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Longbourn

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Longbourn

By: Jo Baker
Narrated by: Emma Fielding
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If Elizabeth Bennet had the washing of her own petticoats, Sarah thought, she would be more careful not to trudge through muddy fields.

It is wash-day for the housemaids at Longbourn House, and Sarah's hands are chapped and bleeding. Domestic life below stairs, ruled tenderly and forcefully by Mrs Hill the housekeeper, is about to be disturbed by the arrival of a new footman smelling of the sea, and bearing secrets.

For in Georgian England, there is a world the young ladies in the drawing room will never know, a world of poverty, love, and brutal war.

 Contemporary Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction Heartfelt
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Critic reviews

A reimagining of Pride and Prejudice from the point of view of the servants . . . A joy
A genuinely fresh perspective on the tale of the Bennet household . . . Baker confronts the darker elements of eighteenth century life . . . The result is engrossing - and a lot of fun
A really special book, and not only because its author writes like an angel
Delightfully audacious . . . a work that's both original and charming, even gripping
Intoxicating . . . A joy in its own right, a novel that contrives both to provoke the intellect and, ultimately, to stop the heart
To twist something so familiar into something quite fresh is impressive . . . Baker takes ownership of this world without mimicking Austen's style, asserting instead her own distinctive voice . . . An engrossing tale we neither know nor expect
An Austen lover has the satisfaction of matching the novel chapter for chapter
Just enough Darcy to delight, as well as being a fascinating insight into the harsh working conditions of life in a grand house two hundred years ago
Jo Baker takes the reader on a journey back to a version of Regency England that is as much about poverty and war as social comedy and romance
This clever glimpse of Austen's universe clouded by washday steam is so compelling it leaves you wanting to read the next chapter in the lives below stairs
All stars
Most relevant
One of the better Austen adaptations. Beautifully written, my only reservation being that it is rather a sad story, compared to Austen's usual cheerfulness. However, I must pile praise upon praise for the beautiful reading voice of Emma Fielding! I have been a monthly subscriber of Audible for a few years now, and this is by far the most lovely voice I have heard. I listen to these books to help me sleep, and despite finding some of the storyline a little more sad than I'd like, I still listened over and over to Longbourn because of the soft lilting voice, so intelligently and carefully putting across the exact nuances of meaning in every sentence.
Ms Fielding often crops up in radio plays and occasionally on TV. I keep an eye (and an ear) out for her now. A joy to listen to!

Wonderful voice!

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I loved it ! It is well written, beautifully read, and I cared deeply about the characters.

Great

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I've just been through a little phase of reading 'new' pride and prejudice books. This and PD James Death comes to Pemberly (I read the book, not the audio of that). They expand the world of a favourite book and add much pleasure.

both are excellent. Longbourn is written from the point of view of the servants and as such the high drama of the house is more muted below, their concerns are more directed to what happened when Mr Collins comes into the house (a lovely and fascinating perspective).

The story develops towards the end more away from the main plot and is finished a little abruptly, as though the author just wanted to wrap the story up quickly. But apart from that the rest of the book is well told, well characterised and a real joy

Very enjoyable

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This book is amazing. The characterisation is superb. Jo Baker is exemplary in building a picture of the world of Pride and Prejudice from the eyes of the servants. She is entirely credible in fleshing out what the actions of Austen's characters mean to those who have to wait on them, and in giving insights into the motivation of some of the characters, like Mr Bennet.

But the Bennets and the Darcys are merely incidental to this story of love and endurance.

Remarkable!

Longbourn

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Absolutely sublime. A must read for all those dreamy eyed, teenage bookworms who grew into women and now want a more raw story. So many layers I could mention, but one that’s stuck with me is the description of Mrs Bennett’s first labour, and the shock that a gentile woman, protected & coddled from even seeing the most benign aspects of life, suddenly facing the agony and terror of unmedicated childbirth. There are numerous other amazing aspects to this book, but I don’t want to spoil it. The chemistry between MMC and MFC is beautiful.

Pride + Prejudice for the girls who grew into women

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