...

I've often wondered if these character's seriousness over trivial social events isn't based more on reality that is comfortable to believe.

BTW -- the whole series is available in one large volume. My paperbacks died long ago.

Gary

Has anyone else read the author: Tom Holt continuations of the Lucia stories? They're not quite perfect, but close enough for me. And when it comes to Lucia books, any port in a storm.

I saw the TV series on UKTV first, though I unfortunately missed the episode with the flood scene. Thought it was brilliant, especially Geraldine McEwan, so had to get hold of the books - eventually found the omnibus edition, read it and loved it. Hadn't thought of re-reading it but may have to now! Also I didn't know about the Tom Holt continuations so may have to look our for those now too. Damn these threads!!!