Longbourn

Longbourn retells Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice from the perspective of the servants working in the Bennet household. Sarah, a housemaid at Longbourn, performs her endless daily tasks while observing the drama of the Bennet sisters' lives from below stairs. The arrival of a mysterious new footman forces Sarah to confront her own desires and ambitions beyond her prescribed role in the household. As the Napoleonic Wars cast shadows over England, the servants' private struggles and relationships parallel the more famous story playing out above stairs. The novel details the physical realities of running a Georgian household - from hauling water and scrubbing laundry to tending fires and preparing meals. These working lives that Austen merely hinted at become the center of a story about class, social constraints, and the human need for both dignity and connection. This reimagining explores themes of visibility and invisibility in society, examining who gets to have their story told and questioning what we choose to see or ignore about the past. The result is both a window into historical domestic labor and a meditation on power, privilege and perspective.

Readers appreciate Baker's focus on the servants' perspective, calling it a fresh take on Pride and Prejudice that illuminates class dynamics and historical details of the era. Many note the rich descriptions of daily household work and the servants' inner lives. Positive reviews highlight: - Period-accurate portrayal of servant life - Strong character development for Sarah and Mrs. Hill - Attention to historical detail - Writing quality and atmospheric setting Common criticisms: - Slow pacing in the middle sections - Too much focus on mundane tasks - Darker tone than expected - Character changes to Elizabeth Bennet - Some find it depressing Ratings: Goodreads: 3.62/5 (38,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (1,100+ ratings) One reader noted: "It made me realize how sanitized Austen's version was - this shows the gritty reality." Another said: "The servants' stories deserved telling, but the execution dragged."

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🏰 Jo Baker was inspired to write Longbourn after wondering who had to wash Elizabeth Bennet's muddy petticoats in Pride and Prejudice—a scene rarely considered from the servants' perspective. 🖋️ The author spent time learning traditional housekeeping methods, including how to do laundry without modern conveniences, to accurately portray the servants' daily lives. 👗 Many real households of Longbourn's size in early 19th century England would have employed more servants than the five featured in the novel, but Jane Austen chose to mention only Hill in Pride and Prejudice. 🌟 Several scenes from Pride and Prejudice are retold from the servants' viewpoint, revealing how major events for the Bennet family affected the entire household differently. 🎬 The film rights to Longbourn were acquired by Random House Studio and Focus Features shortly after the book's publication in 2013.