Book Review: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

80th Anniversary Edition - Rebecca

I recently purchased the 80th anniversary edition of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, and revisiting this classic was a real treat. This is not my first time reading the book, nor my only copy, as I also own the 1956 Daphne Du Maurier Omnibus, which includes Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, and Frenchman’s Creek. I found it at Bookfest, after scouring table after table of books with my daughter.

The first time I read Rebecca was in my mid-teens back in my home in Yorkshire. My mother had a bookcase filled with beautiful leather-bound books with gold inlay. Green for the Du Maurier collection if I remember correctly. Alongside Dennis Wheatley and Thomas Hardy, these books were her pride and joy and technically off-limits for us to touch, though we did. Every time I pick up Rebecca, I think of my mother and her bookcase.

Of course, the opening line, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again,” is iconic and drew me in immediately. Interestingly, reading it this time, I could not remember the ending. Some parts of the book were vivid in my memory, while others felt brand new.

Told from the perspective of the title character, the language flows beautifully. There are no jarring moments that pull you out of the story. The characters are impeccably crafted and you can imagine being there alongside them. Manderley itself is breathtakingly described, and I found myself wanting to be there. Then there is Mrs Danvers, while not a 'lead' character, certainly pivotal in my mind to the story and she is so wonderfully flawed and haunting. Then of course Max de Winter is equally compelling.

Even after multiple reads over the years, picking up Rebecca again was a pleasure. It is a masterclass in storytelling, atmosphere, and character.

To buy a copy of this book, you can head over to QBD, Amazon or Booktopia.

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