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    Lucia's Crusade
    Lucia's Crusade
    Lucia's Crusade
    Ebook51 pages49 minutes

    Lucia's Crusade

    By Rob Shelsky

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    About this ebook

    Love the hilarious E.F. Benson "Lucia" series of old? Are you one of the many "Luciaphiles?" Did you hate that the books had to come to an end? Then you'll love "Lucia's Crusade," a novella by R.R. Shelsky, which picks up right where the last book of E.F. Benson ends.

    Lucia, of quaint 1930's Tilling-On-Sea, along with her loyal sidekick, Georgie, has just topped Elizabeth Mapp for control of the social life of Tilling. Mapp is beaten and "Queen Lucia" reigns unruffled and supreme.

    But such triumphs are fleeting. The battle for Tilling goes on. Lucia may now own Mapp's home, Mallard's House, and hold sway over the snooty town's elite, but social life is shifty, and Lucia must struggle to stay in control. And problems can come from the most unexpected quarters.

    When Georgie, on a shopping expedition for his hair color (needed for his mustache and beard) overhears Major Benjy and Elizabeth Mapp-Flint, he thinks he's about to discover some juicy gossip, more so-called "news" to tell the other "news" hungry Tillingites.

    However, he soon learns that Major Benjy refers to him by a most inappropriate name, that of "Miss Milliner Michael-Angelo. Furious at this slur (however really justified), Georgie unilaterally declares war on the Mapp-Flints, and on Major Benjy in particular. He is determined to do battle with him...in his own unique way.

    While Lucia feels secure in her status as the town's social matron, little does she suspect that her own loyal follower, Georgie, is about to make it all come tumbling down like a house of cards around her. The trouble comes to a head at a dinner party Lucia gives to "reinstate" Elizabeth Mapp in the town's social life, albeit in a lower station than Lucia's own, of course!

    If you love comedy done in the style of E.F. Benson and his wonderful "Lucia" series, you'll love R.R. Shelsky's, "Lucia's Crusade." As one reviewer of the original series put it: "Never has so much been written about so little that was so good." Lucia's Crusade, a humorous novella of 1930's life in an English village.

    As one member of the fan group, Friends of Tilling, put it about this story:

    "...I say again how much I enjoyed it. May I be encouraged to hope for more? We would also be very interested (if you would be so kind) to have something of the sort to be read at one of our Gatherings..."

    Lucia's Crusade, a fun read!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRob Shelsky
    Release dateJun 17, 2011
    ISBN9781458001498
    Lucia's Crusade
    Author

    Rob Shelsky

    Rob Shelsky is an avid and eclectic writer, and averages about 4,000 words a day. He has several novels to his credit and two anthologies, with two romances out now, a Regency romance, Verity, along with the sequel, Faith, and soon to come, a time-travel romance.Rob has written science fiction articles for such magazines as The Internet Review of Science Fiction, numerous articles for AlienSkin Magazine, Neometropolis, Midnight Street (UK), Doorways, and other publications. Rob has had short stories published with Jim Baen’s Universe, Aberrant Dreams, AlienSkin, Gateway SF, Fifth Dimension, Continuum SF, Sonar4, Uncial Press, Planetary Stories, Pulp Spirit Magazine, Sex & Murder, and many more. He has a novella coming out in early 2010 with Aberrant Dreams Magazine’s first hardcover edition anthology, The Awakening. Rob’s novella, Avenger Of The People, will appear there alongside the works of such sci-fi greats as Alastair Reynolds, Ian Watson, Jana Oliver, Robert Madle, and just so many others. There is even an introduction by Jack McDevitt.Rob has a short story, Green Waters, now out with Sonar4’s Phase Shift anthology, and a paranormal story, Light On The Moor, coming out with Smashwords and Amazon.com.Now, Rob Shelsky is not only a writer, but a contributing editor for Currate.com travel articles, as well as being a reviewer for Novelspot. He is also a resident science fiction columnist for AlienSkin Magazine.Although widely traveled and continuing to travel, Rob now lives in North Carolina. He enjoys contemplating ideas for new stories while watching the sunsets over the mountains and sipping a glass of red wine, preferably a decent Merlot.Oh and check out this site for my Smashword books:Ebookswelove.com

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      Book preview

      Lucia's Crusade - Rob Shelsky

      * * * * *

      LUCIA’S CRUSADE

      A Tale Of Lucia

      A Short Story/Novella

      By

      Rob Shelsky

      SMASHWORDS EDITION

      * * * * *

      PUBLISHED BY:

      GKRS Publications on Smashwords

      Smashwords ISBN

      LUCIA’S CRUSADE

      A Tale Of Lucia

      Copyright © 2010 by Rob Shelsky

      All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

      Smashwords Edition License Notes

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

      * * * * *

      There is one person I’d especially like to thank. I owe him so much. George Kempland, I wish to acknowledge you for your loyalty, dedication, mountains of help, and always just being there for me. Again, thank you, so very much.

      LUCIA’S CRUSADE

      A Tale Of Lucia

      A Short Story/Novella

      By

      Rob Shelsky

      How tarsome. Georgie sounded more than usually irritable, as he said this. I had so hoped Elizabeth would be about. After our dinner last night and the way I had to put up with Duchess Poppy and all, it’s the very least she could do to show herself. Beastly weather, that’s the problem.

      Mrs. Lucia Pillson and her husband, Georgie, walked down the High Street of the town of Tilling one morning. The stroll was, ostensibly, to do their daily marketing, and the two carried their shopping baskets as prominent justifications for this supposed purpose. However, both had another and more pertinent matter on their minds.

      Nevertheless and just as Georgie had complained, the weather was interfering. The day was a deeply grey one, made so by low and pendulous clouds. The cobblestone paving dripped darkly with wet. The air felt heavy with a fine cold mist, which was no doubt a precursor to heavier rain. Few of the leading citizens of the town of Tilling chose to be abroad under such inclement conditions. Their diminished numbers were what so discomposed Lucia and Georgie. Included in this absence of the usual townsfolk was the one most notable figure, Elizabeth Mapp-Flint, Lucia’s only real rival for social control of Tilling.

      Still, Lucia gave a self-satisfied smile, before saying, I daresay none of us may expect to see our dear Elizabeth for several days yet, Georgie. It would be out of character for her after last night’s just rewards. Not that I’m one to inquire too closely into the personal natures of others, as you know, but Elizabeth is as easy to read as an open book.

      And just what is it that you peruse in that rather large volume? Georgie asked. He smiled to himself, being inordinately pleased with his little witticism.

      "Simple rigidity, I’m afraid. She doesn’t have the emotional flexibility we have, Georgie. It’s her pride, you see. I’m afraid our dear Elizabeth is a rather prideful

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