Soon to be revived in a new BBC series this autumn, Mapp & Lucia is a poisonous, witty, comic tale set in the fictional town of Tilling, modelled on Rye.
Emmeline Lucas (Lucia to her friends) is emerging from mourning following the death of her husband. Pretentious, snobbish and devious, she takes a holiday in Tilling and rents Mallards from Miss Mapp. The two women clash immediately and so begins a battle of one-upmanship, peppered with queenly airs and ghastly tea parties.
The characters, penned by Rye’s former mayor EF Benson are well loved and known the world over. Now Mapp & Lucia is being revived in a beautiful new edition by Hesperus Press and we are offering three copies in a competition. There are three questions to answer. The first three correct entries, to be opened at random, will receive a copy direct from the publishers. If you’re not lucky enough to win one, the novel is available in all good bookshops from September 19, price £8.99.
The questions, with thanks to the EF Benson Society, are:
- Which Rye street is known as Porpoise Street in the Mapp and Lucia books?
- What is the Rye name for the Trader’s Arms?
- How did Captain Puffin die?
Send your entries to info@ryenews.org.uk. Include your name and address with postcode. Closing date for entries is Friday September 26. Winners will be notified by Monday September 29. Good luck.