Rebecca – by Daphne du Maurier – independent book review – Fiction

I can’t even count how many times I’ve read and reread REBECCA, a wonderfully classic Gothic novel. And repeatedly watched the many film and television adaptions. Because each time, I am completely mesmerized, even though I know how it will end. It’s simply a perfectly crafted story. Awarded four plus stars on Goodreads.

I imagine there are many readers now who know little or nothing about this author or book. Dame Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989 – aka Lady Browning) isn’t in fashion now, though there was a time when this British writer was among the most widely read novelists in the world.

REBECCA is probably my favorite of du Maurier’s novels, and I have read most of what she has written and loved them all. The book has sold nearly 3 million copies, been translated in 19 other languages, and has never gone out of print. She was a truly gifted writer who knew how to craft a suspenseful story with many unexpected twists and turns.

REBECCA, first published in 1938, tells the story of a young, inexperienced and unworldly woman who winds up marrying a much older, sophisticated and wealthy aristocrat whose massive estate in Cornwall still seems to vibrate with the memory of the man’s deceased first wife. As the second Mrs. De Winter begins to search for more information about her predecessor, what she finds out begins to impact her relationships with everyone around her, including her husband and the cold but competent housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers.

You may know that the novel has also been adapted into many movie and tv versions:

1940 – the original film version– directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Laurence Olivier (1907-1989), Joan Fontaine (1917-2013), and Dame Judith Anderson (1897-1992). It’s my favorite even though substantial and unforgivable plot changes were made to satisfy the Hollywood Production Code.

1948 – A production by Philco Television Playhouse.

1950 – A production from Robert Montgomery Presents.

1952- A production from Broadway Television Theatre.

1962 – A production by NBC-TV.

1979 – A 4-part BBC adaption directed by Simon Langton and starring Jeremy Brett (1933-1995, aka Sherlock Holmes in the 1984 Granada Television series), Joanna David, and Anna Massey (1937-2011).

1997 – A Carlton Television serial, aired on PBS’s Masterpiece Theatre, directed by Jim O’Brien (1947-2012) and starring Charles Dance, Emilia Fox, and Dame Diana Rigg (1938-2020).

2008 – a two-part Italian TV adaption.

2009 – A production by Pakistani TV in Urdu.

2020 – The worst one, in my opinion, is the recent Netflix film adaption, directed by Ben Wheatley and starring Lily James, Armie Hammer, and Kristin Scott Thomas.

There have also been multiple theatre and radio adaptations. Along with a German-language musical and an opera by Wilfred Josephs. Along with three inspired sequels:

MRS. DE WINTER by Susan Hill (ISBN 978-0-09-928478-9)

THE OTHER REBECCA by Maureen Freely (ISBN 978-0-89733-477-8)

REBECCA’S TALE by Sally Beauman (ISBN 978-0-06-621108-4).

Even if you’ve seen some of the film and television adaptations and feel familiar with the story, PLEASE read the book. It’s so much better than all of them. It’s a shame to see such a talented writer go out of fashion. So I encourage you to explore some of du Maurier’s other wonderful novels:

THE BIRDS (yes, the story Hitchcock based his 1963 movie on)

MY COUSIN RACHEL (my second favorite)

JAMAICA INN

FRENCHMAN’S CREEK

Here is a complete list of du Maurier books.

More about the author, Daphne du Maurier.

In addition to her skill and success as a writer, she had a fascinating personal life. Daphne was the daughter of a famous actor-father (Gerald du Maurier, 1873-1934) who was uncomfortably possessive of his daughter. And Daphne may have been gender non-binary as well. Here’s a link to a free YouTube documentary about the author.

The author’s wikipedia page.

The book, REBECCA, also has its own Wikipedia page but know going in that it contains spoilers.