Queen Lucia

by E. F. (Edward Frederic) Benson

"Queen Lucia" by E. F. Benson is a comic novel written in 1920. It introduces Emmeline "Lucia" Lucas, the self-appointed social queen of the fictional village of Riseholme, who dominates her community through affected culture and pretension. When rivals emerge—including a mysterious Indian guru, a Russian medium, and a genuine opera diva—Lucia must fight to maintain her social supremacy. This social satire skewers the idle rich and their absurd pursuits with ruthless comedy and affectionate mockery.