Mrs. Ames

By: E. F. Benson

Narrated by: Nathalie Boltt

E. F. Benson, best known for his irresistible Mapp and Lucia novels set in the fictional town of Tilling, England, was a prolific and beloved novelist. Though the Mapp and Lucia books remain popular to this day, this kindred book will be back in print for the first time since its initial publication.

The son of E. W. Benson, archbishop of Canterbury from 1883 to 1896, the young E. F. Benson was educated at Marlborough School and at King's College, Cambridge. After graduation he worked in Athens for the British School of Archaeology from 1892 to 1895, 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.

Public Domain (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"An extraordinary study in comedy and quite the best thing artistically that Mr. Benson has done." ( New York Times)

Jane Austin fans will love this

Would you consider the audio edition of Mrs. Ames to be better than the print version?

I prefer audio.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mrs Ames was intriguing because she was the opinion leader yet not the prettiest nor the richest woman in town. She obviously had charisma, dared to be different and to bring new interest to the village. People wanted to see what she does next. Her lack of interest in gossip and the fact that she was impervious to nasty criticsm made her a bit of a heroin to me.

What does Nathalie Boltt bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I knew who each character was and she doesn't speed through the story needlessly as some readers will do.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, but I was surprised at how she handled the situation with her husband when she became the effect of one of her social experiments.

Any additional comments?

There was some complexity to the characters and especially Mrs Ames when she dares to stand up for women's rights at one point. I liked the twist that she suffered from one of her own creations and I especially loved how she handled it. She definitely knew who she was and didn't rely on good looks or riches to maintain her status.

If you like the comedy of manners

Not for everyone, but if you like P.G. Wodehouse, period pieces, low key but sharp humor, give this a try. The performance is excellent.

A bleak precursor to Riseholm and Lucia

Benson had not developed the light touch and piercing wit that make the Lucia series so engaging and vivid. His moralizing is a little clunky but his point of view is an interesting glimpse at "progressive" ideas from the 1810s about how women supposedly think. There are some potentially great but poorly developed comedic moments.
Boltt's reading is dry and pinched, which weirdly seems to suit some characters as the story swings from comedy of manners to moral tale.
I enjoyed Mrs. Ames' reflections on duty and kindness even though I rolled my eyes at her solution to her marital crisis. The story does not wear well in 2020, and doesn't quite fit the worn paths my brain kept trying to make it follow, but I think the audio version was much more enjoyable than reading in print. That's major praise for a recorded book--I preferred Boltt's narration to my own internal one!