[BENSON, E.F.]

Who was the Original of Lucia?

Three autograph letters, all speculating about the original of E.F. Benson's Lucia from his famous comic sequence of letters set in Tilling (i.e. Rye), Sussex. 1. Autograph letter, 4 pages, from Sir Richard Rodney Bennett [1936 - 2012] composer, from his home in New York dated (later) 2005 in pencil writing about his love of the Lucia books of Benson's. Mentions of his musical "Tilling" which he wrote with the actor Aubrey Woods. He claims to have met a woman who know Benson and who suggested that Lucia was based on a woman who worked at Maggs, the antiquarian book dealers. Her friend Reggis Smith is put forward as the original of Lucia's friend 'Georgie'. "She was a colossal culture slob, who couldn't tell Mozart from Wagner..." He also claims to have invented a board game based on the4 Mapp & Lucia series of books called "Tilling', but I can find no trace of commercial production. Letter in good condition with faint tea[?] stain to pages. 2. Autograph letter from Beverley Nichols [1898 - 1983] English author, dated 1983. Apologising for not being able to reply properly as he is ill. He refers his correspondent to an interview he carried out with E.F. Benson in 'Are They the Same at Home?" a book of interviews. He writes that he corresponded with Michael MacLiammoir when he wrote prefaces for reprints of Benson's books and with John van Druten when he adapted the Lucia books for the theatre. He states that he always thought that Lucia was 'roughly inspired' by Margot Asquith. "I do know (because he told me) that he consulted Melba, when he was creating the character of Olga. But Olga was not based on Melba who was not a very appealing character!" Nichols had worked for Dame Nellie Melba, the opera singer and ghost wrote her autobiography. 3. Autograph letter from Harold Acton [1904 - 1994], aesthete and author, the original of Evelyn Waugh's Anthony Blanche in 'Brideshead Revisted'. Letter dated November 1981. He writes that he has little knowledge of Benson's work, but his mother sent Nancy Mitford some of Benson's novels when she was ill. "It was rumoured that his "Lucia" was based on Lady Sybil Colefax, one of the last lion-hunting hostesses of London..." He goes on the discuss the writer Eleanor Mordant and Marie Corelli "E.F. Benson is infinitely her superior and Henry James puts them all in the shade."

Michael S. Kemp - BooksellerProfessional seller

Book number: 45048

Benson, E F [ Edward Frederick ]

Account Rendered

Heinemann, 1911, 1st edition. Cloth, G+. 321pp, book cocked & spine a little darkened, cloth rubbed & bumped at the corners, large ink inscription on the endpaper, but still a nice copy. Hardback , no dustjacket.
¶ One of many novels written for Heinemann by the author in the Edwardian era , a character study of 4 people thrown together by ties of family & bonds of love. Edward Frederick Benson [ 1867 - 1940 ] best known for his Mapp & Lucia series of novels.

Eastleach BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 30967

Keywords: fiction, literature

Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic) [1867-1940]

Account Rendered

Garden City. New York. Doubleday. Page & Company 1911. First Edition. Near fine copy in the original title-blocked pictorial cloth. Slightest suggestion only of dust-dulling to the spine bands and panel edges. Remains particularly well-preserved overall; tight. bright. clean and strong. ; 367 pages.

MW BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 43279

Benson,E.F.

Across The Stream

John Murray. Hardcover , Condition: Good.

Aardvark Rare BooksProfessional seller

Book number: mon0000313462

E.F. Benson

Aegosthena. An uncommon original article from the journal of Hellenic studies, 1895.

The Journal of Hellenic Studies, London, 1895. First Edition, Disbound. Very Good. 11 pages, illustrated , 2 plates. Note; this is an original article separated from the volume, not a reprint or copy. Size: Octavo (28 x 20 cms). Quantity Available: 1. Category: Hellenic Studies; Inventory No: 407932.

Cosmo BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 407932

Catalogue: Hellenic Studies

Keywords: BZDB395 Hellenic Studies; Unbranded E.F. Benson Aegosthena. An uncommon original article from the journal of Hellenic studies, 1895.

BENSON E.F.

Alan.

T. Fisher Unwin,, [1924]. 8vo., First Edition, neat contemporary signature on front free endpaper; cloth ruled and lettered in white, backstrip ruled and lettered in white, uncut, fire-edges lightly age-soiled, hinges starting (but binding entirely sound) else a good, clean copy. Scarce

Island BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9509

Catalogue: Modern First Editions0

Keywords: modern firsts, novels, e f benson, mapp, lucia, e.f. benson, modern first editions, alan

E.F. Benson

The Angel of Pain

Philadelphia, Lippincott, 1906. 3rd ed. Blue decorated cloth. Mild rubbing to covers else a clean tight hardcover book in very good condition. .

Kubik Fine Books Ltd.Professional seller

Book number: 107156

Keywords: fiction

BENSON, E.F.

The angel of pain

London, William Heinemann, 1907. Used - Acceptable. Fair paperback . An early paperback, now rather fragile. Pages chipped at edges and browned; front cover and first page torn almost in half; spine worn & torn, with small loss at head & foot. Photo:.

Cotswold Internet BooksProfessional seller

Book number: BOOKS184028I

BENSON, E.F.

Arundel

Paris, Thomas Nelson, 1915. Used - Good. Good hardback . Reprint, 1915. Binding tight; pastedowns and end papers yellowed at edges; board corners a little faded; spine a little bumped; bound in black half-cloth with black marbled boards. Photo:.

Cotswold Internet BooksProfessional seller

Book number: BOOKS164212I

BENSON, E. F.

As We Were. A Victorian Peep-Show.

London. Longmans Green, 1930., First edition. 355 pages. Benson, author of Mapp & Lucia & many other books, writes about his early years & family life, with help from his father's diaries & private papers in the library of Trinity Collage, Cambridge. Near fine except previous owner's name on front end page. No d./w. 23.5cm. x 15cm. 1930

GBL BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 9465

Catalogue: Biography

Keywords: E.F.Benson Truro Oscar Wilde

E.F.BENSON

As We Were

London, Penguin. 1939, Reprint. Soft cover. Book, Subtitled A Victorian Peep-Show. Dark blue Penguin, Memoirs, no. 169. Spine ends bit worn, small crease back cover; dustwrapper frayed & in 2 pieces. Good/Poor.

Marion Pitman BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 000334

Catalogue: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror

Keywords: Autobiography, Literature Biography

E. F. BENSON

As We Were

Harmondsworth, Penguin. 1939, Reprint. Paperback. Book, Subtitled "A Victorian Peep-Show". Dark blue early Penguin Memoirs. Edges a bit brown, front hinge weak. The front and back panels and back flap of the dustwrapper are present though frayed; spine & front flap missing. Memoirs by the author of the Mapp & Lucia books and many great ghost & supernatural stories. Good/Poor.

Marion Pitman BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 002851

Catalogue: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror

Keywords: Biography, Autobiography, Literature, History, Memoirs Biography

Benson, E.F. (Edward Frederic) (1867-1940)

As we were : a Victorian peep show

London ; New York : Longmans. Green 1930. First Edition. Previous owner's signature. Very good copy in the original title-blocked cloth. Spine bands and panel edges slightly dust-toned and rubbed as with age. Small tear to spine cloth. Remains particularly well-preserved overall. Physical description: 355 pages ; 22cm. Subjects: Benson. E.F. (Edward Frederic) (1867-1940). Authors ; Biography.

MW BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 293614

BENSON E.F.

As We Were. A Victorian Peep-Show. BRIGHT, CLEAN COPY

Longmans Green & Co.,, 1930. 8vo., First Edition, on laid paper. Small contemporary signature on front free endpaper, free endpapers lightly browned; original red-brown cloth, gilt back, uncut, covers lightly age-soiled else a bright, clean copy. SCARCE.

Island BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 31741

Catalogue: Modern First Editions0

Keywords: modern first editions, modern firsts, benson, e.f. benson

Benson, E F

As We Were

Longmans Green and Co. Hardcover , Condition: Acceptable.

Aardvark Rare BooksProfessional seller

Book number: mon0000141905