2.5 stars

"Longbourn" riffs off "Pride and Prejudice." You probably already know that it is the familiar story told by the servants at the Longbourn, home of the Bennet family. It's a downer,

While the Bennets are bantering and loving one another, the servants are suffering. Being a servant in that time period was rotten, and smelly, and joyless. Housemaid Sarah lives a sad and wretched life while the Bennetts are pondering parties. This story could be set in any home in probably any country during this period, with attendant issues of bodily fluids grossing us, but not them, out. Bagging on the Bennets is sort of a killjoy.

Missing is the sly wit and social commentary. Taking its place is a story that does little to add to the Austen canon. I've enjoyed some of the off-shoots a great deal and others less. This would be one of the less.