I was very happy to discover these new editions of the Mapp and Lucia sextet recently. They're only due to be published on the 15th April but at a super-economical retail price of £1.99 (and currently on pre-order at the Book Depository at £1.49), I thought it was worth a mention.
Wordsworth Classics have always striven to provide access to classic literature at an affordable price and I'm so glad that these witty tales have been added to their illustrious ranks.
I quite like the cover art as it appears to depict the river in Rye (a.k.a. Tilling in some of the novels). The first volume reminds me of Lucia's first home in Tilling, Grebe, located among the marshes and the second volume appears to be a view of the canal from a vantage point in the town.
I'm tempted to buy these, even though I have the lovely Black Swan paperbacks, the Penguin volumes and the exquisite Folio edition (an extra birthday present from a very special friend). Naughty, I know, but at such a wonderful price I think I might not feel guilty for too long.
So... as a celebration of the enduring appeal of Benson's Mapp and Lucia novels (and as a belated blog birthday gift), I'm holding a Giveaway. The prize is a brand new copy of the gorgeous recently published Vintage edition of Mapp and Lucia.
To entice those of you new to Mapp and Lucia, the blurb below (from the Prion edition) gives a humorous outline of the series and this book is an excellent place to begin:
"Mapp and Lucia is the centrepiece of E.F. Benson's series of Lucia novels - bringing together for the first time the eponymous middle-aged doyennes of polite 1930s society, Miss Elizabeth Mapp and Emmeline Lucas (Lucia to her friends).
Lucia, recently widowed, is the newcomer to the village of Tilling and eager to wrest the reins of social supremacy from the incumbant Miss Mapp and install herself as its benevolent dictator. In their polite acts of sabotage and ruthless jockeying for the position of cultural arbiter Mapp and Lucia tear up the conventions of drawing-room bridge evenings as their deadly weapons.
Things finally come to a head with Miss Mapp's audacious attempt to steal her rival's celebrated Lobster a la Riseholme. E.F. Benson's charming satrical bent turns the pretensions and snobberies of English village life into a vicious comedy."
Anyone can enter - whether you'd like to read M&L for the first time, simply covet this edition or would like to add it to the rest of your collection - everyone is welcome! To enter, please leave a comment and I will hold a random draw on Friday, 25 February 2011. I am happy to post anywhere in the world (to be fulfilled by the Book Depository) so please don't hesitate. Good luck!
19 comments:
HOW generous! I am rather desperate to read these so please enter me - that edition is gorgeous! Thank you so much!
Hi there, I am new to E.F Benson's works but after having been lurking around the blogosphere community recently, have been much enticed to read the Mapp & Lucia series (esp after seeing the lovely Folio edition covers in Simon's blog). I found the Book Depository pre-order deal really tempting too, but at the same time can't help thinking/ wishing to maybe invest in a more "extravagant" set for keeps(ie: better paper quality, nicer illustrations, etc...) I tend to place equal (ok, I confess, sometimes maybe even a wee bit more) importance to both a book's packaging as well as its contents, shallow reader that I am. Having said that, you will find it as no surprise that the Vintage edition which you are so generously offering to giveaway, is very much coveted. Please enter me for the draw. Thanks! :)
How wonderful! It's funny - I was just looking for a Benson book in the library the other day and it wasn't on the shelf where it should have been so I came away empty-handed (re Benson - of course I compensated by borrowing other items) so would love to be entered for this one!
Hi - thanks for your recent comment over on my blog :0)
This is a lovely giveaway. I've never read Mapp & Lucia, but it sounds right up my street.
Have a lovely day.
Jill xx
I definitely want to read this series at some point, so it's good to know that there is this new edition on the way. I'm off to investigate it now. Thank you for the tip.
I would love to be entered, as these books have been on my wishlist for ages! Thank you also for spreading the word about the Wordsworth editions. I'm a fan of them as well - they're affordable and more appealing than the popular Penguins, both when it comes to cover art and to type.
Such a gorgeous cover! I am one of the few who has yet to discover this sparkling series so please add my name to your draw. Thank you!
Ooh what fun! My father is a big fan of Mapp and Lucia but I've never actually read them. That Vintage edition does look smart!
oh, me too, and thank you. I read these books a long time ago and it's more than past time for a re-read.
I've never heard of these! They sound good though..and while I like the new covers, the older one is really cute.
Id never heard of them, but im discovering new authors everyday due to all my new found blogs! My wishlist is growing so much bigger and my new years resolution of not buying anymore books until i shift some off my shelf, has also gone out the window!
This series sounds great. Id love to be entered. Thankyou!
I am new to Mapp & Lucia, but your post has enticed me to check them out, whether or not I'm the lucky winner :)
your post has peeked my interest in Mapp &Lucia.please enter my name.Thankyou
Ooh, I'd love to be entered for these too and thank you! I've been meaning to try these books but never know where to start or where to find them.
I too like everyone else am desperate to get my hands on this so please count me in. Many thanks for this giveaway.
Please add my name to this lovely giveaway..thanks (great blog)
Another ooh please may I be entered into this? Yet to read one and as I snuggle on the sofa on a Saturday afternoon it seems the perfect book.
Oh, I would love to be entered please! I have been lusting after the Penguin Modern Classics edition of Mapp & Lucia (never having read it) but covet the new Vintage edition just as much.
Oh, please enter me into the giveaway as well. Mapp and Lucia have been on my to-read list for quite a while and that cover is gorgeous! You are so generous.
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