EF Benson socialite writer

Edward Frederick Benson (Fred) was the son of Edward Benson, Archbishop of Canterbury, and a prominent figure in the 19^th Century Church of England.  His parents had 6 children, all of whom seem to have been eccentric but talented.   None of them married, or had children, and some had mental health issues.

Fred was different to his very serious father, wanting to be a writer and a society figure.   He was highly intelligent and his first novel Dodo was an instant success.  It was a comic satirical novel, loosely based on the well-known socialite and eccentric, Margot Tennant, who married HH Asquith, the Prime Minister. 

He was a prolific writer, but enjoyed society life.  He also wrote ghost stories and children’s fiction and biographies including one of Charlotte Bronte.  But his most famous works were his light novels about "Lucia" Lucas, a middle aged widow, of genteel birth, who dabbles in the arts, and wants to be the social "Queen Bee" of her little town Tilling, which is based on Rye, where Benson was Mayor....

Fred was gay but not much is known about this. He fell in love with men during his life. In the “Lucia” books, there are some discreetly sly references to homosexuality… in Tilling.  “Quaint” Irene, one of the residents, dresses in men’s clothes.  George Pillson, who marries Lucia, is an effete effeminate man who dabbles in the arts, as does his wife... and is dominated by her. 

The plots revolve around social one upmanship in the town, with Lucia continually battling with Elizabeth Mapp, a spinster lady who was the “Queen Bee” of the town’s social circle before Lucia’s arrival.   Lucia pretends to be much more proficient at music than she really is, and pretends to be able to speak Italian fluently..  She also uses baby talk to appear "cute."
It is said that Lucia is based a bit on the rather bizarre novelist, Marie Correlli, who also pretended to be more learned than she really was, who showed off a good deal but was very naive and silly.
Elizabeth Mapp outflanks her, by getting married, in middle age to Major Benjy, and pretending to be pregnant.  Lucia is furious at this.  She then marries Georgie, restoring her ascendancy, but it is an unconsummated marriage.   She is not interested in sex, though she and Georgie enjoy each other’s company and love each other as friends.  Lucia’s main interest is in social power.

Benson spent many years in Rye, where there was an artistic community and he lived in Lamb House, which had belonged to Henry James.   He died aged 72 in the early part of World War II.