Longbourn by Jo Baker

Random House

Longbourn by Jo Baker  takes a new look at The Bennett Household created by Jane Austen through the eyes of its servants. The young ladies may have been goddesses to eligible bachelors, but they were only too human to Sarah the housemaid when emptying chamber pots and scrubbing the household laundry. 

Mrs Bennett keeps up appearances, but the servants are aware of The Bennett’s financial circumstances– the new footman wears a 30 year old uniform that makes him ‘look like a ghost’. Their day is far more exhausting than in grander households, but they all have their different reasons for wanting to stay at Longbourn, which are gradually revealed. 

Apart from Mr Bennett, the Pride and Prejudice characters are fairly in keeping with the original, with the main focus on the relationships below stairs. Servants are invisible to grand gentlemen such as Bingley and Darcy, but Wickham is not above trying to seduce the youngest maid, Polly. Mr Collins’ visit is a huge event, because as the future heir of Longbourn, he has the power to affect the future and security of the servants.

The group liked the fact that Longbourn was a different take rather than a sequel, and enjoyed Jo Baker's insight on the domestic service that supported the Regency society.