Mrs Ames

The son of E.W. Benson, an archbishop of Canterbury (1883-96), the young E.F. Benson was educated at Marlborough School and at King's College, Cambridge. After graduation he worked from 1892 to 1895 in Athens for the British School of Archaeology and later in Egypt for the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies. In 1893 he published Dodo, a novel that attracted wide attention. It was followed by a number of other successful novels including his hugely popular Mapp and Lucia series. In 1938 he was made an honorary fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge. He died in February, 1940.

'A clever, laughable little satire in the author's lightest and happiest mood' Times Literary Supplement 'An extraordinary study in comedy and quite the best thing artistically that Mr Benson has done so far' New York Times 'If you only know E F Benson's Mapp and Lucia books, then prepare to be beguiled by this witty and amusing story of village life and the perpetual jockeying for social position.Mrs Ames is sheer delight from start to finish' randomjottings.typepad.com