Published in 1938, rebecca is the fifth novel by cornish author daphne du maurier, also known as lady browning. In the beginning of the novel, the narrator is the. Rebecca, gothic suspense novel by daphne du maurier, published in 1938. Daphne du maurier s first novel was the loving spirit. Though its an excellent book, it bugged me a lot because the heroine, who is the narrator does not have a name all we know is that she has a lovely and unusual name in the. Daphne was born in 1907, granddaughter of the brilliant artist and writer george du maurier, daughter of gerald, the most famous actor manager of his day, she came from a creative and successful family. Rebecca, a novel written by daphne du maurier illustrates this point. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of rebecca. Maurier, daphne du and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Rebecca by daphne du maurier, daphne du maurier, paperback. Jan 30, 2003 daphne du maurier 190789 was born in london, the daughter of the famous actormanager sir gerald du maurier and granddaughter of george du maurier, the author and artist. The ending has the lady or the tiger flavor, and the reader turns again to the introductory chapter, seeking an answer which again evades one.
Her cousin and lover, jack favell challenges the finding that rebecca committed. Among her more famous works are the scapegoat, jamaica inn, rebecca, and the short story the birds, all of which were subsequently made into films, the latter three directed by alfred hitchcock. Lily james and armie hammer to star in rebecca movie remake. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Like wilkie collins before her and sarah waters today, du maurier had a preternatural understanding of how to engineer. This is one of several curious devices that impressed me as i devoured the pages of this delightfully suspenseful book. Rebecca by daphne du maurier pdf free download ebook. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Widely considered a classic, it is a psychological thriller about a young woman who becomes obsessed with her husbands first wife. Daphne du maurier always said her novel rebecca was a study in jealousy seventyfive years after daphne du maurier published rebecca, her son tells christian house how the authors own. Her grandfather was and author and the creator of punch cartoon. It was made by student the story by daphne du maurier, which begins as a typical ladies roman, gradually turns into a psychological detective. But here, du maurier describes gran in macabre, almost grotesque terms, as if to suggest the decline and decay of the english aristocracy a theme that du maurier will reinforce at the very end of the book. In 1931 her first novel, the loving spirit, was published. Rebecca made daphne du mauriers career as a writer. Rebeccas tale by sally beauman, daphne du maurier and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This comes closer to rebecca than anything miss du maurier has done and is, i think, one of her best novels, ingeniously contrived as to plot, successfully realized as to characters. Dec 20, 2015 daphne du maurier 19071989 has been called one of the great shapers of popular culture and the modern imagination. Inchingly, daphne du mauriers difficult novel came together. Gran is the embodiment of tradition and convention at manderley.
Ive always been possessed by the gorgeous gothicness of rebecca, which has mystery, ghosts, passionate love and a big, haunted house. The unnamed narrator begins this gripping story by telling of her recent nightmare of. It is wellknown that maxims widely adored wife rebecca, has recently drowned at sea and the local people. Of happening upon a book youve never heard of, reading it, and absolutely loving it. And then going out and telling ten other people about the incredible experience.
Rebecca study guide contains a biography of daphne du maurier, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full. Jan 02, 2008 buy rebecca upper intermediate level by daphne du maurier isbn. Widely considered a classic, it is a psychological thriller about a young woman who. She was awarded the national book award and was voted by the bbc as the nations most loved novel. Though its an excellent book, it bugged me a lot because the heroine, who is the narrator does not have a name all we know is that she has a lovely and unusual name in the story until she gets married, and you do not know her age, you are told that she is young and essentially naive. Daphne du mauriers rebecca is crucial to the genre, for in it du maurier simplified and organized these six. This woman, our narrator, is dreaming of returning to a place called manderley, but she and the man shes with can never go back.
During the british authors lifetime, critics frequently dismissed her work because it was popular with the public, readable, and riveting. Heres what we know about the cast, premiere date, and more. Among them are my cousin rachel, the scapegoat and the house on the strand. Sometimes when i reread a book i feel differently about it but with this book i was left with so much appreciation of daphne du mauriers skill as a writer.
Daphne du maurier always said her novel rebecca was a study. Rebecca s tale by sally beauman, daphne du maurier and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Daphne du maurier and the bronte influence anne bronte. Daphne du maurier herself said it was about my feelings of jealousy re my husband and jan ricardo, ricardo being an exgirlfriend of brownings. Rebecca by daphne du maurier begins in the present, as the narrator. Jan 11, 2017 as you read the opening chapters of daphne du mauriers remarkable 1938 novel, be aware that she is, ingeniously, giving the epilogue of the story at the very beginning. Rebecca has been called a modern jane eyre, and there are certainly striking similarities between the. Rebecca by daphne du maurier reread she reads novels.
Where rebecca depends almost unbearably on creation of mood and. Rebecca by daphne du maurier was published in 1938. Jul 06, 2017 there is the pleasure of her plots, those marvelously efficient machines. She wrote it in 1929, at ferryside, the du maurier family s holiday home at bodinnick in cornwall. Daphne du maurier published in 1938 by daphne du maurier, rebecca was a best seller right away and has never been out of print. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. This classic gothic tale based on the book by daphne du maurier is coming to netflx. Daphne du maurier was born on may 1907 in london, england, united kingdom, the second of three daughters of muriel beaumont, an actress and maternal niece of william comyns beaumont, and sir gerald du maurier, the prominent actormanager, son of the author and punch cartoonist george du maurier, who created the character of svengali in the novel trilby. Her parents were both actors, sir gerald du maurier and mauriel beaumont. Rebecca is a 1938 gothic novel by english author dame daphne du maurier.
Rebecca has been called a modern jane eyre, and there are. It made me into a daphne du maurier fangirl all over again. Rebecca by daphne du maurier, published in 1938, is surely the most iconic of the british authors novels. If youre looking for a nonbronte book to read, for a change, then you could do far worse than read the novels of daphne du maurier. Anyhoo, a while back i was thinking i should really read daphne du maurier. Rebecca is an intensely erotic novel, but its eroticism is of a queasy kind. Rebecca by daphne du maurier, used abebooks passion for books. Daphne du maurier takes you through rebeccas inquest. N is jealous from the moment she sees rebeccas handwriting. Do you know what its like to read a book and have it haunt you, like a whisper or the faint hint of perfume in an empty room. It is the story of a naive young girl who is swept up into a marriage with a rich, older, urbane widower. Daphne du maurier was an english playwright and novelist born in may 1907. The novel was an instant bestseller and has never gone out of print.
It concerns an unnamed young woman who impetuously marries a wealthy widower, only to discover that he and his household are haunted by the memory of his late first wife, the title character. Aug 03, 2017 rebecca by daphne du maurier re read august 3, 2017 sometimes rereading a favourite book can be a disappointment. A dreamer, i walked enchanted, and nothing held me back. In addition to her seven novels and numerous short stories, du maurier also wrote twelve books of nonfiction, including an autobiography. Buy rebecca by daphne du maurier online at alibris. Aug 08, 2018 i just reread rebecca by daphne du maurier for the first time in a long time and its still an amazing read. A new adaptation of daphne du maurier s 1938 novel rebecca is in the works for netflix.
Throughout the engrossing story, the characters experience much and as a result, the characters undergo both temporary and lifealtering changes to their thoughts, beliefs and behavior. Daphne du maurier always said her novel rebecca was a. Though the book initially received many accolades upon initial. Rebecca is the novel that made daphne du maurier famous and that remains her bestknown work. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of rebecca by daphne du maurier. Actually, the opposite of rebecca if a person can have an opposite youll see why in a minute. There is the pleasure of her plots, those marvelously efficient machines. A new adaptation of the daphne du maurier novel will be directed by high rises ben wheatley published. Rebecca was adapted by alfred hitchcock into a popular film 1940. She was twentytwo years old and had already written a number of short stories, some of which had been published in a magazine called the bystander. Daphne du maurier could have rested on that one novel, but she went on to create more classics.
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