Return to Longbourn

The Next Chapter in the Continuing Story of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

De: Shannon Winslow

Narrado por: Marian Hussey

What will happen to the Bennet females now that Mr. Bennet has died? With Mr. Tristan Collins on his way from America to claim his property, Mrs. Bennet hatches her plan. The new heir to Longbourn simply must marry one of her daughters. Nothing else will do. Will it be Mary or Kitty singled out for this dubious honor? When the gentleman in question turns out to be quite a catch after all, the contest between the sisters is on. Which one will be the next mistress of Longbourn? Or will a dark horse step in to muddy the picture? Darcy, Elizabeth, and the rest of the Pride and Prejudice cast are back as the socially awkward Mary emerges from the shadows to take center stage in Shannon Winslow's long-awaited sequel to her best-selling novel, The Darcys of Pemberley.

Many Austen fans have a soft spot in their hearts for Mary and wonder if she might have the hidden makings of a heroine. Now, in Return to Longbourn, we learn what really makes her tick. Is she destined to be a governess forever, or will she overcome the misfortune of being 'plain' to find love and her own happy ending?

©2013 Shannon Winslow (P)2013 Shannon Winslow

Austen fans might enjoy

When one reads alll Jane Austen and know there aren’t any more left, one looks for fan fiction. Enjoyable read.

As if Jane Austen wrote it herself!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this continuance of Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice as well as The Darcys of Pemberly, also by Shannon Winslow.

Every year I find myself reading Pride and Prejudice again, which then leaves me wanting more. I end up watching every version of the book made into movie or tv series in an attempt to fill the need for "more". I found Shannon's books after researching online and absolutely love them. Her writing style is almost perfectly in sync with Jane Austens. She stays true to the characters and the story lines are captivating.

I'm looking forward to finding more of Winslows books in the series!

The narrator does a great job with the different voices and I feel hits the nail on the head with so many of them, like Mrs. Bennett, Lydia and Elizabeth, to name a few.

Misunderstandings abound

Like the original Pride & Prejudice, lots of good characters misunderstanding each other, all well done. A great follow up to the original and narrator was superb.

Excellent narration!

Mostly liked the story.m and plot. Somewhat predictable ending and very akin to Brontë's Jane Eyre along with the many quotes from Austen's other novels.

Lovely Continuation to Pride and Prejudice

I feel this continuation would make Jane Austen proud. I loved that all the sisters' lives ended so well. The story is complete for me. The narrator did an excellent performance and was very persuasive with all the voices of each character. I would love more books by Shannon Winslow!

Loved it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I am so hooked. This story is amazing, so awesome to read a hook as wonderful as the original. I loved hearing the follow on story with different main characters I had low expectations but this write blew me away. I hope she continues to write more!

Have you listened to any of Marian Hussey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Wonderful voice

Who was the most memorable character of Return to Longbourn and why?

Mary

Any additional comments?

Listen and live it

Great story!

very interesting story with surprises and twists all the way to the end of story.

Another fun story of the Bennett sisters possible

Predictable story but entertaining nonetheless for the Austen fan wanting for more love a happy ending.

When It Comes Down To It, a Silly Romance.

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Where would I start? The premise is wonderful. It is Mary's turn. Mr. Bennett has passed on, and it is time for Mary to make life decisions, to move on, to grow or not, to marry or not, to stay home or not, to educate herself as a young lady or not. But the author seems to decide that this is an opportunity to write a romance novel using some of the literary forms reminding one of the original novel. The character, other than Mary's tendency towards independence, seems nothing like her, even accounting for her "growth" that was written about at the end of P & P. She has no latent spirituality, no ability to make good decisions (I don't want to give spoilers, but when she planned a secret escape it just got...too much. By the end of the book I wanted to slap her. I kept thinking, go back and read Fordyce's Sermons, maybe you'll make some better decisions.

What do you think your next listen will be?

I think I'll listen to something by The Great Courses. I like to switch up.

Which scene was your favorite?

Nothing really stands out. Perhaps the ones with the children rang true. Maybe that's why the book didn't appeal to me in the first place.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No. It would be way too much like a soap opera, and I always get frustrated with idiotic or scheming people.

Any additional comments?

The narrator I felt did a good job with the material. But the writer did not seem to have an understanding of the time other than to turn a phrase or two. In essence the book did not feel true to Mary, to her character, to the spirit of the time, to any true spirituality or strength of character - which was something Mary had always worked on, with more or less success. What had always intrigued me about Mary was that she knew she was plain, and therefore had worked on her intelligence, her spiritually, her character, and her inner strengths. Now in P&P they made it clear she had quite a few social deficits, but at the end of the book they said that she was making progress.

This book made her a modern working woman which somehow did not really feel natural to her, without ever saying more than "she was independent", or ever really exploring her character or making her more than a silly, romantic girl. In a way she was almost regressing. She made emotional, foolish decisions one after another - some really strange ones like a night flight, hiding luggage and running away. I kept thinking this is not Mary, who was "so much improved" after Elizabeth's marriage.

II guess what I am saying is that if you like a romance and would like to say to yourself, I would like it based on "Pride & Prejudice" this might fill the bill for you. But other than turns of speech such as "I am quite sensible of the compliment you pay me, SIr" - it really isn't accurate. IMHO the author said, "Oh, who isn't taken - Mary - let's write a romance!" Now if written it with Kitty as the central character I think it would have worked better. But that's another spoiler...

A favorite!

I loved the story line of this book as well as the characters....the story line seemed more of a Jane Austen original and was a very pleasing & soothing read..