Rebecca
Overview
Rebecca is a Gothic novel by English author Daphne du Maurier, first published on 5 August 1938 by Victor Gollancz Ltd. It is a blend of romance, mystery, and psychological suspense, often categorized as Gothic romance. The novel has never been out of print, selling over 2.8 million copies by 1965 and being translated into dozens of languages. It won the U.S. National Book Award and the Anthony Century Book Award, and is frequently compared to Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre.
Plot Summary
The story is narrated by an unnamed young woman who works as a companion to the wealthy Mrs. Van Hopper. While in Monte Carlo, she meets Maxim de Winter, a wealthy English widower whose wife, Rebecca, died in a boating accident the previous year. Despite her shyness, Maxim is drawn to her, and after a brief courtship, they marry. The new Mrs. de Winter returns with Maxim to his ancestral home, Manderley, a magnificent estate on the Cornish coast. There, she is greeted by the cold and manipulative housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who remains devoted to the memory of Rebecca. The narrator feels inferior and out of place, haunted by Rebecca's presence in every room. The climax occurs when a storm reveals Rebecca's boat and her body. Maxim confesses that he killed Rebecca after she taunted him with a false pregnancy. However, it is later revealed that Rebecca had terminal cancer and had engineered her own death. Maxim is cleared, but Mrs. Danvers sets fire to Manderley, destroying it.
Themes and Background
The novel explores themes of identity, jealousy, the power of memory, and the struggle for autonomy within marriage. The absent Rebecca becomes a symbol of the past's inescapable hold. Du Maurier's own fascination with Cornwall and her complex personal identity, including a masculine alter ego called Eric Avon, inform the novel's tension between appearance and reality. The psychological depth and atmospheric setting make Rebecca a masterwork of Gothic fiction.
Legacy and Influence
Rebecca was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940, starring Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier. The novel's opening line, "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again," is among the most famous in English literature. It continues to be studied, adapted, and loved, influencing countless writers and remaining a staple of popular culture.
About the Author
Early Life
Daphne du Maurier was born on 13 May 1907 in Regent's Park, London, into a family immersed in the arts. Her father, Sir Gerald du Maurier, was a celebrated actor and theatre manager; her mother, Muriel Beaumont, was an actress. Her grandfather, George du Maurier, was a famous cartoonist and novelist, author of Trilby. Du Maurier had two sisters: Angela, who became a writer, and Jeanne, who became a painter. Raised by governesses, the sisters lived in a world of imagination and fantasy. Du Maurier developed a masculine alter ego named Eric Avon and often wished she had been born a boy, a sentiment shared by her father.
Literary Career
Du Maurier published her first novel, The Loving Spirit, in 1931. She followed with Jamaica Inn (1936), Rebecca (1938), Frenchman's Creek (1941), My Cousin Rachel (1951), The Scapegoat (1957), and the short stories "The Birds" (1952) and "Don't Look Now" (1971). Many of her works are set in the wild Cornish coast, a place she loved deeply. She also wrote plays and biographies. Her novels often blend romance with suspense, exploring dark psychological themes.
Major Works and Honors
Rebecca remains her most famous work, winning the U.S. National Book Award and the Anthony Century Book Award. It was adapted into an Oscar-winning film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940. Du Maurier was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1969. Her works have been translated into many languages and continue to be widely read.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1932, she married Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Browning, with whom she had three children. He died in 1965. Du Maurier spent most of her life in Cornwall, drawing inspiration from its landscape. She died on 19 April 1989 in Par, Cornwall, at the age of 81. Today, she is regarded as a master of Gothic suspense, and her influence can be seen in the works of many contemporary authors. Her novels remain in print and are celebrated for their atmospheric tension and psychological depth.
StoryFlow
The Narrator's Arrival and Struggle at Manderley
Traces the second Mrs de Winter's journey from a shy, insecure bride to a woman grappling with the overwhelming legacy of Rebecca at Manderley.
Maxim's Secret and the Truth About Rebecca's Death
Follows Maxim de Winter's hidden past, his hatred for Rebecca, and the revelation that he murdered her, which reshapes the narrator's understanding of their marriage.
The Inquest and the Revelation of Rebecca's Illness
Chronicles the legal proceedings following the discovery of Rebecca's boat, the dramatic testimony, and the final revelation that Rebecca was terminally ill.
