Reviews

Longbourn by Jo Baker

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raisa's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

librarygurl's review against another edition

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2.0

I have a number of problems with this book, which was frustrating since I went out of my way to get a copy of what I thought would be an interesting POV. Forget that it didn't have that succinct and witty Austen style that I love from the original. Forget that it seemed like a Downton Abbey rip off. Forget that it was probably the most depressing piece of historical fiction I have ever read. What really bothered me were the moments it intersected with the original narrative. It was very smart of Baker to not make this a simple shift in POV. The problem is, when the original characters interacted with the new characters they didn't act as I would have expected them.
From here on in, spoilers sweetie...

Let's start with the three clearest changes: Mr. Bennet, Mr. Collins, and Mr. Wickham. That Mr. Bennet would actually be in love with the housekeeper, have a child out of wedlock with her, keep her on, and then hire their illegitimate son seems within the nature of the time period, but out of nature for the character. Other alternative reality books have addresses the natural-children issue (the possibility that Wickham is actually Darcy's brother is often a plot point), they tend to focus on fringe characters. Mr. Collins is portrayed at focused and direct rather than obtuse. He notices things and talks to the servants in ways he never did in the original. Mr. Wickham's villain role was taken to a whole new level as her pursues a 12-year-old servant girl and threatens to destroy the life of the man who gets in his way. Then there is the treatment of Mary as a love-sick girl (for Collins!) and Mr. Hill's secret homosexuality... These aspects just seem at odds with the characters developed by Austen.
The second intersection problem is when there are scenes added to the original narrative. Elizabeth and Jane's interactions with Sarah are sweet, but some of the scenes almost threaten the original story. For example, there are scenes with Wickham at the Bennett house for dinners after Elizabeth has learned the truth about him. These never happen in the original story and they change the entire tone of what happens between Elizabeth, Wickham and Lydia. Speaking of Lydia, she seemed to be one of the few characters Baker remained true to. Poor Elizabeth becomes a bizarre version of herself towards the end. She opens up to maid Sarah in ways she has never even opened up to Jane regarding her concerns about marrying Mr. Darcy and then, once mistress of Pemberly, shifting personality. Gone is self-confident and independent Elizabeth. Now she merely a version of Jane.

My suggestion: skip this one. You want AU of P&P? There are other, better ones...

knuckledown's review against another edition

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4.0

There have been countless riffs on Pride and Prejudice, from bodice-rippers to mysteries. Usually I avoid these like the plague because I would rather not see a beloved novel or its characters toyed with by a less talented writer. That is, until Longbourn was published to overwhelmingly positive reviews. Jo Baker chose to focus her story on the Bennets’ servants, who are little more than set dressing in the original novel. In other words, they could be fully imagined without stepping on Austen’s toes.

Jo Baker writes in a style reminiscent of Austen without resorting to mimicry. In doing so she manages to capture the spirit of the world while still feeling fresh. The story centers around Sarah, the young housemaid. Sarah grew up as a servant at Longbourn, with the housekeeper Mrs. Hill as a surrogate mother of sorts, but longs to see the world outside of house and village. With the arrival of a new footman, Sarah’s monotonous life begins to change. I love that Longbourn helps me look at a familiar story from a new perspective. Since the servants are largely invisible in Austen’s portrayal of this world, the reader doesn’t stop to think about the labor that makes the Bennets’ lifestyle possible.

Although Longbourn could be enjoyed without being a Pride and Prejudice aficionado, there’s extra fun for lovers of the source material. Baker provides guideposts as to what point Longbourn is at in the original story, such as when the servants reference a dance in Meryton or the impending visit of Mr. Collins. However, these events take on a different meaning below stairs. For example, the Netherfield ball is a great inconvenience since the servants must prepare five young ladies to impress the Bingleys on short notice. Sarah must slog through muddy fields in the rain just to pick up adornments for the girls’ dancing shoes.

Pride and Prejudice takes place in a harsh era of European history, but the Bennets are completely secluded from war and violence. Even the militia in Meryton seems to exist only to provide suitors for the girls. Since the servants are not as protected from cold reality, Longbourn can also provide historical context that is perhaps hinted at, but never spelled out in the source material. Baker’s aim isn’t to tear down favorite heroines—in fact, she humanizes often mocked characters—but she frames them with a wider lens. A work that can stand up next to Pride and Prejudice is a great achievement. I would encourage any Austen fan to take a look at Longbourn.

You can read more reviews and other pop culture musings on my blog: Courtney Coherent

craftyemma's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Sarah is a servant at Longbourn, home of the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice. She works hard and loves her work family below stairs. When James arrives to look after the horses, Sarah believes he isn't who or what he seems. Then Ptolomy Bingley appears and suddenly she has two very different men paying her attention.

Whilst the main storyline of Pride and Prejudice is carrying on upstairs, the lives of the invisible servants downstairs is a wonderful story all of its own. Jo Baker has come up with some imaginative and believable characters and their lives had me hooked throughout the book.

My view on certain characters in the original book have certainly been altered by this novel and I love how 'fleshed out' Jane Austen's work now seems. Halfway through I was convinced this was going to be a 4 star book, but by the end that had changed to a solid 5 star.