Longbourn by Jo Baker

"Each day's work trickled over into the next and nothing was ever finished, so you could never say, Look, that's it, the day's labour is over and done. Work just lingered and festered and lay in wait, to make you slip up in the morning."

       -Sarah's thoughts, from the novel

This novel was our Page Turners' June selection. I doubt it is one I would have chosen on my own. 

This is a reimagining of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with the spotlight on the servants at Longbourn estate. These include the Hills, an older married couple who are in charge, and young Sarah and even younger Polly. Main character Sarah was orphaned and taken in as a servant in the Bennet household. The Bennet sisters who are so central to Pride and Prejudice are secondary in this story.

Manservants are rare because of a war going on, but one does arrive at the estate and is hired on. His name is James Smith and he is a hard-working but mysterious fellow with several secrets in his background. Somewhat predictably, Sarah is intrigued by him. The reader is left wondering about James's past until "Volume Three," about 2/3 into the novel, in which his story is told.

I didn't love this book. Perhaps I am not really a fan of Jane Austen either. At times I found it tedious and at others, confusing when different characters' perspectives alternate within a chapter. All in all, just not my cup of tea but I will rate it a 3. I look forward to hearing from our group members as I am sure there are several who loved it. I might appreciate it more after hearing their opinions.