Edward Frederic Benson (24 July 1867 – 29 February 1940) was an English novelist, biographer, memoirist, archaeologist and short story writer. He is best known for his four Mapp and Lucia books, set principally in a town named Tilling, which is recognisably based on Rye, East Sussex, where Benson lived for many years and served as mayor from 1934.