[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.

Across The Stream

John Murray. Hardcover , Condition: Good.

Aardvark Rare BooksProfessional seller

Book number: mon0000313462

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

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

As We Were

Longmans Green and Co. Hardcover , Condition: Acceptable.

Aardvark Rare BooksProfessional seller

Book number: mon0000141905

BENSON, E. F.

As We Were: A Victorian Peepshow (Penguin Classic Biography S.)

Penguin Classics. 2001-02-22. (ISBN: 014139045X) paperback, 5x1x9. Posted within 1 working day. 1st class tracked post to the UK, Airmail tracked worldwide. Good.

M. Godding Ltd.Professional seller

Book number: 269314

Catalogue: Biography

Keywords: 014139045x

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.

An autumn sowing

London, W. Collins Sons & Co. Ltd, 1919. Used - Good. Good hardback (no dust jacket) . 3rd impression. Red cloth with black lettering on spine; cloth moderately shelf worn; spine a little discoloured; light foxing present, else pages appear clean overall; binding tight. Photo:http://cibimages.blob.core.windows.net/img-1/stand_51632_jpg.jpg.

Cotswold Internet BooksProfessional seller

Book number: BOOKS275184I

BENSON, E.F

An autumn sowing

Collins, 1917. Used - Good. Good hardback in red cloth 1st edition. 3rd impression, 1919. Red cloth with black lettering on spine & impressed title on front board. Owner's name on front pastedown; page fore-edge slightly yellowed; light wear to cloth on spine. Photo:http://cibimages.blob.core.windows.net/img-1/stand_19521_jpg.jpg.

Cotswold Internet BooksProfessional seller

Book number: BOOKS243984I

Benson, E.F. [Edward Frederic]

The Blotting Book

New York, Arno Press, 1976. Hardcover. Previous owner's name on verso of front endpaper; otherwise very good condition (no dust jacket). 255p. Reprint of 1908 edition. .

Hammer Mountain Book HallsProfessional seller

Book number: 38224

Catalogue: English Literature