Customer Reviews

Major Benjy

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you're a true Luciaphil, you're probably not going to enjoy this book, especially if you agree with Lucia about that "horrid thing which Freud calls sex" being expunged. Ribaldry abounds in these pages. I found most of the plot to be more Benny Hill than E.F. Benson.
Another glaring concern is lack of editing. By the time I had finished the second chapter it was clear that this was a vanity publication and that Fraser-Sampson had no helpful copy-editor to catch a multitude of spelling, punctuation and other errors. I noticed at least three characters with name spellings not only different from Benson's but also changing from the beginning to the end of this manuscript. Luciaphils will catch a few other blunders as well.
That being said, Fraser-Sampson does manage to catch a whiff of Benson's style, especially in a sub-plot regarding a cake competition that stood out well above the rest. I would probably consider buying any future volumes if I hear they contain less bedroom farce.
Personally, I think Fraser-Sampson should create his own characters in a Benson-esque style rather than write to the Mapp and Lucia series. He is obviously talented but I didn't think he was able to stay within the tight restraints necessary to make "Major Benjy" a worthy sequel.

In the author's note to this book, he bemoans the fact that some of the minor characters in E.F. Benson's Mapp & Lucia series are two-dimensional and in `Major Benjy' he sets out to correct this perceived fault.
Unhappily in the process he not only fails E.F. Benson and the reader but also misinterprets the main characters - some of the most delicious and memorable monsters in light fiction - so clearly established by the original creator. He comes closest with Miss Mapp, but empowers other such as Evvie (too verbose), the Contessa (deficient in style), Diva (lacking her telegraphic speech pattern), Susan Wyse (too sympathetic) and Mr Wyse (less remote) with characteristics and speech that are at odds with their established persona.

The biggest error is an attempt to flesh out the wondrous Lucy, that enigmatic, gigantic maid and friend of Quaint Irene. Benson alludes to their relationship obliquely and wittily, leaving the reader to conjure up the reality, and in doing so, he cleverly conveys his meaning without raising the subject of sex. In this new work, sex seems to be the main driving force, which again is against the character of the inhabitants of Tilling. Benson makes it clear that sexual passion is something that is foreign to their environment. That is part of the success and joy of his works. Major Benjy himself is regarded as having had numerous romantic entanglements, but this is only hearsay and probably doubted in Tilling minds as much as his tales of tiger hunting.
It is obvious in the originals that Miss Mapp has unsuccessfully set her cap at Major Benjy (marriage being perceived as an upward social step rather than being an avenue for ardour) but at the end of Benson's Miss Mapp, she has succeeded in breaking down his defence to the point of playing golf with him. Yet at the beginning of `Major Benjy', their relationship seems to have reverted to one of cat and mouse and it is odd that she should encourage him to seek a new servant for his household, when it would seem more likely that she would renew her efforts to snare him into marriage and her established domestic milieu.

The publishers of this self-published book make it clear that they expect the author to engage in editing the work prior to publication and here Guy Fraser-Sampson does himself a great disservice. Apart from the many spelling and typing errors (there is little evidence of proof reading) the book needs the eye of an experienced editor to reduce the dead wood and to focus on the imperfections in the characters and story. Niggling things such as anachronisms annoy: Miss Mapp wraps her cake in baking foil, which appears to have made it first appearances in kitchens of the world in 1945. Research is essential in dealing with events set in the past.
Overall, the book is mildly musing but to devotees of Benson it falls short of being a success. The road to Tilling is paved with good intentions.

"Major Benjy" is the first addition to E. F. Benson's "Lucia" novels since Tom Holt's "Lucia in Wartime" and "Lucia Triumphant" were published in the 1980's. Unlike Holt's books, which pick up the narrative where Benson left off, Guy Fraser-Sampson has written a tale of Tilling that takes place between Benson's "Miss Mapp" and "Mapp and Lucia."
Though Fraser-Sampson remains true to the spirit and setting of Benson's work, "Major Benjy" introduces a somewhat bawdier tone, albeit through the genteel lens of Tilling society. It's slightly jarring at first, though perhaps inevitable if one wishes to see believable, three-dimensional portraits of characters like Benjamin Flint and Irene Coles. And that is where Fraser-Sampson makes a significant contribution to the Lucia canon beyond simply spinning an entertaining story: he deftly achieves his goal of fleshing out Benson's minor characters. From Mr. Wyse's thoughtful social engineering to the Padre's bridge acumen, we learn more about our favorite Tillingites than their signature gestures. Incredibly, Fraser-Sampson even manages to work a few genuinely touching moments into the book, painted with a few simple strokes and never at the expense of the story's humor. Don't be afraid - these elements simply make our beloved characters all the more endearing.
The plot is true to form, full of enjoyable turns yet secondary to a host of selfish desires, manipulative schemes, and hilariously hypocritical posturing. When Mapp endures a typical social humiliation, she is characteristically blind to her own faults while indignant at the identical failures of others: "How typical of Diva to be so devious! She had obviously surmised that Miss Mapp might attempt to steal her thunder, but also that she would have expected her stratagem to be suspected, hence this outrageous double bluff of actually doing exactly what it was that she was supposed to be doing in the first place." That is the sort of masterful stuff that has transformed casual readers into Benson fans, Holt fans, and now (if there is any justice) into fans of Fraser-Sampson as well.
Which brings me to my exhortation that you support this worthy effort, because Guy Fraser-Sampson has more up his sleeve. Next up is "Lucia on Holiday," with the aptly titled "Au Reservoir" planned as a finale for the entire Benson/Holt/Fraser-Sampson series. The publication of these future installments is likely to be contingent upon the success of "Major Benjy." What a joy it would be if publishing houses would be forced to take note of and respond to the international Lucia fanbase. Not only would we enjoy more from Fraser-Sampson, but perhaps someone would consider reprinting Benson and the expensively rare Holt as well.
In short, fellow Luciaphiles, "Major Benjy" belongs on your bookshelf.

I received my copy Major Benjy, by Guy Fraser-Sampson, as a gift from kind friends who are firm fans of E.F. Benson's Lucia/Mapp series which makes me feel somewhat ungracious to their generosity by reviewing Mr Fraser-Sampson's novel. I admit, on opening the parcel, I felt an uncomfortable twinge - there were strong recollections of my reading, some time ago, of Tom Holt's pale Benson imitation "follow-on novels" based on the same characters. However, I took some comfort from Messrs Holt's, Brandreth's and McGillion's positive supporting book cover statements.
Sadly, this comfort was very short-lived none I can only guess that the statements referred to someonelse's book. I acknowledge that "Major Benjy" will appeal to some E.F.Benson fans but I have to say that it does not appeal to me. I am in complete agreement with what has already been said in the reviews here concerning Mr Fraser-Sampson's book's many failings. For me, the saddest of all my disappointments was that the author failed to understand the British class system and reflect those social mores of the period that Benson subtly mocked in his five brilliant comedies of manners - the Lucia/Mapp series. Many people of Benson's time, and especially the middle classes, made a career out of respectability. Their efforts and pretensions provided oceans of grist for Benson's literary mill.
Following, as a close second, my next disappointment was that Benson's elegant language with its light touch and brilliant scintillating humour developed by superb understatement has not been reflected to any degree here in this book . Instead we are presented, in mock Bensonian style, vulgarities that include "bowel movements" and "snot that has hardened" - terms that not only cheapen the book, but distance it even further from the gentle language and fine grammar that Benson's narrator used.
I cannot agree with Tom Holt's book cover statement saying, "Benson would have loved it". Quite the contrary, I imagine that Mr Benson would have been dismayed beyond belief at the re-writing of his characters - especially that of Irene Coles and Lucy, her maid (and that is how Benson described her, not as the partner). Never in Benson's work has a servant played such a significant role! The scene between Mrs Gillespie and Lucy, with its Sapphic overtones, added a particularly jarring note that made this reader wonder just what was driving the author. This is not to say that illusions to sex do not appear in the originals. Speculations are made about Mr and Mrs Mapp-Flint's sleeping arrangements and Mapp's fictitious pregnancy together with Lucia's hoping that, after they are married, Georgie would find the oak bedroom quite comfortable. Benson addresses these thorny issues with such a careful choice of words and obliquity of language that make the situations at once both engagingly hilarious and an accurate mirror of the middle class sensibilities of the period. In the originals, for the most part, Benson's characters are quite asexual. This is because, in polite society of the period, sex was not a subject for discussion and because Benson intended that his character's social foibles and idiosyncrasies would form the foundation of the comedy.

Like other reviewers, I advise Lucia/Mapp fans to avoid this book - or at least borrow a copy before purchasing. This could make any disappointment easier by one's not having to outlay the purchase price. For those readers who are interested to meet the residents of Riseholme and Tilling for the first time, I strongly recommend buying the originals - all five books. A new reader will enjoy each and as I can attest, with each re-reading over the years, the characters will remain as fresh and entertaining as they were on first acquaintance. With "Major Benjy", one read will be more than enough or perhaps, too much.
I can only suggest to the author that, should he consider a second novel concerning the residents of Tilling or Riseholme (or a better project would be to revise this one), not only should he thoroughly re-read all five in the series, get the spellings correct (Twemlow, Twistevant etc) but in particular, take pains to understand the social mores and class markers that underpin Benson's comedy. There is need to view the characters through early 20th Century, middle class eyes not through 21st Century ones. Or, perhaps, better - the author should invent his own characters and set them elsewhere. To paraphrase Lucia when she and Georgie returned to Riseholme after visiting Tilling, "we are perfect as we are".

I hope that many people will enjoy this book; but if the original books remind you of Mozart, or champagne, or any other source of sheer delight, "Major Benjy" will probably disappoint you. Fraser-Sampson is a good writer, but Benson was a fine one.

E. F. Benson is dead. There will be no more Mapp and Lucia novels from him. Therefore, I am thankful for other authors brave enough and talented enough to add to the story. Talent can produce a good story, but bravery is needed to face the readers desperate for a perfect match to the original. Guy Fraser-Sampson's extension of the saga pleased my very well. I enjoyed the more modern and active plotting and language. Benson might not have let a firearm go off in Tilling, but no one was hurt. If the author gets no more explicit or adventurous in the next two books, I will eagerly await their publication. For those caught up in in this book's typographical errors, there is a forest out there if you will just look.

Well, MAJOR BENJY encourages us to take a liking to a man I had never really cared for before, and it succeeds to that extent, but like other reviewers I could not help but raise my eyebrows, just as if I were a prude, how ironic, at the dollops of sexual license these characters afford themselves. It starts with Benjy, hungover and barely awake, answering the doorbell in his underwear, and of course to a disapproving woman's eye. That just didn't sound like Benson or Tilling, but at some angles, if you squint with precision, Tilling does appear in front of your eyes like Atlantis returned from the watery depths. I'm just sorry Lucia and Georgie weren't in the book!

The plot about Lucy, Irene's maid, cheating on her with Benjy's mistress, is so far removed from the Mapp and Lucia books it's like something from a Radley Metzger movie. That said, oh, why the hell not.

Other plots had more of the Benson touch, such as the cake baking contest in which Mapp and Dvia Plaistow compete. I'd read another.

Kudos to Mr. Fraser-Sampson for a fantastic book.

Mine arrived yesterday and I devoured every word. The characters were so Benson and the plots and twists and scheming so true to form it was hard to remember I was not reading one of the original stories.

Major Benjy is supposed to be the first in a trilogy and I wish to congratulate Mr. Fraser-Sampson on a wonderful first book and hopefully others.

It is not the quantity of plot twists in a book that make it, but rather the quality of those plot twists. Mr. Fraser-Sampson captured the character of Mapp in those plot twists down pat. I found myself laughing so hard at the antics of Mapp, tears were running down my face.

As stated on the title page, the story is "Inspired By The Characters of E. F. Benson". This is Mr. Fraser-Sampson's work, not Mr. Benson's. As such, "literary license" is allowed. This story is meant to follow Miss Mapp and proceed Mapp and Lucia.

If you want to enjoy a book, enjoy a book. And this is an enjoyable book.

If you like Jeeves and Wooster, you'll love this!

As an editor, I used to commission pieces from this writer years ago, long before he started writing books, and have therefore followed his career as an author with interest. "Major Benjy" is very different from his earlier stuff, representing his first venture into fiction.

Basically, what Sebastian Faulks has recently done for James Bond, Fraser-Sampson has done for Mapp and Lucia, writing a brand new book with the blessing of the author's estate. Over in England, the Mapp and Lucia stories by E.F. Benson are held second only to Jeeves and Wooster for their timeless comic appeal and, while less well known in the US, they nonetheless have a substantial number of cult followers, as witness the number of fan sites on the internet.

If you haven't read any of the series before, don't worry because this book is self-contained and is anyway set an early stage of the proceedings as the author intends to write two more in due course. It is an exceptionally well-written book. I understand from the publishers that the draft text was reviewed by four different novelists, one of whom was a Booker Prize nominee, and that they all gave it a huge thumbs-up.

It is also very funny, if you like P.G. Wodehouse type humour of mistaken circumstances, larger than life characters and social blunders mixed in with that wonderful atmosphere of Britain between the wars - servants, tea and gossip. If you liked the Jeeves and Wooster books then buy this: you won't be disappointed.

I just fininshed re-reading Major Benjy. The cake competition I find to be purely Bensonian. Diva and her interaction with Theo is interesting, but I knew Theo would lose out, for his competitor is Tilling itself, and no true Tillingite would leave their lovely town for mere marriage.

Other reviewers here have complained that the story is too sexual, and I would agree up to a point--after all, Major Benjy, as Benson describes him, is a man with hints of a vivid (but not lurid) sexual past (hence the Pride of Poona), although that past may be mostly Major Benjy's invention. Since Major Benjy is the main character in this novel, I am not surprised that there is more focus on sex than there would be with any of the other characters. I do have some problems with the scene with Lucy and Heather, as Lucy is, in fact, mentioned in later Lucia novels; but again, here we are dealing with Lucy and Heather, and not with the more disapproving Mapp and Lucia.

When I initially read about Mr Wyse confronting Miss Mapp regarding her tale of Mr Gillespie, I thought it false to the character, but upon further consideration, I think it is actually an accurate depiction; for Mr Wyse, sincerely concerned about the safety and welfare of his acquaintance Major Benjy, would be just the sort to make such discrete inquiries and, being a gentleman who would not compromise a lady's good name, would put his findings before Miss Mapp rather than before the deceived Major Benjy.

Other reviewers have mentioned the editing problems, so I've no need to go into them here, but I will say that as a lover of the Mapp and Lucia novels, I simply noted a correction in pencil and continued reading.

Any problems with editing, characterization, or story-line I am willing to set aside here, just for the joy of returning to Tilling and spending time with all the characters I like, love, and detest! Seeing the devious Miss Mapp pit herself against dear Diva, and getting a deeper glimpse into Major Benjy's life is wonderful!