27 August 2013

Book Review: Longbourn by Jo Baker

Most books that tout themselves as "This" meets "That" inevitably disappoint the fans of "This" and/or "That."  So when I heard that Longbourn was a book where Pride and Prejudice meets Downton Abbey, I sure was skeptical. "Read this," said my sales rep.  "Maybe," replied I. But I dutifully tucked it into my book bag and took it home with me. About one week later, when I was floundering between books, I decided to take Longbourn to bed and two hours later I had devoured half of the book. I reckon my sales rep was right.

I should say right now that if you're simply looking for more Mr. Darcy, this is definitely not the book for you.  While it's true that much of the action of this book mirrors the drama of Pride and Prejudice, it's strictly the backstage version of that great story.  We see almost as little of the Bennet family in this book as we see of the Bennet family's servants in Pride and Prejudice. And when this book is compared to Downton Abbey, it's solely the below-stairs part of that great show that invites the comparison.

The third person narration centers around Sarah, a maid in the Bennet household who is treated decently by both the family and by Mr. & Mr. Hill, the primary servants. The prose makes a good effort at passing for period writing, which means the reader gets the best of both worlds: a more linear and straightforward sentence structure of modern narrative, combined with all of the charming archaic language not commonly found outside of Regency novels. In other words, there is nothing glaringly contemporary about the writing, which is one of the greatest downfalls of historical fiction, in my considerable estimation.

Beyond that, the writing is actually quite good.  Not necessarily of the "I want to read these passages over and over for their sheer beauty" persuasion, but of the more subtle "this writing is carrying me along quite beautifully through the story without jarring me out of it with any language missteps" variety. It is consistent, occasionally elegant, and always imbued with the flavour of the period.

There's also an earthiness about the book lacking in Austen, for poor Sarah must deal with those things in life with which the Bennet girls would never sully their minds or hands. One instance rendered quite well in the book, pertains to that famous scene where Elizabeth Bennet walks to Netherfield across muddy fields, dirtying her petticoats and earning the admiration of Mr. Darcy: "If Elizabeth Bennet had the washing of her own petticoats, Sarah often though, she'd most likely be a sight more careful with them." Indeed.

Still, life is generally good for Sarah: she has a position in a modest country home, and though her mind fantasizes about escaping, she is realistic enough to know that striking out on her own for London could be the ruination of her, for how little she knows in the way of the world.  And so she toils on, guiding young Polly the scullery maid in the ways of the household, and forming her mind by borrowing books from Mr. Bennet's library, when one day a mysterious young man blows in seemingly on the wind.  In a place where most young men without fortune have been conscripted for the Napoleonic wars, James stands out, and Sarah takes it upon herself to discover the enigmatic past of the new footman and learn why the Bennets might hire him without a reference.

To say much more would be spoilerific, but I will say this: Mr. Bennet harbors a dark secret from his past, George Wickham plays not just the rake but a sadistic and pedophilic one,  and Sarah has miles to go before she sleeps.  If you are any kind of reader of historical fiction, this book should land on top of your To Be Read pile, regardless of your feelings about Pride and Prejudice. I prefer to think of Longbourn as a terrific companion piece to all of Austen's novel, showing the behind-the-scenes drudgery of daily life for all of those people not fortunate enough to have been born above stairs.

NB: I think this book is poised to be a big book for the fall publishing season here in the US.  It's already been published to great acclaim in the UK and Knopf will bring out the American edition in October.  

14 comments:

  1. I have to admit that I had heard about this one, but was not ready to jump on the P and P fan fiction bandwagon. Your review has convinced me though - this sounds great!

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    1. What's great about this book, though, is that it's only tangentially related to the P&P we all know. I was definitely impressed with this one!

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  2. You know, I'd actually be more interested to read a story like this over one of the continuation of the Darcy/Lizzie storyline.

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    1. Yeah, I think you're not alone there. I've given quite a few of the P&P fanfictions a shot and the ones that are sequels are invariably bad. this one almost reads as a standalone novel, though. if you happen to know or care who elizabeth bennet is, it adds a bit to the story, but it's not even really necessary.

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    2. yeah that's what appeals to me. This can be it's own thing, totally separate from P&P, so if you've never read P&P who cares? and if you have you can be like "OH HEY, I remember that." Sort of like when a book is set in a city you know. It doesn't really matter if you know the corner the characters are standing on, but it's still sorta fun to know it IRL

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    3. That is perhaps the best and most apt analogy I've seen in ages. That's *precisely* what it's like.

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  3. The title "Longbourne" was enough to pique my interest. Your review definitely did the trick. Have to admit, though, I'll miss a continuance of Mr. Darcy.

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  4. Oh, this sounds like so much fun! It also sounds pretty approachable for people who may not have read P&P as of yet (erm, me). Either way, I think I need to add this to my must read list.

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  5. I was already excited about this, but your review pushed it even higher on my list of Fall books. I, for one, am really pleased to see this doesn't give us more Mr. Darcy (I would have been quite annoyed if it just pandered to the Darcy fans). It sounds like it's a very careful, thoughtful companion piece.

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    1. I wouldn't have minded more Mr. Darcy per se, but this wasn't at all the book for it. Not unless Darcy started paying the favor of his attention to ladies who were of even less consequence than Elizabeth, anyway! Wickham does try to ingratiate himself with the servants, and in a nasty way with the little girl, though.

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  6. I finished reading this late last night and enjoyed it so much more than I expected I would. I think it is a triumph!

    I was delighted, and relieved, the author did not try to emulate Jane Austen's style but really took hold of the story and created such believable characters. I particularly loved the description of Mr Collins' visit reminding the reader it was not just the future of the Bennet girls riding on a successful match but the whole household.
    Baker's previous book "The Telling" was good but this is much stronger and made me realise I should not be so sceptical of this sort of "spin off" - sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised

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    1. Oh, I'm so glad that you enjoyed it, too. It's so nice when one's expectations are exceeded like that. My whole month of August felt like that to me, and it was one of the most rewarding months of reading I've had in a long time.

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  7. Pride and Prejudice is my numero uno favorite novel of all time so I look with a leery eye at any 'spin' - though I must admit that I've read a very enjoyable one or two.

    I'm adding this to my TBR list immediately. You make me unable to NOT want to. :)

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  8. P.S. Wanted to add a recommendation for you, just in case you find yourself wanting to read a mystery with a vague association to P&P. DARKNESS AT PEMBERLEY - T.H. White's first and only mystery. The connection to P&P is only that the murderous doings take place at Pemberley - but it's the 1930's and the great house is owned by a distant relative. Other than that, no other mention of the illustrious Regency owners. You won't miss them. This is one of those books where you know who the killer is but that doesn't spoil any of the fun in the slightest. Gosh, what a terrific book. See if you don't agree. :)

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