Daphne du Maurier

Daphne du Maurier's major Wordcandy contribution is her gothic suspense novel Rebecca. Rebecca has never been a particular favorite of mine--I've always regarded it as an inferior version of Jane Eyre--but it's highly readable and has been an enduring success since its publication in 1938.

Note: Critics have suggested that much of Rebecca (which Du Maurier described as a "study in jealousy") was autobiographical. Du Maurier was married to a man who had once been engaged to a remarkably beautiful and confident woman. Although the engagement was called off, Daphne was very aware of her predecessor's charms, and may have modeled her nameless, mousy heroine after herself.

Aftertaste:
Eh, I'd skip the Hitchcock movie. It's one thing to read about a girl worshipfully buttering her husband a slice of toast while staring at him adoringly, but it's whole 'nother thing to have to actually watch her do it.

Availability:
Everywhere.

Other Recommendations:
Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Cousin Kate, by Georgette Heyer

Nine Coaches Waiting, by Mary Stewart

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, by Joan Aiken

Website:
http://www.dumaurier.org/ -
daphne-du-maurierauthorhorroraction-and-suspenseromance
Posted by: Julia

Comments

lori
lori
24 Mar, 2006 02:04 PM @ version 0

I suffered through both Rebecca and Jamaica Inn before I decided Daphne du Maurier was not for me. My mom really enjoys her books, however, so much so that I was interested enough to give them a try. (Any time anyone mentions the book Rebecca, she will quote the first sentence of the book. She does that with Gone with the Wind, too.) I found them depressing and strange, and I was extremely glad when I reached the end. The maggoty dinner in Jamaica Inn still makes me cringe.

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