Longbourn by Jo Baker

When Elizabeth Bennett was stomping through the fields in righteous indignation over the prideful Mr. Darcy, did she give any thought to who would have to clean the mud off her skirts? When her  mother was having yet another attack of the vapors, did she stop to think that demanding the housekeeper's ministrations was keeping that poor woman from a multitude of household tasks? And when the whole family was obsessed with what would happen to them when Mr. Collins inherited the estate, did it occur to any of them that the servants might be similarly concerned?

Yes, the members of the Bennett family come off as a little self-absorbed in this clever retelling of Pride and Prejudice. In Longbourn, the stars are not Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy but rather Sarah and Polly (the maids), James (the footman) and Mrs. Hill (the housekeeper). You see just how much work goes into keeping the household running smoothly so that the Bennetts can spend their days doing embroidery and preparing for dances.

I thought 2 of the more intriguing plot lines involved Mr. Bennett's secret life and the fact that Elizabeth didn't seem quite so thrilled about her marriage to Mr. Darcy. But really, it's mostly about the servants--and you do hope that they find some happiness in life along with their never-ending work.