Longbourn by Jo Baker (An Austen Related Novel)

Ms Baker gives us a fresh look at the events of the Austen novel Pride and Prejudice.  The novel uses Jane Austen's Longbourn, the Bennett Family home. The author  creates a new story told from the point of view of a maid of all work in  the Bennett household.
The narrator Sarah is Elizabeth's age. Like Elizabeth and all the Bennett girls, she is looking to the future and wondering what she will do with her life. She is an intelligent observer. Her detailed descriptions of the hard work she does taking care of the household contrasts dramatically with the work free life that the Bennett women live.
 Life among the servants of the household is impacted by the Bennett family, but the family and the staff act independently. The events of the classic novel are referred to as the  plot of Longbourn unfolds. For example, Elizabeth and Jane are invited to stay at Netherfield, the servants pack appropriate clothes, despite Mrs. Bennett's fancier choices.  Sarah laments Elizabeth's walks through the fields, because Sarah has to clean the mud off Elizabeth's petticoats. Mr. Wickham brings trouble to servants as well as to the family. He targets the most vulnerable member of the staff, a young girl, to manipulate and exploit. Interestingly, Sarah observes that  Mr. Darcy and his class are so grand that their presence makes servants invisible.
Sarah is not resentful of the Bennett family, but she is not satisfied to be in service for all her life. The novel presents her with two suitors, both footmen. One is ambitious to be independent. He will leave his position and set up in trade as soon as his savings will allow. The other is handsome, moral, intelligent, kind and generous, but also secretive. Sarah evaluates her options and makes decisions about how she will spend her life.

Baker crafts a new tale in Austen's setting bringing new detail and a fresh point of view. She does not rewrite Austen. She expands the texture and depth of P&P, by providing more context for the story. This is the sort of homage to Austen that will keep P&P relevant and interesting to readers for years to come.

Austen Project to update classics

Joanna Trollope is one of six contemporary authors who are rewriting the books of Jane Austen for The Austen Project. Sense & Sensibility will be published in October (HarperFiction) 


 How? Why?
 Jane Austen's name should not be replaced on these classic tales. It's confuses new readers looking to discover Austen for the first time.

Many excellent authors have written fanfic related to Austen's work. PD James' Death Comes To Pemberly  was excellent. James created a fresh story using Austen's world and characters of course. It was an excellent expansion of a classic setting. The best of fanfic.

There are lots of modern tellings of the tale: Bride and Prejudice(Film) is one of my favorites.

Pop Quiz: Which Character is the satirized in the song: "No life, without wife"?

The Young Woman's Guide to Real Magic incorporates P&P in a modern fantasy tale. 

Amanda Knox and Dara Horn : A Lazy Summer Weekend

It was so hot this July 4th that I read two long books.

Amanda Knox  Waiting to Be Heard is a quick read.  Amanda was an American exhange student in Italy. During her first few months in Italy  she was accused of participating the brutal murder of her British apartment mate. The case unfolds from her point of view.
Amanda writes her side of the story in simple clear sentences. She makes the case for her innocence. The detailed account shows the Italian legal system to be plainly "un American".
Just after the book's release date, the Italian court overturned her acquittal.
I predict she will continue on to become a successful journalist.

A Guide to the Perplexed by Dara Horn is a complicated novel. There are two story lines one contemporary and one historical. The author is a master of weaving the stories together and developing two settings, two set of characters and one over arching theme. This book would be excellent to read with a Book club. It brings up many thoughtful questions.