Books like Make way for Lucia (Mapp & Lucia #6) by E. F. Benson

In *Make Way for Lucia*, the arch‑snob Lucia—known as Emmeline Lucas—continues her quest for social dominance in the idyllic English setting of Tilling. Together with her arch‑nemesis, the scheming Miss Elizabeth Mapp, they engage in a battle of wit and charm that spans garden parties, bridge evenings, and even the bustling streets of London. When Lucia bids on townsfolk’s shares in gold and discovers an ancient Roman villa beneath Miss Mapp’s house, the village’s social fabric is put to the test. Their rivalry also spills into local politics, with both characters standing for election to the town council. As Lucia rises to the position of mayor, Miss Mapp is named mayoress, and their comedic contest reaches new heights. The novel showcases Benson’s keen eye for etiquette and class, as well as his sharp humor about the foibles of the British middle‑class society of the early twentieth century.

First publish date: 1971