A maid carries a tray bearing a glass of water and a cup of tea. Her dress is fitting for her station--neat and tidy though simple--and fitting for her era, in the first decade or so of the 19th century. Modestly, she wears a cap covering her hair and a fichu covering her chest. The difference between this picture and the common illustration of Regency-era fiction couldn't be, well, plainer. The simplicity of dress and dignity of carriage in this maid suggest this is no bodice-ripper or noble-marriage fantasy, but a well-researched work of historical realist fiction. We can expect the narrative, like this cover illustration, to focus on a servant, who usually is as much taken for granted and as unmentioned as a doormat. This will tell a story of their world. Text over the image reads, simply, "Longbourn; A Novel; Jo Baker.

Just for fun in February, A-Cover-A-Day, books I love, that's all. #BookSky 💙📚 #Longbourn #JoBaker #HistoricalFiction #RegencyRealism #JaneAustenSpinoff