399. Rebecca

Rebecca
Daphne Du Maurier
1938
Around 410 pages

I recently suggested this novel to my partner, and he loved it, further solidifying my reputation as the best book recommender he has ever dated, which, let's face it, is the main thing I bring to a relationship. I had seen the Hitchcock movie before reading this, and was delighted to find it's even darker than the film.

Our narrator marries an older wealthy Englishman, Maxim de Winter, and is swept away to his home in Manderly. Our protagonist is so overshadowed by the presence of Maxim's first wife, Rebecca, although Rebecca died some time ago. Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper, is particularly hellbent on keeping Rebecca's memory alive. As our narrator becomes increasingly isolated, she discovers more about the mysterious Rebecca than she is prepared to know.

Rebecca puts a modern twist on the gothic novel, which can feel pretty antiquated as a genre. Mrs. Danvers is an excellent character, and I am sure many cold bitches in the future can trace their lineage to her villainess influence. 

A must read classic with an unforgettable first line. I wish we had more Daphne on the List.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

One edition of the book was used by the Germans in World War II as the key to a book code. A copy was kept at Rommel's headquarters and the other was carried by German Abwehr agents infiltrated into Cairo. This code never was used, however, because the radio section of the headquarters was captured in a skirmish and hence the Germans suspected that the code was compromised.

Du Maurier wrote a stage play based on the novel.

Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca won Best Picture in 1940.

Du Maurier based Rebecca on a woman her husband was once engaged to, Jan Ricardo. Ricardo threw herself under a train during World War II.

UP NEXT: Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre