Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

Though REBECCA is often marketed as a Romance, it is worth noting that the author herself thought it was rather a dark tale of jealousy and envy, with an unconventional ending. I was struck by the strong elements of the nineteenth century sensation novel, intertwined with gothic pieces, which continues until we learn of Maxim's true relationship to the dead Rebecca, at which point the tale takes a strong turn into detective fiction, though the twists and turns are still occasionally sensational. This is perhaps a long-winded way of saying that REBECCA is not a traditional romance and has anything but the traditional happy ending, so don't read it expecting a touching ...  Read the complete review

Having studied this book numerous times throughout my school career, you would think that I would never want to set eyes on it again!! However, far from it - it is actually one of the very few novels that I have read again and again (through choice rather than necessity!!) The opening line, 'last night I dremt I went to Manderley again', is probably one of the most well-known openings ever written and serves well to create the dream-like atmosphere in which the novel progresses. Daphne Du Maurier describes the Cornish coastline vividly in her writing, which adds to the mood of the novel and creates the realisation that the end is inevitable. ...  Read the complete review

Just hearing that line -"Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again" gives me goose bumps!! I just LOVE this book. I first read it as a young teenager, many years ago, after my godmother introduced me to Du Maurier's work and I was immediately hooked. It is a book that I return to over and over again. If you have not read 'Rebecca', I envy you, you cannot unread the books you have read. You have all that mystery ahead of you, you are about to be completely and utterly absorbed in one of the best stories I have ever read. Don't read 'Rebecca' expecting to read a classic love story, because that is not what it is. 'Rebecca' IS ...  Read the complete review

Daphne du Maurier's novel Rebecca is one of my favourite books. The language du Maurier uses is incredibly rich and considered. It should be noted that du Maurier's book and the film of the book, starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine, should be seen as a wholly separate, as they have some vital differences in plot and motivation. Of the two I believe the book is by far the stronger, and the film definitely loses much in its interpretation of the story. The basic plot: The main character in this book is significantly known only as the second Mrs de Winter. At the start of the book she is a timid young woman, employed as a companion by ...  Read the complete review

I first read this novel some years ago, but was prompted to re-read it recently by the fact that we have tickets for an upcoming theatrical performance of "Rebecca", and I thought this would be a good time to remind myself of the story. "Rebecca", first published in 1938 and never out of print since then, is narrated by a young woman whose name we never learn, although we are told it is a "lovely and unusual" one. Most frustrating, and the cause of a few difficulties for the reviewer! The novel opens with probably one of fiction's most famous opening lines, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again". ...  Read the complete review