The Longbourn Quarantine

A Pride & Prejudice Variation

By: Don Jacobson

Narrated by: Stevie Zimmerman

Refugees flood the roads. The feared specter of smallpox has escaped London’s grimy docklands and now threatens the wealthy districts. Amongst that ragged stream is a single carriage jostling its way toward Meryton. Inside are the Darcy siblings along with Charles and Caroline Bingley. They desperately seek the safety of Netherfield Park.

For all their riches, they cannot evade the plague’s dark hand. Bingley’s leasehold has been reduced to rubble as roving bands rape, pillage, and burn. The only sanctuary is Longbourn where, once installed, the Darcys and Bingleys are barred from leaving by a fortnight’s quarantine.

Events converge with disease in The Longbourn Quarantine. Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy abandon old prejudices in the face of grief and mourning. Pride is set aside as Death hovers nearby. The couple forges ahead, knowing that love unexplored is love lost — that words must be said lest they remain unspoken in the time of epidemic.

©2020 Don Jacobson (P)2020 Don Jacobson

A well written book with a great narrator

I read this book when it first came out and enjoyed it very much! The narrator is one of my favorites so after some time I decided to give the audio a try. I really enjoyed it. It wasn’t as difficult to hear as some other epidemic versions I read which is good because it’s not terribly long, but it is enough for the story to feel complete. I always enjoy Mr. Jacobson’s vivid imagery and rich vocabulary. It always brings up slightly different visions in my mind of that time period.

Great story

This story about quarantine is similar to today’s virus spreading the world. New revelations to ODC. Wickham is doing his thing to help. Really an endearing story. I liked it a lot.

Nicely done.

During a smallpox outbreak, the Darcys and the Bingleys are forced to isolate themselves at Longbourn with the Bennet family. This time of quarantine affords the occupants an opportunity to examine relationships and past misunderstandings. This time period of quarantine also provides a time for self-examination. I particularly enjoyed Mrs. Bennet’s portrayal as the good matriarch I favour, rather than the usual flighty, nervous Mrs. Bennet we so often see portrayed. I also appreciated the way Wickham’s role in the story was written. Elizabeth’s reflections about Darcy holding back his emotions were spot on. Another excellent narration by Stevie Zimmerman.

Very well written. I do recommend it. After reading the footnote attached to its reference, I’m not sure I want to try the punch recipe! ;-)

Wonderful surprise

Don't let the brevity of this book cheat you from experiencing its pleasure. Worthy writing and a delightful trip back to the characters of Pride and Prejudice.

Wonderfully written short story.

I love the premise, lack of angst, and the true to character renditions created by this author.

Plague Brings a New Chance at Love

In a pandemic year, a historical set in the time of plague strikes home. With thought to historical setting, setting within the world of a classical story, character growth, and relationships, this longer novella was a heartwarming and thoughtful listen narrated by a talented narrator.

The Longbourn Quarantine is a variation on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and takes up the story after the point that Mr. Darcy and the Bingleys leave Hertfordshire for London and stay away until a small pox plague decimates London and people rush to the country for safety. Some of those are the Darcys and Bingleys who must seek refuge with the very family they ditched and there the story takes off.

As with any variation story, there is an original story in the background and a fresh new one unfolding. I found the descriptions of the plague's spread, how people acted both nobly or selfishly, and how life carried on during this time was on the nose. A listener does not have to have a previous acquaintance with Austen's classic because the author explains the circumstances well and describes the whole cast of characters and their interwoven relationships in detail.

Have you ever voiced the opinion when reading/listening to a a romance that the pair just need to be locked in a closet together and forced to actually communicate which would likely take care of all their differences? Ha, me, too. I felt that this forced quarantine on the Bennet estate makes Elizabeth really look at the man's words and actions that she is convinced is unfeeling, selfish and arrogant just like Darcy must see his friend and Elizabeth's sister's real love and Elizabeth's family behaving generously and like any average family to see he judged them harshly and thought too much of his upper class background to give his own true love a chance. I enjoyed the way their story and the overall story developed as a result.

One would think having a plague running rabid through a story would be a downer especially now, but the author didn't let it. Don't get me wrong, the plague brought hardship and even sorrow, but there is great hope, too. The epilogue is oozing with goodness that might be far-fetched in the way it was lavishly dispensed, but I was in the mood for happily ever after all around.

The narrator, Stevie Zimmerman is one I am long familiar with and really appreciate her way of connecting to her characters and historical settings so that her voice work enhanced the story.

All in all, it was a comfy listen, engaging with my mood perfectly, and a fabulous cast of characters and plot. Those who enjoy sweet historical romance or Austen-themed stories should give this one a chance.

Perfect for a 2020 Listen

This was a very timely and well written story with a JAFF theme. Stevie Zimmerman was perfect, as usual.

Quarantine love

A quarantine book during these times, very fitting.

Smallpox is ravaging England, and everyone we know ends up at Longbourne. And there are actually some smart people in the village so Bingley and Darcy are quarantined for 2 weeks.

Which gives us time for Bingley and Jane to patch things up. For Darcy and Lizzy to fall in love. For Caroline to find her heart. And the author does gives us happy ending for everyone in the epilogue, and I did like that.

Nice little novella.

Good narration.

Please let this be over soon!

I have been trying to finish this three and a half hour book for the past fifteen hours and it is tough going. The story nor the characters are well developed and there is very little dialog of note. Things are rushed as far as relationships go, but irritatingly slow as far as story goes. I am sorta OCD so I will finish it because I am compelled to do so, but I am not enjoying it at all. I just keep falling asleep.
Stevie Zimmerman is usually an excellent narrator, but I think she is as bored performing the book as I am listening to it.