I finished reading Rebecca on Saturday evening. What a great, fun book it is too! I don’t understand why I never read it before. I finally get Jasper Fforde’s Mrs. Danvers clone references and why they are the relentless fighters on the side of the bad guys in the Thursday Next books.
What I loved about the book was that it was so lush. And I like how its lushness, particularly in language, played such a nice counterpoint to the subtly sinister. This has got to be one of the best books ever where the character that has the biggest influence over events never even makes an appearance.
I loved all the characters, the rich, handsome and tormented Maxim de Winter who lost his beloved first wife, Rebecca, to a drowning accident. The new Mrs. de Winter, so young and inexperienced and not at all from the world of the wealthy. She knew enough to feel ashamed of her background and lack of poise and what others might think of her. She worried over what fork to use at dinner. And the most exquisite detail of all, she frequently bit her fingernails when she was nervous. Mr. Crawley, the estate manager; what a kind man. The servants, Frith and Robert. And of course, Mrs. Danvers.
It starts off as a love conquers all, rich man, poor girl story but quickly slides into something else as Mrs. de Winter finds Rebecca’s shadow to be big and dark and nearly impossible to get out from under. Maxim doesn’t help. He leaves her to find her own way. We know he loves her but suspect it might be only because she is so different from Rebecca and has an innocence that she lacked. But Mrs. de Winter also has a vivd and curious imagination and Maxim’s reticence to talk about his past eventually brings things to an exciting climax in which I didn’t want to put the book down.
My edition has an interesting author’s note at the end, written forty years after the original publication of the book. I thought not ever knowing the name of the second Mrs. de Winter who is also the narrator of the story was a stroke of genius. But it turns out, according to du Maurier, the reason Mrs. de Winter never had a name was because:
I could not think of one, and it became a challenge in technique, the easier because I was writing in the first person.
For what it’s worth, I am glad she couldn’t think of a name.
My Bookman read the book a long time ago, so long he can no longer really remember it. I want to watch the movie now. I had no idea Hitchcock did it and that makes me want to see it even more. But my Bookman wants to read the book first and I don’t think I’ll have much of a break from school until the quarter is over. So I guess I have something really fun to look forward to at the end of August.
Ah, you found the book as engaging as I did! I love this classic, and like you I just recently read it…and now I think I need to read all of her books!
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The movie is one of my massive favorites! LOVE it – and I’m embarrased to say I haven’t read the book – now it’s high on my list! Thanks!
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I love the movie, but have not read the book. You have made me very eager to read it. Mrs Danvers is a scary character in the movie as well.
Bookgirl’s Nightstand also did a post recently on My Cousin Rachel, another du Maurier book which I have not read, but have seen and enjoyed the movie. Both the book and the movie are more obscure in this case, though I do not know why a movie starring Richard Burton and Olivia de Havilland should be so unknown.
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I love the book and the movie. Interesting that even the author didn’t know the second wife’s name. For some reason, that is perfect.
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Oh so glad you liked it! The movie is wonderful, Laurence Olivier as Maxim. I must get right down to the library and borrow this. Perfect for a summer re-read. I also loved Du Maurier’s ‘Jamaica Inn’ which has added smugglers and stormy, full-moon seaside shenanigans. Utterly different but as atmospheric.
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Wha?? How did I not know there was a movie?? OK, this is going on my September/october reading list, and the movie is on the October spooky-movie list for sure!!
I always thought of Daphne Du Maurier as “my” author (obviously) ever since I discovered her in middle school, but sadly never liked anything else she wrote as much as I loved Rebecca, no matter how enticing the cover of Jamaica Inn was. π
So glad you liked the book. Fun stuff, right?
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I actually have not read the book, but I own the movie — it’s great (especially if you like Laurence Olivier, but who doesn’t love Olivier??).
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I did so love Rebecca when I read it long ago. Everything I’ve read by du Maurier is marvelous. I also have the movie, which is brilliant. You won’t be disappointed. I had forgotten (or maybe never noticed) that the second Mrs. de Winter does not have a first name! I can’t believe it never dawned on me!! Great review.
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Your review was wonderful.
Edith Wharton, in “A Backward Glance,” discusses at length the challenge of naming characters, whether to use first person or third person, and the need to be original in writing.
Thus, when you mentioned how much a character affects everyone in the novel, and yet never appears, is so very insightful. I never thought about it that way; I am embarrassed. That should seem so obvious but I just never articulated it that way. Thank you.
[By the way: wanna-be-novelists might pick up some interesting writing tips from Wharton’s autobiography.]
I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on the movie after your wonderful experience with the book; the movie is very, very good, and I don’t think you will be disappointed.
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Wendy, oh yes, I definitely want to read more du Maurier after this!
Mary-Frances, I am glad to hear the movie is so good. It makes me look forward to it even more!
Ed, it seems you are not alone in having seen the movie but not read the book. I look forward to seeing it. Iliana’s review of My Cousin Rachel makes me want to read that one now. And glad to know there is a good movie of that one too!
Carrie, it is perfect that the author didn’t even know her name. I wonder what names she tried and decided against. That would be interesting.
Maggie, Jamaica Inn seems to be another popular one since a couple other people have mentioned it too. I will be sure to keep that one in mind. Maybe it will make a good winter read.
Daphne, you definitely have the right to claim her as your author. You are definitely going to have to watch the movie!
Wil, you are right, who doesn’t love Olivier? When I found out he was Maxim I knew the movie was going to be good.
Grad, thanks. I am glad I have such a good movie to look forward to! And good to know all her other books are also enjoyable. The TBR list grows.
Bruce, thank you. I’ve heard A Backward Glance was good, now I am really going to need to find a copy of it. I imagine it is tricky picking names for characters. I’ll be sure to mention my thoughts on the movie when I get the time to indulge.
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Oh, you must also watch the A&E version with dreamy Charles Dance. Maybe without the Bookman if he doesn’t want to see you drool… π
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How funny that the character didn’t have a name because the author couldn’t think of one! She didn’t need to say anything about not being able to think of one, and then people could find all kinds of clever reasons for it and she could take credit for all of them. Oh, well. I need to read this!
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Rebecca: One of my all-time favorites!! First read it in high school over 20 years ago for a World Lit class, but have since read it several times over. There are two contemporary “sequels” to it (names are escaping me, even though I’ve read both–they are by other authors) as well, but of course nothing is as great as the original classic by du Maurier. The movie is wonderful, too. Joan Fontaine is perfect as the lead character, and so is one of my favorite character actors, George Sanders, as the creepy cousin.
You may also want to check out the movie “Don’t Look Now”, made in the early 70s (?) starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland. Very suspenseful and gothic — it is based on one of du Maurier’s short stories.
There’s also a good bio on du Maurier out there, and both Jamaica Inn and My Cousin Rachael are very enjoyable. Rebecca remains my favorite, though–I go back to Manderley again and again. π
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Ahhhh!! This book is on my forever to-be-read list, even though everytime someone reads it, they invariably love it. Get on with it, me!
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I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed it! And thank you for sharing that tidbit about the name (or lack of). How interesting but you are right, I think it worked out perfectly.
I’m trying to find some other DuMaurier books but haven’t had much luck over on BookMooch so I guess I know what I’ll be using the HPB Coupons for huh? π
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This book is in my loot I recently hauled back, 40 like-new books at one dollar each. Now, I must find the time to read it!
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Du Maurier also wrote The Birds, which was made into another film by…
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I loved Rebecca and My Cousin Rachel and Frenchman’s Creek and well, Daphne Du Maurier for writing so many great reads!
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jenclair, I am glad to know I have so many more good books to look forward to!
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Love that detail about Du Maurier not being able to think of a name – will you read the modern reinvention of the book (I think it’s called Rebecca’s Tale)? My edition of Rebecca had an afterward by the author, Sally Beauman, who makes much of the fact that Mrs de Winter has no first or maiden name.
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Jodie, isn’t that a great detail? I didn’t know there was a modern reinvention. Have you read it and if so, is it worthwhile?
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Oh, I’m so glad you enjoyed it. What a great read! The movie is good, particularly the scene when the narrator dresses up like Rebecca for the costume ball. I love Jasper Fforde’s books, too (the Mrs. Danvers clones are a hoot!). Have you read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield? That’s another gothic story you might like.
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