Publisher's Synopsis
The first of the Mapp and Lucia series. Mrs. Emmeline Lucas of Riseholm is a relentless social climber who rules her small English village with a calculating mind and an iron fist. Ever-vigilant at protecting her territory as "Queen", she directs all social functions and bullies the other residents with a clenched smile. She is attended at every turn by Peppino, who writes bad poetry, and her best friend, Georgie, with whom she plays Mozart duets and pretends to speak Italian. Lucia's position is shaken by a newcomer to Riseholm who absorbs Georgie into her own orbit, and reveals Lucia's shallowness, vindictiveness, and ignorance of music and culture. The other residents of Riseholm cringe at Lucia's many plots and indiscretions, yet cheer when she is able to re-establish her position at the top of the social order. A delicious, witty read.
