The Heir to Longbourn

This book explores the vexed question of the succession to Longbourn -- the home in Pride and Prejudice of Mr and Mrs Bennet and their daughters. Can the unctious Mr Collins be deprived of his expectations ... read on ... The Heir to Longbourn is more than a sequel. The author ingeniously incorporates characters from four Jane Austen's novels -- Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. The result is an extremely entertaining and enjoyable piece of C19th romantic fiction with a highly satisfactory ending. Anyone with knowledge of, and affection for, the original novels will be intrigued by the way Laurence manages to introduce these characters and make them interrelate so plausibly. While each of the protagonists is based on Austen's original, they develop unique characteristics. This is an elegant piece of escapism, with settings and characters that will resonate with familiarity. Even without a knowledge of the originals, The Heir to Longbourn is an entertaining and often funny read.