Longbourn’s Songbird is a modernatization of Pride and Prejudice that takes place in the United States of America in the post-World War II.
I don’t usually read modernizations but the era this book takes places intrigued me immediately, and after reading it, I can guarantee it is as good as some of the best regency adaptations I’ve read.
The scenario seemed very interesting to me (and I’m not easily tempted by modernizations), but I truly knew this book had bewitched me when in chapter four I read Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy’s first confrontation. The scene occurs in the Netherfield porch and the intensity and passion lived in that moment conquered me. I knew from that moment on I could not resist this book.
I don’t want to reveal much of the plot as I do not want to spoil your enjoyment when reading it, but the book takes an unexpected turn of events that gets us hooked to it until the end.
It is fascinating to see Darcy’s reactions in this modernization. We got to see Darcy more loose, more at liberty to react and exteriorise his pain. I liked that he wasn’t portrayed as flawless and that he made stupid mistakes. It made him more human, more real and it was much more appropriate to the historical time. I also liked seeing him admit it:
“I’m also human. I think you forget sometimes that I am fallible”
I found the Darcy/Elizabeth relationship thrilling and exciting. I absolutely loved the way he always reacted to her, and the way she enjoyed his reactions, but the book is much more than a Darcy/Elizabeth love story! All characters have their own story and all of them contributed to the interest I got in the book. Their stories allow us to see a portrait of society at the time. Beau North approaches subjects such as race and sexual discrimination, domestic violence and homosexuality which made the book incredibly interesting. Longbourn’s Songbird is very appealing and interesting because is it obviously a Pride and Prejudice variation that will appeal to JAFF readers, but it is also an intriguing romance and a society’s portrayal that will appeal to any other reader.
The diversity of subjects approached made it a complex and profound book that appeals to a huge variety of readers, therefore, I highly recommend it to anyone.
Longbourn’s Songbird is available at:
Amazon.com – Longbourn’s Songbird
Amazon.co.uk – Longbourn’s Songbird
Amazon.fr – Longbourn’s Songbird
From Pemberley to Milton 
Thank you so much for that lovely review! And I’m glad you singled that line out, that was one of my favorites. I had one that followed that didn’t make the final cut where Georgie says “You’ve cured me of that notion.”
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Oh, I can perfectly imagine this Georgiana saying “You’ve cured me of that notion.”!
I loved the way you developed her character in this book. It’s a mix of the shy Georgiana we know with the typical impertinence of a teenage girl. Her conversation with Darcy, when he reveals the whole truth to her, was one of my favourite scenes in the book 🙂
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“The diversity of subjects approached made it a complex and profound book that appeals to a huge variety of readers, therefore, I highly recommend it to anyone.”
Complex and profound. Words every author strives for. Thanks for the great review.
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I really believe the controversial subjects the book approaches was a plus, Christina. Yet, on the review I have somehow forgot to mention the most important of them all: the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that affects many soldiers that go to war.
This was in interesting topic I have never seen developed in any other JAFF book. At least not with the detail and importance that Beau gave it on Longbourn’s Songbird. It was very, very interesting 🙂
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