COLUMN: Modern classic offers thrills, intensity and romance
For those of you who have seen the much acclaimed film “The Birds,” Hitchcock was not the mastermind behind it. Daphne Du Maurier wrote not only the short story “The Birds,” but, among others, two novels adapted into Hitchcock films.
I was once in a quirky little bookstore in my hometown looking for my next read with my mother. My mom and I have different tastes in many things – clothes, food, boys – but in one thing we are synced: Books.
While most would shy away from anything their mom recommended, I have great faith in her taste. On a recommendation of a favorite book from her childhood, I decided to read Du Maurier’s most famous novel, “Rebecca.”
From the first paragraph, I was hooked. “Last night I dreamed I went to Manderley again” is widely regarded as one of the most famous opening lines in 20th-century literature, and sets the story up as a novel in constant suspense. While the novel was not Du Maurier’s first, it is certainly her most popular. While the novel was first published in 1938, the writing can be compared to older works such as “Jane Eyre” and “Emma.”
Contrary to what most of you would believe, Rebecca is not the name of the main character in the story. In fact, you never find out the narrator’s name, which only adds to the suspense. “Rebecca” is the story of a reserved young lady who becomes the wife of the great and beloved master of Manderley, a mansion in the country of England.
The young woman’s marriage is haunted by her husband’s mysterious dead wife Rebecca, a beautiful lady who has left her essence in everything at Manderley, including the people. The narrator’s husband, Maxim de Winter, will not move past Rebecca and the narrator has to deal not only with Rebecca’s memory, but the grief her husband seems to be feeling over his first wife’s death.
The shy, humble narrator must also deal with Manderley’s housekeeper Mrs. Danvers who loathes the narrator. Mrs. Danvers has a scary adoration for the infamous Rebecca and does not appreciate the new Lady de Winter encroaching on her memory.
This loathing is compounded by the fact that the new Lady de Winter does not know the “proper” way to run a household. The narrator came from small beginnings and was a companion to a wealthy woman in the beginning of the novel; she does not know what it takes to be the wife of a rich gentleman.
Since I know every one of you that reads this review will buy the book and start reading it, I will not give the ending away, but I will tell you this: Du Maurier puts a twist at the end of every novel, and it is never what you predict or suspect, so be prepared. And for those of you who are not interested in reading the novel, at least go watch the movie. Hitchcock filmed his adaptation of “Rebecca” in 1940 with some of the stars of the day and the film does stay pretty close to the book, so you shouldn’t miss anything important.
If you read “Rebecca” and enjoy Du Maurier’s writing, I would suggest trying out her other novels as well. Du Maurier experimented with many different styles, but there are a few I have read similar in style to “Rebecca.”
“Frenchmen’s Creek” is actually my favorite novel of hers. It tells of a British gentlewoman who wants to leave her high society life to run off with a pirate. “My Cousin Rachel” is third on my list, and is one of those novels that even after finishing it, you are still unsure of the ending.
“Mary Ann” and “The King’s General” are both intriguing as well, and both true to her style of writing about mysterious and powerful women. “Jamaica Inn” is almost as famous as “Rebecca,” and the third adapted into a Hitchcock movie.
When looking at the “classics” in a bookstore, Du Maurier is not usually on the shelf, but I think it should be. She mimics many classic writers while being easy to read. Her language is beautifully written, but not hard to comprehend.
I have confidence that anyone can read Du Maurier’s novels, in fact I guarantee it. Not one person who picks up “Rebecca” and reads all the way through it will be disappointed. If you doubt me, do the only thing you can do to prove me wrong: read it.
– kellyn.neumann@aggiemail.usu.edu