From Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall to Eleanor Catton’s The Luminaries, the historical novel is very much in vogue, but writing one comes with its own particular challenges. How do you go about researching the novel, and how do you know when to stop? How closely should you stick to the facts? In this informal discussion, Jo Baker shares her experiences of writing and researching Longbourn, her acclaimed retelling of Pride and Prejudice from the servants’ point of view.